All Articles Tagged "Ime Udoka"
Nia Long Covers JET And Tells The Mag, ‘I’m Physically A Part-Time Single Mom’
While she might look more like a single 25-year-old, Nia Long is actually 42, a mother of two, and at times what seems like a single mother, she told JET magazine recently. The nearly 30-year industry veteran is the cover beauty for their April 8 issue and, unsurprisingly, the topic of how she handles her semi-long distance relationship with former pro-basketball player Ime Udoka came up in the interview. Asked specifically how they have been able to make it work for three years, particularly with him now living in a different state, Nia said:
Ime and I are very much a family. We’re both committed to being good to each other and being great parents. He operates on faith, and we share that. If not, it would be difficult to maintain with him working as a coach in San Antonio. The challenge is the times when I’m exhausted and here with the kids by myself. I have homework, bath time, dinner, laundry and all the other things that every mother has to do because, in essence, I’m physically a part-time single mom.
She should qualify that as “part-time single working mom” now that she’s gearing up to begin filming of The Best Man sequel. JET also asked Nia to spill the beans on the film everyone is waiting for, and also her longevity in the industry. Here’s a bit from their exchange:
JET: Everyone’s buzzing about you reprising the role of Jordan in The Best Man Holiday (out November 15). The original was definitely a classic film— but it’s been almost 15 years. Why do a sequel now?
We made magic together— so many people say that to me. And because I love the cast. The film’s director, Malcolm Lee, has been talking about it for some time and finally announced his plan during a recent cast reunion dinner.
JET: Any details you can dish on the movie?
Well, we’re not shooting until late April in Toronto so I can’t say much, but everybody is really excited to revisit our stories and find out what happens next. Where is Jordan now? Did she get married? Did she break up a relationship? It’s like reading a great book; you want to see what the next chapter is.
JET: You’ve been part of several iconic flicks, like Boyz n the Hood and Love Jones, but we hear that acting wasn’t always your dream career?
I wanted to be a pediatrician. One of the most life-changing challenges I experienced growing up was realizing that there simply wasn’t enough money for me to go to college. So I decided to focus on working. I promised that I’d give myself one year from the day I graduated from high school to make moves in the business. I was acting since I was 15, and I really wanted to help my mom, who was struggling.
JET: But your current career path isn’t necessarily the most stable…
That’s very true. Actors only have job security from the time we’re on set until they say cut. But, deep down inside I knew it would work out for me. Luckily, I was also naive. What’s the saying? Ignorance is bliss. I had a wonderful acting coach who didn’t focus on fail-ure, only working.
Kudos to Nia for still having such a positive attitude after all these years in the business. Her issue of JET hits newsstands March 18. Will you pick it up?
Nia Long Is Still In No Rush To Tie The Knot With Her NBA Coach Boyfriend
Nia Long recently sat down with the hosts of Access Hollywood Live to discuss her new role in Showtime drama House of Lies. She also chatted it up about what life is like being a mom for the second time and whether or not a wedding is in the near future for her and boyfriend, Ime Udoka. Check out some of what she had to say.
On being a mom for the second time:
“I have a 12 year old and a 15 month old, he is so juicy. That’s my juicy baby… They have the cutest relationship. I was kind of worried because of the age gap, but they have the most delicious relationship. The little guy looks at the oldest like ‘Oh my God you’re my hero,’ and my big boy is like ‘Oh, I can actually rough house you because you’re so juicy.’ They’re awesome. It’s very different [having a baby right now] because I get very little sleep. There’s been longer than a 10-year age gap, but it’s all just so wonderful because it really enriches your life. I just have such a clear perspective of what my needs are and where I’m going and what kind of job works for me and what doesn’t work for me. Babies are like light in your life.”
On the possibility of marriage:
“I don’t know [if we'll be getting married anytime soon]. You know, he’s assistant coaching for the Spurs, so we spend a lot of time going back and forth to San Antonio. It’s tough. It’s hard. It’s a challenge. But we are committed to one another and our babies. You know, you just do what you gotta do. It was a great opportunity for him, coming from being a player. It was like the perfect way to parlay into his coaching career and so I have to support that.”
On predicting Don Cheadle’s Golden Globes win:
“We actually shot [for House of Lies] a couple of days before the Golden Globes and I said ‘I just have a feeling you’re going to win. Congratulations this is great,’ and he goes ‘I’m never winning.’ So I was watching the show and just before he went on I had this vision of him winning. So the next day we all had a table read and they scheduled the call for 6:00 am and he was so tired. He gets to work and he’s wearing his Golden Globe like a Biggie Smalls album cover. I’m like ‘You look like Biggie Smalls with a big medallion.’ It was so funny. He was so cute”
Check out footage of Nia’s full interview on the next page. Do you have any thoughts regarding her nonchalance about exchanging vows?
Nia Long Explains Why Marriage Is Not a Priority: ‘It’s Just Not Where We Are As a Family’
After seeing Nia Long’s Essence magazine cover last week, we were all a bit confused about the whole “Single, Satisfied and Raising Her Boys”, headline considering as far as we knew she was in a relationship with her youngest child’s father, Ime Udoka. Now that a few more details from her feature article in the August issue have been revealed, we see Nia is definitely not single in the sense of not having a man, but if the only options are single or married, she’s most definitely on the single side of things and not making any sudden moves to get to the other.
“Marriage is not a priority for me,” she told Essence. “I’m not saying I’ll never do it; It’s just not where we are as a family.”
Nia admitted that she has “never seen a marriage work,” and since she only recently established a good relationship with her oldest son, Massai’s, father and her own, she said her focus has been on “emotional maturity” rather than becoming a wife.
“Massai’s dad and I have had the most challenging times, and I wasn’t always sure we wouldn’t end like my mother and father,” she said. “But we’ve arrived at a place where I can truly say he’s not a baby daddy, he’s my friend, finally. He is an amazing father.”
Having a better relationship with these two important men has also helped Nia be a better mother, she said.
“I’m a lot calmer. Less clingy and demanding. When Ime has to be gone for long stretches at a time, as he had to the first few months after Kez was born, I took it as an opportunity to nest.
“It had been a minute since I had an infant and I had to get back into the rhythm of being a new mom. I really enjoyed having the space to do that at my own pace.”
As far as critics go, Nia said she’s not immune to the negative commentary on her family structure but she’s happy doing what works for her.
“I’ll be at home with my man, having a perfectly loving time, and I’ll see all these comments on some site about how wrong I am for not being married,” she said. “I don’t feel less loved or less loving because I’m not married.
“Motherhood is not easy, but it’s natural,” she added. “I worked hard to have the career I wanted, but I’ve also been deliberate about my personal life. None of this is a mistake.”
As long as she knows what she’s doing, more power to her. The only thing I’ll say about Nia’s explanation is that people need to realize the same emotional maturity that’s needed to be someone’s wife is also necessary before you become someone’s mother, but it looks like she’s working it all out. What do you think?
Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.
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Cute Kid Alert: Nia Long Puts Baby Kez on Display, Justin Combs Graduates and More!
Nia Long gave birth to her son, Kez Sunday Udoka in November, and in that time, we’ve only seen mommy and newborn son out running errands. But via her Twitter, the actress decided to share some personal photos of her growing little man, as well as her gorgeous actual “man,” and the father of Kez, Ime Udoka. Check out her twin and her boo below:

Source: Twitter

Source: Twitter
She also posted a picture of her first born son, Massai, who was born in 2000. She said, “My number one!!! This kid is amazing!!”

Source: Twitter
In the midst of all the fuss about scholarships and such, UCLA-bound baby baller Justin Combs graduated from high school! To commemorate the big achievement, he had a huge graduation party with family and friends. Wow, it was just yesterday that this kid was having his “Super Sweet Sixteen” special on MTV. Where does the time go? Check out the graduate with his proud parents (including an affectionate Diddy) below:

Source: Twitter

Source: Black Celeb Kids
This fella, if you were wondering, is Justin’s brother Niko Brim. Misa’s son of course. He also has a little sister named Madison. The two are seen hugging below.

Source: Twitter

Source: Twitter
And to end this installment of cute kid alert, I just had to share this photo of The Game’s daughter Cali and Christina Milian’s little girl Violet becoming BFF’s during a family barbecue on Memorial Day last week. Can you think of anything cuter than these two!?
Awwwww…Have a good day!
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Adorable Alert: Meet Kez, Nia Long’s Baby Boy
It hasn’t been too long since Nia Long gave birth to Kez Sunday Udoka, her second child and first with NBA stud Ime Udoka. He was born in November, and finally, after seeing him inside Nia’s belly thanks to her nude photoshoot for Ebony, we get a glimpse at the little man out the womb. Nia was seen holding Kez as she hit the streets in L.A. yesterday. Looking laid back but always fabulous, mommy Nia held little Kez close and chatted it up with folks.
From the angle the pics give us, looks like Kez bears a strong resemblance to Nia–but then again, it’s too early to tell. Either way, he’s too adorable and she looks absolutely amped to be a new mom–again. Check out more photos below!
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A Pregnant Nia Long Does Double Cover for Ebony in the Nude
Somebody is very far along! The very fabulous Nia Long, the happy mother-to-be of her second child (her first with NBA player Ime Udoka), is gracing the cover of Ebony’s November issue. With skin just a-glowing and a fierce facial expression, Nia did two covers: A profile with some lovely makeup applied if I must say so myself, and the other, a shot of her bare belly, Long holding herself in all her glory. Both shots are pretty epic, and very beautiful. But outside of the cover, in the new issue, Long talks about how shocked she was by her new pregnancy, marriage, how she’s been reconnecting with her family in the West Indies, and having a baby after 40: “The medical profession tries to tell every woman, ‘Have your babies before 40…’ Society tells us ‘Get married before 30…’ I think if we just take our time as women, and do what comes natural to us and for us, we would make fewer mistakes.” I love it! Hey, if Demi Moore and everybody else can bare their bellies and behinds on the cover of magazines while pregnant, Miss Long definitely can–and she looks amazing. Would you agree?
Nia Reveals the Baby Daddy
Yesterday we announced that veteran actress, Nia Long was expecting her second child. Well today we have an update. The actress told People Magazine that the father is NBA player Ime Udoka.
The couple shared with People how excited they are about this child. This is Udoka’s first child.
Read what they had to say over at People Magazine.com.







