Teyana Taylor and Mom Nikki Turn Heads During Chic Mother-Daughter Date in Harlem
Nikki Taylor will always be Teyana Taylor‘s biggest cheerleader. The mother of one has supported her daughter, Teyana, since the singer and actor was born on December 10, 1990. These days, the gorgeous duo looks more like sisters. They certainly had fun together at Harlem’s Fashion Row Fashion Show & Style Awards.
When Teyana was born in Harlem, NYC, Nikki was in a relationship with her father, Tito Smith. Her parents did not stay together — Smith has three children from another relationship. But Teyana is proud of her heritage received from both parents. The “Gonna Love Me” singer is of Trinidadian and African American descent. As the only child of Nikki, Teyana is her mom’s everything.
Who is Nikki Taylor, Teyana Taylor’s mom?
As Teyana’s star has risen, her mother has pulled a Kris Jenner and become her manager, too, founding Taylormade Enterprises and Taylormade Management Group, Inc. Although Nikki’s exact age is unknown, she certainly doesn’t look much older than her 33-year-old daughter. The A Thousand and One actor likely got her fashion sense from Nikki, who has a history as a celebrity stylist with many connections in the industry. The young mom did it all while raising her daughter mostly on her own.
In the ’90s, Teyana participated in the Apollo Theater National All-Stars talent search, among other competitions, before appearing on My Super Sweet 16 for her own 16th birthday party. The MTV reality show highlighted many young people who later became huge stars, including Chris Brown, Bow Wow, and Aly & AJ. Nikki likely recognized that the over-the-top reality show could elevate her daughter’s status in the entertainment industry.
By the early 2000s, Teyana choreographed and danced in music videos for Jay-Z and Beyoncé. She released her first single, “Google Me,” in 2008 and contributed vocals to Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album after she happened to be in the studio with him in 2010. Teyana credits her mom with helping her develop her music taste at a young age, telling Vice, via the Sun, “My mom would play all these records, the greatest hits of the ’90s, ’80s, and ’70s. And while the kids would play, I would literally have my ear against the wall just singing all the songs.”
Teyana Taylor’s special relationship with her mom
Matriarch Nikki became a grandmother for the first time in 2015. Teyana had her first daughter, Junie, that year. The Book of Clarence actor had her second daughter, Rue Rose, in September 2020. Between their parents, Junie and Rue likely have both musical and athletic talents. Their dad, Iman Shumpert, played in the NBA for roughly a decade and starred alongside Teyana in VH1 reality show Teyana and Iman and E! reality show We Got Love Teyana & Iman.
These days, Nikki enjoys hyping up her daughter on social media and attending events with the “Rose in Harlem” singer. The pair attended the 17th Annual Harlem’s Fashion Row Fashion Show & Style Awards on September 3, 2024. The event brought together industry experts, fashionistas, and celebs to celebrate Black style leaders. Teyana accepted the Virgil Abloh Award, which honors creativity, innovation, and the spirit of Harlem, as Nikki cheered her on. The pair rubbed shoulders with fashion A-listers like Naomi Campbell, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Anna Wintour.
