Teyana Taylor and her husband Iman Shumpert graced Ebony magazine’s April 2022 digital cover, along with their daughters Junie and Rue.

In their first-person article, the couple explored their unconventional family dynamic, the legacy they’re building for their children and other private details of their relationship.

Fans uphold the charming couple as pillars of Black love and, as a result, the cover left many on Twitter gushing over their melanin and flourishing curls.

 

Taylor expressed in a video how important the magazine is to their lives, and how Shumpert understands the significance of promoting Black love.

“Black love looks like pain you share with someone else so it’s not heavy. It means unconditional love because you’re going to celebrate together when it doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s affectionate and unapologetic, it is bold and needed in a world of hate. I love Black love,” Shumpert said.

Junie, their eldest daughter, had her hair styled in an adorable puff, while Rue stunted on her family members with her laid baby hairs. 

In addition to making sure their children inherit a financially stable foundation, they also stressed maintaining a steady presence in their daughters’ lives.

“Mommy and Teyana are a 50/50 thing. My kids come everywhere with us. They are actually the life of the party. My photoshoots often become Junie’s shoot and Rue is usually somewhere stealing the show just because she’s cute as pie. My family brings joy to my work,” Taylor said.

Shumpert added that he observes Junie watching everything her mother is involved with and notices she tries to imitate her.

“She sees her mom do a lot of things that are just bold. Whether it’s in fashion, whether it’s on stage, whether it’s in a quick snippet of an interview — it’s very bold and she watches her mom do it. So, for her to even try and emulate that at such a young age, it’s our job to nurture that and to keep preaching that. What I love most about being a girl dad is the consistency my daughters have in making sure that I don’t harden my heart,” he said

Taylor however said she derives inspiration from raising Junie because “she’s so fearless.”

“Junie is Junie, she has sprinkles of us throughout. She is one of a kind. I love her power and fearlessness in being able to call me out,” Taylor said.

But the “Google Me” singer also said it’s important to encourage Junie to express herself and to provide guidance.

“If Junie wants to be an engineer, then a drummer, or she wants to do ballet, and then tap, we will give her every little thing that she needs until she decides what she wants. We allow her to do whatever it is that her heart desires. And I think that’s what also keeps her respectful because sometimes when you hold on to kids too tight, when they get older, they rebel. Finding a great balance with children is very important,” Taylor said.

Taylor shared how she admires how she and Shumpert motivate each other to be “better versions” of themselves.

“I love that our relationship goes beyond just support — we hold each other accountable to be greater. We are the example for our girls. And that’s our mentality: there’s always a new goal, a new dream, a new narrative that we want to create for our family and our legacy,” Taylor, who concluded her The Last Rose Petal tour in 2021, said. According to Ebony, Taylor is currently working on directing and acting projects.

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