Gabrielle Union might be basking in marital bliss and enjoying her life as a stepmom, but she’s equally as proud of being able to maintain her position as an independent woman within the confines of marriage and motherhood.
Both on screen and off, Gabby has consistently carried herself as a woman who unapologetically advocates for women to celebrate their ability to being strong, educated, fearless and independent no matter what hardships come their way. In a new interview with OceanDrive, she makes it clear that she’s continued to be a self-made woman since making things official with husband Dwyane Wade back in 2014 and he’s grateful for every bit of it.
“He appreciates my independence, and my high credit score, and the fact that if I want a Chanel bag, I’m not asking for his Amex; I’ve got my own,” she told the magazine with a laugh.
Between DWade’s hectic NBA playoff schedule and Gabby’s multiple projects in the works (she’s currently filming for the new season of Being Mary Jane and preparing to promote her latest film role in Nate Parker’s The Birth Of A Nation), the two still make sure to put their family first.
“We literally keep track,” she says. “There’s basically an imaginary chart: ‘I was bad cop last time; now it’s your turn. You have to be the jerk who doles out punishment for missed homework assignments or talking on the phone after curfew.’ With the older boys, they come to me with girl stuff, homework. Or if they’re trying to butter up dad, they definitely come to me to soften me up first. I’m the line of defense, I guess, before dad.”
She also revealed that Dwyane’s children played a major role in their reason for deciding to get married. The two dated for roughly 5 years before he surprised her with a romantic proposal and even had the kids in on it.
“D and I could have gone on for a long time as boyfriend and girlfriend,” she says, “but the kids were the driving force in wanting us to be a legitimate, like, real—and I’m using my finger quotes—family in their eyes.”
Go Gabby!
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