Teyana Taylor

Teyana Taylor (born Teyana Me Shay Jacqueli Taylor) is a singer, actress and choreographer. Teyana was raised in Harlem, New York by her mother, Nikki Taylor. She began performing at a young age and attended local performing arts schools and later focused on her career in entertainment after graduating.

Teyana first gained attention for her dance and choreography work, including contributions to Beyoncé’s “Ring the Alarm” video. She made her first national appearance on MTV’s My Super Sweet 16 in 2007. That same year, she signed to Pharrell Williams’ Star Trak Entertainment label.

Her debut album, VII, dropped in 2014, followed by K.T.S.E. in 2018 and The Album in 2020, featuring singles like “Gonna Love Me” and “Wake Up Love.” She also appeared in films including Madea’s Big Happy Family (2011), Coming 2 America (2021) and A Thousand and One (2023), which earned her critical acclaim. She won the MTV VMA for Best Choreography in 2017 and has directed music videos and campaigns through her company, The Aunties.

In 2023, she appeared in the films The Book of Clarence and White Men Can’t Jump.

In 2016, the singer married NBA player Iman Shumpert. The couple welcomed daughter Junie in 2015, and daughter Rue Rose in 2020. They confirmed their split in 2023, and the divorce was finalized the following year.