She Said Yes Y'all! Taraji P. Henson & NFL Star Kelvin Hayden Engaged
Stop playing with Jody and get you a Kelvin Hayden.
Actress Taraji P. Henson recently revealed in an Instagram post that her former NFL star boyfriend of over two years proposed on Mother's Day with a caption that read:
"I said yes y'all!!! He started with the Cartier love bracelet BUT that was my #Mothersday gift and then dropped to his knee and I almost passed out!!! #sheisofficiallyoffthemarket and she is sooooooooooooo HAPPY!!!!!! #GODIS."
Taraji's love story didn't come without having to kiss a few frogs first.
The Hidden Figures star said that her breakout role on Empire made her romantic life much more complicated. She is proof that women of color with ambition have it hard when it comes to dating because confidence can be intimidating to a man without any of his own. She told ET in late 2015:
"I think the more successful you get, the more intimidated they get. I don't know, the more they pull away, because they feel like I'm not approachable or they're afraid to approach me." She continued, "it'll come. It's gonna come when I'm ready for it."
Sometimes we get so caught up in how we think things should be instead of focusing on what they are at the time. We must avoid confusing being alone with being lonely; this misunderstanding can cause you to invest your energy in relationships that don't feed you, just for the sake of being loved. We are not all equally yoked, and sometimes it takes patience to find someone who matches your energy. She told Marie Claire in 2017:
"I would love to [be in a relationship], but he has to see how I move and deal with it, because I don't have time to explain. I've got work to do."
Little did we know, Cookie was already Boo'd up.
Henson has made it a point to keep her romantic relationships out of the public eye, but the Internet made the decision for her in 2015 after she was photographed by the paparazzi on the beach holding hands with her one-day fiance. It wasn't until last year In an episode of Essence: Yes, Girl!, that the actress confirmed the relationship. She said:
"It was all over The Shade Room anyway. You know, I'm not the type to blast my personal business, but you know, I think that it's important for people to know that I'm happy. I'm very, very happy. I just am. We've been together for two years. And no one would really know that because I don't blast my info like that but I'm very happy."
I think everyone can appreciate a good love story, especially when it's starring a woman who deserves it as much as Taraji. She's graced both the big-screen and primetime TV with images of what black love looks like, and now she gets to live a script of her own.
The 47-year-old actress is a reminder that love may not come when you ask for it, but it will be abundant when you're ready to receive it.
"It doesn't take much to make me happy," she said. "Just someone who's going to take care of my heart, you know? Someone who's going to make me feel safe, you know, and a home to go to."
We all deserve to be loved carefully and unconditionally, and Taraji seems to have found that love for a lifetime.
Congratulations Queen! Now, ladies, what are we wearing to the ceremony?
Featured image by Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Crystal Renay Is Prioritizing Healing, Her Kids, And Her Coins Amid Divorce
Crystal Renay is reclaiming her time and her identity after dealing with heartbreak. The model was married to Ne-Yo for seven years and they share three young children together. However, after a cheating scandal that resulted in a baby outside of their relationship, Crystal decided to end her marriage to the “So Sick” singer. Now, she is focusing on her bag and her kids. She is co-owner of Johnny’s Chicken and Waffles, launching a lip kit line, and is back on TV starring in the new WE TV reality series Bold & Bougie.
But it wasn’t an easy road, especially with reality TV. From the beginning, Crystal and her castmates bumped heads due to misconceptions and alliances with her ex-husband’s former partner, Monyetta Shaw. However, the mother of three exclusively tells xoNecole that she doesn’t regret her decision to join the show.
Crystal Renay
Photo courtesy
“Honestly, being in that space, we had a– you know, when you're first getting to know people, sometimes it can be smooth, and sometimes it can be rocky,” she says. “In our case, it was a little bit rocky and just getting to know each other, and I like to call it growing pains. And I felt like we had a couple of moments, but all in all, like the experience was really good for me, and I would do it over again.”
Crystal describes herself as “career-oriented” and says she is in her selfish season because she is now prioritizing herself first. But she admits that she is still healing from her divorce. The reality TV star shares some tips for others who may be going through the same thing.
“I would definitely say pray, pray as much as you can. Try to take your emotions out of your reactions to things because it’s always going to be something that you don't like in the situation,” she says. “But we can't move off of emotion because 10 times out of 10, a few months later, you're not going to feel like that. So, I'm a firm believer in not doing things that I will regret later. So I would just say be patient with yourself and stay positive.”
While there may be an opportunity to find love again, that’s not Crystal’s focus at the moment. She is in the rebuilding phase of her life, emphasizing the importance of self-care, personal growth, and finding her own happiness. She has had her share of challenges, including dealing with negative emotions and the public's perception of her, but her priorities involve spending quality time with her children and running lucrative businesses.
“I would definitely say pray, pray as much as you can. Try to take your emotions out of your reactions to things because it’s always going to be something that you don't like in the situation.”
“With my kids, I'm very hands-on. I’m team mother with soccer kids, and they don't really make no goals because they like five years old, but I'm there cheering them on every week,” she jokes. “I want to travel, especially this summer, with my kids and take them somewhere internationally because they're at the age where they can handle a long flight. So, me just spending more time and more new experiences with my kids is my main focus with them and showing them all the love that I could possibly give them.”
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Photo courtesy of Crystal Renay