A lot has changed for model-actress Nzinga Imani since we last spoke with her. From moves to motherhood, these days, the lens on the Atlanta-raised superstar’s life has refocused… in a major way! One thing’s for sure, though: while this season may look (undeniably) different for Imani, her on-camera charisma remains the same.
2025 saw the starlet go deeper into her acting bag, as her vivacious character, Angela, on Tyler Perry’s Zatima became the talk of the timeline and the latest television craze. In November, Imani sashayed onto the scene of Courtney Arlett’s romantic comedy, Friend Zone, as leading lady Queenie–a plus-size protagonist whose years-long friendship with her bestie, Marcel, is shaken after a drunken night in Miami. The film, which premiered on ALLBLK and was also executive produced by Imani, features Angelo Diaz, Brely Evans (Carl Weber’s The Family Business), Maurice P. Kerry (Beyond the Gates), and Cheryl Frazier (Mr. Mercedes).
Definitely a highlight on the New York-born performer’s reel, Imani is no stranger to being at the center of everyone’s attention or applause. It is in her assertiveness to dominate every duologue or downstage that Imani has seamlessly planted her pumps in today’s show business. When she isn’t citing scripts or spellbinding the screen, we know the multi-faceted millennial for her unmatched mug and the many magazines and mass outlets she has graced. From premier brands like Ashley Stewart and Fashion to Figure to Lane Bryant and even FILA, Imani’s sheer fabulosity earned her a throne at the pinnacle of the curvy-modeling industry. Although globally celebrated as an elite in the extended-sizes space, the entertainment phenomenon has pushed past the boundaries of her body-positivity bailiwick, garnering influence that goes beyond the perimeters of the plus-size paradigm.
Along with her starring role in Zatima, which just closed the second half of its fourth cycle, our 2025 sit-down with Imani hyperfocused on her big-girl representation in Hollywood and the true essence of Nzinga.
“I think the biggest misconception is that [we] always have to be the sidekick, that [we’re] always the lead’s best friend,” Imani previously told us when asked about the stigma surrounding the cinematic portrayal of full-figured women. “I can be the leading lady; I can be the romantic lead; I can be the Aunjanue [Ellis]. I don’t always have to be the funny best friend.”
However, she has since reclaimed her crown in another passionate pursuit—one that has simultaneously reminded her of her roots and catapulted her to the forefront of a whole new frequency. Long before the ACE Honor winner became Angela, Queenie, or America’s Next Top (PHAT) Strutter, her talent shone through the red curtains and rich microphones of her high school and home church. Whether she was belting out musicals on the mainstage or captivating covers on her (almost) twenty-year-old YouTube channel, it was evident that magic lay in the creative powerhouse’s vocal ability.
In the midst of building her online presence, she became well known for her viral parodies, “Ratchet Hocus Pocus” and “Ratchet Little Mermaid,” which merged her love for singing with comedic impersonations. But… those were only glimpses of the rising songstress’s new chapter.
Today, with the release of her debut single, “Drown,” Imani’s sound encompasses far more than a pretty girl with a sweet pitch and even sweeter aspirations. She’s grown, she’s sexy, and she’s… arrived. The breakout artist isn’t playing background to anyone, and she’s ready for her close-up. This time, it’s for more than capturing the perfect angle or ad-lib. In the Afrobeats-inspired bop, Imani seductively professes her bedroom desires for the special guy on her radar, promising him a pool of her drown-worthy affection. To accommodate the catchy, Renzy808-produced hit, she unleashed a sultry video (directed by GawdsVision) and gave us vixen realness.
The breathtaking visual sees Imani commanding the spotlight from a bed (adorned with red silk sheets and rose petals) to the dance pole, later offering spicy choreography alongside two fellow baddies against a multi-colored pastel background. As if the scene changes aren’t enough to draw viewers in, Imani’s ensembles go from lingerie to glitter and leathered peplum, leaving room to tease. Undoubtedly the full package, the up-and-coming soloist is proving that she’s a woman of many hats and the traits to match.
Her best title yet is Mom. In March, Imani took to Instagram to share the news that she and her partner, film director and fellow recording artist K. Lindo, were expecting their first child. She wrote in the post, which was accompanied by an ESSENCE exclusive, “We’ve been holding the most beautiful secret…”
She added, “Our hearts are so full, excited, a little anxious, and completely in awe as we prepare to meet our bundle of joy and step into this new chapter together. This journey already means more than we can put into words.”
In the forty-second clip, the lovely couple is seen watching the sunset at the edge of breathtaking beach waters. The special guest? Imani’s then-protruding belly. The following month, the thrilled pair posted their gender reveal, announcing that they were welcoming a baby girl.
We recently had the opportunity to catch up with her for an exclusive update. Check it out below!
New Bop, New Body, New Baby — Our Nzinga Imani Interview Is Here
Parlé Mag: A lot has happened for you! New bop, new baby! [laughs] A lot of exciting things. But, before we get into that, what would you say you’ve learned most about yourself in the past 365 days?
Nzinga Imani: Ooooh! What have I learned most about myself? Hmmm, I guess that fearlessness is a strength of mine.
Parlé Mag: Mhm-hmm!
Nzinga Imani: Like, being able to step into new roles and being able to try new things without having the added noise of outside people and what they think. Realizing that that is definitely one of my big strengths, that I am really good at quieting the noise and trying the things that I feel like align with who I am or something that I want to try. Like, just being able to get past the nonsense and be like, “You know what? I’m not a dancer, but I’ma dance, and we’re going to just see where this goes!”
Parlé Mag: [laughs] Right!
Nzinga Imani: And I mean, I feel like all of those things have definitely helped me grow as a person this year, for sure.
Parlé Mag: So… as I mentioned, you recently entered Mom life! Walk us through that moment. How were the emotions the moment you found out you were expecting? Was this planned, or was it a pleasant surprise?
Nzinga Imani: [laughs] I will say a little bit of both! It wasn’t like it was planned out, but it was definitely something we both wanted, something we were both hopeful for.
Parlé Mag: Okay!
Nzinga Imani: And so, you know, first… I got a little sick. I got sick, and then I threw up, and then I was like, “Hmmm!” This was actually while I was on a press tour in L.A., when it happened. We waited until we got home to do the tests and everything. [My boyfriend] was right there with me… the whole time because it wasn’t the first time we had tested, but previously they always came back negative. So, he was like, “Don’t you dare test without me! I want to be there; we need to see it together!” [laughs]
Parlé Mag: Right! [laughs] Nzinga Imani: In the moment, we didn’t know what to expect. I don’t get sick very often, so that was a big clue, but also, because we had the experience of being disappointed in the past, we didn’t know which way it was going to go. That moment that we saw them two lines… we were both laughing and giddy and like, “Holy crap! This is real. This is really happening!” Just excitement, joy, [and] a little anxiety because it’s always like, you know, this next chapter. You realize your life is about to shift, big time, but the best kind of anxiety at the same time, because we knew this was something we wanted. This was definitely not like one of those scary surprises. We want a family, and that’s my person. So, I’m just excited to start this next chapter… for sure.
Parlé Mag: Awesome! So, as a first-time mom, how would you say this has shaped your perspective on womanhood?
Nzinga Imani: I mean, I think you have to think about all of your decisions a little bit more, because you want to be cautious now that you’re leaving this example for someone so directly. You know, I’m not a stranger to the fact that I am an example to people in different lanes, but to know that this little one is going to look at you and see all the things that you’ve done or [are] doing, it’s definitely shifted my idea of like, how I present the things that I want to put out there and things like that.
Parlé Mag: What’s been the most beautiful part of this journey?
Nzinga Imani: Feeling the baby actually growing inside.
Parlé Mag: Awww!
Nzinga Imani: It’s so surreal because for the longest, I didn’t even really see it. I felt sick and tired, but my stomach wasn’t really showing, and you know, like the butterflies and stuff that people feel in the beginning? I was like, “I feel gas! I don’t feel anything else. I don’t know what else I’m supposed to feel.” [laughs]
Parlé Mag: [laughs]
Nzinga Imani: It’s just kind of like, “Wow, there’s really human life growing inside of me!” And it’s unreal what the body is capable of. It’s just one of those things that is warming you up because it’s about to be a whole new level. You’re not only carrying the baby, [and] then you feed the baby, then you grow the baby and teach the baby. It’s just one of those things where you realize you’re there. You’re living life, da-da-da-da, and now… you’re in it, and it’s here. So, just excitement overall and the feeling of knowing that you’re creating life is very surreal.
Parlé Mag: As women, I feel like it’s always this invisible timeline of when we should have a child, when we should get married, when we should have a career. So, as you entered your thirties, did you ever find yourself wanting to beat that biological clock or feeling the pressure of that?
Nzinga Imani: I will definitely say I got a lot of outside pressure. [laughs] My mom was very much so like, “What y’all waiting on? I’m ready to have some grandkids.” [I was] like, “You gotta chill! There are some steps we need to go!” [She was] like, “I don’t care! Do what you need to do!” Of course, as you get older, there are other things that you worry about, in terms of keeping up with having a child and things like that, or if you’ll be able to. But, for me, I didn’t feel a super rush… although I’ve always wanted a child. I expected to have five kids by now, to be honest. Young me definitely expected a big family and to have all these kids before thirty, just in my mindset. I don’t know why, but that was how I thought life would go. I also wasn’t in a rush. I believe in letting God lead the way.
Parlé Mag: Yes!
Nzinga Imani: I feel like my steps were absolutely ordered, and there was not a better time than now, before any earlier, and life could have been very different. You know what I mean? So, I’m grateful that I had this time to mature, to grow, to develop my career, to find the right person. All of those steps were necessary. And I don’t feel the same kind of pressure and rush because I always knew God would bless me in His time… when it’s right. So, [I] just [had to] be patient… and I was. I feel like this is a perfect time. I couldn’t think of a better time, honestly.
Parlé Mag: Are five kids still on the table? Or you’re just taking it one child at a time? [laughs] Nzinga Imani: Absolutely not! Five is off the table, but I will say… I absolutely want to have siblings for this baby.
Parlé Mag: Okay!
Nzinga Imani: Like, I grew up with a lot of siblings. My siblings are my best friends. So, I’m very, very hopeful. I want to have them kids, and I want to have them close together! So, we’ll see what happens… because, once again, I’ma let God lead. If this is one and done, we gon’ spoil the heck out of this little baby! But I really feel like having siblings is such a powerful thing in this world.
Parlé Mag: It is.
Nzinga Imani: So, yeah, I want my baby to have some siblings. I know they have some great cousins and stuff who can grow up with them, but it’s nothing like being raised in a house with someone, experiencing all those different milestones, and having that one person to confide in and give you advice. [One who] comes from the same household and kind of sees things from your perspective, but then, at the same time, totally differently. Yeah, I want some kids!
Parlé Mag: Yassss! Any weird cravings? [laughs] Nzinga Imani: I’ve had a lot more aversions than cravings. Like… a lot more things make me sick–just the smell of them makes me sick [more] than anything else. Early on, the one thing that I could not get past, and this is crazy because I don’t even normally eat this, but Taco Bell had me in a chokehold!
Parlé Mag: Really? [laughs]
Nzinga Imani: That fire sauce! I would either get the Crunchwrap Supreme or a Chicken Quesadilla… add jalapeños. I’m adding jalapeños on everything. This baby loves jalapeños! It might just be me; I love jalapeños, so I just put it on the baby. But Taco Bell had me in chokehold for a minute. And then chocolate strawberries. Like, I’m stopping to get them wherever they are! What’s the cost? What… it’s thirty dollars for six strawberries? Put it in the cart. Put it in the cart! It doesn’t matter at this point because I need them. I have my Publix strawberries and a bottle of Nutella and go to town. But I think those are probably the only two. Other than that, I’ve been more so like, “What are you cooking? Ugh, okay,” and have to leave the room. So, that’s been interesting.
Parlé Mag: Speaking of pregnancy, your debut single, “Drown,” is bound to make a few babies!
Nzinga Imani: Absolutely, we already have!
Parlé Mag: Yes! I love the sensuality of it, the Afrobeats element, super catchy and electrifying.
Nzinga Imani: Thank you!
Parlé Mag: What motivated you to pick this particular song as the introduction to your journey as a music artist?
Nzinga Imani: I feel like it’s flirty, it’s fun, [and] it’s sensual. It was just one of those songs that, to me, instantly, I could listen to it… over and over. It was fun; you could move to it. I think that was a big part of it, too. Something you can move to, not just listen to, but feel the vibe and all of those things. That was why I wanted to start with “Drown” because I feel like it’s a sexy little example of me. You know? [laughs] It kind of encompasses all of the fun of creating. Not to mention, Bae was a big inspiration behind it! So, it just felt like the right mood, the right feeling to put out there. And what people don’t know is, between recording “Drown,” releasing it, [and] filming the music video, all of that I was pregnant for.
Parlé Mag: Wow, really?!
Nzinga Imani: [laughs] All of that! Even the dance classes that we hosted. That’s why I was saying we already have a “Drown” baby. The lap dance class I was co-hosting with Diddy, the choreographer for my music video, we actually had somebody conceive their baby at our first…well, not our first class, let me clarify! [laughs]
Parlé Mag: I was about to say… what?! [laughs] Nzinga Imani: [It was] the weekend of our class, and she definitely blamed us for that, but in the best way. So, I feel like it’s one of those sensual songs that makes you want to love on that person and feel open and vulnerable. And it’s one of my favorite songs that I’ve done. So, it just felt like the right starter to release.
Parlé Mag: As if the track itself isn’t seductive enough, the video is definitely even spicier! [laughs] Nzinga Imani: Yes, yes, yes, yes!
Parlé Mag: Talk to us about the creative production behind it and how it sort of all came together.
Nzinga Imani: So, funnily enough, I mean, once I heard the song, I already had visions of what I saw for it and how I wanted it to come across. My boyfriend is the videographer and director for it. So, I feel like you get kind of a firsthand point-of-view account of just me flirting to the camera, being playful. It’s like you really get that firsthand perspective into what I feel like “Drown” is all about. The colors, the themes. I released it around Valentine’s Day, which is also right around my birthday. So, I wanted it to show the Valentine’s Day vibes mixed with the Aquarius vibes, and I feel like all of that came together, then we threw a dance number in there because why not? It’s funny because it came together so beautifully and so quickly. We had no intention on filming a music video. I was doing a quick little visualizer with some dancers and Diddy. Once we did the visualizer, we were like, “We have a dance. Let’s just shoot a music video!” She had to leave town in like three days. We literally put everything together and filmed it and shot everything within those next three days. It was totally sporadic. I mean, once you have the vision, you know what you need to do to execute. Luckily, I have a lot of ties with different studios in Atlanta from being a model and things like that. So, it was easy for me to figure out what locations I wanted to use. I do my hair; I do my makeup. It was just like, “Let’s get it, let’s do it!” And it came out amazing. Once again, to be able to create that with Diddy, who has long been a supporter and someone who pushes me to push myself when it comes to dancing–like, she has so much belief in me–blows my mind. Then… to also do it with my baby daddy… [laughs]
Parlé Mag: [laughs]
Nzinga Imani: [As] the videographer, director, and to be able to create with him as well. Because I’ve DP’d or assisted in so many of his music videos. So, to kind of flip that has been really great and really magical to see it all come together, for sure.
Parlé Mag: A lot of us grew to know you through modeling [and] also from Angela [in] Zatima. We love you in that role. But… a lot of people don’t know that you’ve actually been singing for a long time. You know, your roots started there. With that said, what has been the scariest part of delving into this new era, or I should say this side of entertainment?
Nzinga Imani: You know, I can’t say anything’s been scary. My expectation with dropping music was to release my other creative side, to share a gift that I’ve long had and a passion that means a lot to me. I didn’t have much fear. I mean, I’ve never really cared too much about how people would perceive certain things I do or anything like that. That’s my superpower, I gotta say. So, for me, it wasn’t scary. It was just kind of like, “Let’s go; let’s take the ride. Let’s see what happens!”
Parlé Mag: Right.
Nzinga Imani: Because, at the end of the day, whether nobody listened to it or whether it got to number one on the charts, I wanted to see. I wanted to put it out there. I feel like your people find you when you just go and put it out there. And the response has been incredible. The response has been really great. I love being able to wake up and tell Alexa to play it and things like that. So, it just feels like a natural progression in the story and the creation of creativity that I’ve been slowly releasing into the world. I just want to continue on that, expand on that, and whatever happens, happens. Because, luckily enough, I’m in a position in my career and life where I’m just open, you know? I’m in a good place, so… we’ll see, yeah.
Parlé Mag: So, what pushed you to do so at this point in your career? Like, what pushed you to say, “Okay, I want to do this, fully.”
Nzinga Imani: I put a hard deadline on myself that I was going to drop something by my birthday. I’ve been recording music for so very long… and then a lot of it never sees the light of day or, you know, it’ll be a feature on somebody else’s thing or something like that. I just felt like, knowing that I had already put this deadline on myself, even before I knew the baby was coming or anything like that, I already put this deadline on myself. I was like, “I don’t want to disappoint the people I made this promise to. I said I was gonna drop something on my birthday last year. The time is approaching. Let’s get it done.” But then, once again, I think the baby was another part that pushed me ahead. Like, now is the time. Just go for it… because you’re gonna have a lot less time soon! [laughs] So, just see what happens.
Parlé Mag: [laughs] Nzinga Imani: I think that’s why now just felt right. In addition to having that timeline I had already put on myself, this was that extra kick and push I needed to go and do what I said I was gonna do. Not to sleep on myself, not to think that time will stand still, because it was like… life is moving!
Parlé Mag: It is!
Nzinga Imani: So, it was just one of those moments where it was like, “Okay, life is moving; you gotta get moving, too. Let’s go, what we doing?” And we did!
Parlé Mag: Congratulations!
Nzinga Imani: Thank you!
Parlé Mag: So, a little birdie told us that you’re working on an EP. Can you share any details about that?
Nzinga Imani: Mhm-hmm! Not too much, but what I will say is, the EP, I think, will be unexpected because it’s not one lane. I don’t stick to any one style of music. I feel like “Drown” definitely had an Afrobeats kind of vibe. There isn’t one lane in this EP. It’ll be a variety of feelings, moods, things that I experience. There’s no limitation on it. So, that’s what I’ll say, in terms of that, but I don’t want to give too much away.
Parlé Mag: Okay!
Nzinga Imani: And I don’t want to put a date on it either. I don’t want to rush it. I feel like there [are] still some things that I may want to add, still some things that I may change or switch up about it. So, [I’m] excited to just be part of the journey, and as I grow and develop and mature and change, allow it to do the same so that when it’s released, it’s the most accurate description of who I am and where I am at that time.
Parlé Mag: Who are your top three musical influences?
Nzinga Imani: I would have to say… I mean, nobody’s got a voice like Whitney, Whitney all day. I love Whitney.
Parlé Mag: Oh, yes!
Nzinga Imani: Beyoncé, obviously. It’s hard to pinpoint the last one, because I feel like I have a love for a variety of styles of music. So, whether that’s like musical theater, I would be thinking about Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald.
Parlé Mag: Okay.
Nzinga Imani: But more pop styles. I love Ariana Grande’s voice. I feel like our voices are very similar in tone. So, I always love to cover songs with her. Jessie J, I love the way she sings. That’s not my style or tone, so it’s just something I admire! I’m not quite so soulful, even though I wish I were! I have a variety of musical inspirations that I pull from or admire, and they span across different genres. I love that because you never know what’s going to be playing on my radio. You never know what’s on my playlist. They do not let me control the aux cord on road trips at all. [laughs] And I get it. I get it. I got to be alone to really be in my jam and vibe out the way I want to because you never know what you might get.
Nzinga Imani preparing to sing the national anthem at the Hawks vs. Wizards gameParlé Mag: So, you received major praise for performing the national anthem at the Hawks vs. Wizards game. And I’m pretty sure that was a major accomplishment for you to scratch off your bucket list. As a songstress, do you have any other things you would like to accomplish?
Nzinga Imani: Oh, absolutely! A Broadway show, I need that. I would love to star in a Broadway show. I would love just any kind of musical performance–whether that’s like a TV special [or] a television series. Any way that I can bring music into acting and performing on a wide scale would just be a dream come true, one hundred percent. I’d love to do more national anthems. I’d love to do more performances in general. I feel like “Drown” isn’t a song you can sing at every event. It’s a little sensual! [laughs]
Parlé Mag: It is! [laughs] Nzinga Imani: It will be more family-friendly songs in the EP as well. A mixture of both, because some [are] gonna go one way and some [are] gonna go the other way. [laughs] We’ll have something to pull from for more family-friendly events. But, yeah, I definitely hope to continue to sing more, hope to be able to blend that gift with my acting more and showcase both talents at the same time. That’s the dream.
Parlé Mag: So, when it’s all said and done, what would you like your artistic contribution to be to the music industry?
Nzinga Imani: Ooooh! I think unapologetic creativity, not feeling limited to one thing, not feeling stuck or like you have to be a certain way, sing a certain thing, sing a certain way, or genre. Just the ability to experiment and truly create from a place of creation and not the idea of what will sell, what will… make money, what will make the company money. Like, no, what feels good? What is fun to listen to? What makes you feel whatever emotion I’m trying to convey? That is the end goal. Just to be able to maintain that creative freedom.
Parlé Mag: We’ve talked about the bops and the baby, but let’s get into this body! You look amazing, I should say.
Nzinga Imani: Thank you!
Parlé Mag: Being that you’ve been at the forefront of plus-size representation, there’s this conversation surrounding people within the body-positivity community and weight loss, as if they’re promoting diet culture or reinforcing fatphobia. What are your thoughts on the dialogue surrounding that?
Nzinga Imani: It breaks my heart that people are so judgmental in either direction. I feel like you have one life to live, and you have to live it whatever is the way you want to live it. I don’t feel like I personally wanted to lose weight because I disliked myself, because I didn’t think I was beautiful, or anything like that. I never had those thoughts. What I did think was I knew I most likely wasn’t going to be able to conceive naturally if I didn’t lose weight. And I did want a baby. I had pains in my knees. I had certain things that I was dealing with personally and health-wise that I didn’t want to continue as I moved. I knew I was getting older. I knew that my snapback wasn’t gon’ to snap the same way back. For me, it was just kind of like [I was telling myself], “Now is the time to make a shift. Otherwise, you may miss certain things. You may miss the opportunity to conceive naturally. You may miss the opportunity to correct certain ailments in your body before they get too far… where then you are really hurting yourself.” I know one of my friends was hospitalized last year–well, two years ago now–and I think that was a big eye-opening experience for me as well. When you’re in those sudden situations where you’re in a hospital–and there [are] other people taking care of you; you don’t know how the nurses and doctors are gonna treat you or if you’ll be able to fight or fend for yourself–that was a really horrific thing for me to witness. I think it was one of those moments that opened my eyes. Like, you have to make a shift because you don’t know what tomorrow will hold. You don’t know what might happen, and you want to be in the best possible situation if any of these things were to happen. You want to just put yourself in the best possible place.
Parlé Mag: Exactly.
Nzinga Imani: I honestly lost more weight than I expected to implementing the things I did. But I didn’t have a goal number. I didn’t have an amount of weight I was trying to lose. My focus was making these changes and maintaining them so that I don’t repeat the cycle or go back on the thing I’m trying to achieve, which was ultimately to have a baby. I mean, even though it wasn’t planned, I knew, hormonally, I had to make changes in order to conceive. So, it was like, it wasn’t planned, but it was, because I knew I was taking those steps to prepare. For me, it’s like, you have one life to live, and you can’t live it for anyone else. So, enjoy your life, whatever that means to you. Also, take control in whatever way that means to you, whether that’s accepting where you are, loving on yourself and where you are, or making the changes that you want to see if that’s what you so choose. I hate that we live in a place where it’s like… no matter what you do, your body is constantly–
Parlé Mag: Judged!
Nzinga Imani: Yeah! I mean, I’m constantly deleting comments about me losing weight. People have the most disgusting things to say, no matter where you are in your journey. When I was bigger, of course, I got horrible comments, and now that I’m smaller, I get similar comments.
Parlé Mag: Wow.
Nzinga Imani: And then similar assumptions about how I lost the weight or whatever the case may be. It’s like people who don’t know you projecting their feelings, doubts, and insecurities and just their hate for whatever they got going on… on you. At the end of the day, you can’t let that noise get in your head because it’ll spiral you down in the opposite direction, to be honest. So, you just have to be able to block it out and focus on what you want to see for yourself and whatever that means.
Parlé Mag: Has it affected you professionally, like certain jobs you may have gotten due to being plus-size or for plus-size representation?
Nzinga Imani: I haven’t had to stop working with any of the brands I work with because I just went from being 3X, 4X to being 1X. However, I’m not sure because I do know that there are certain projects and things like that that people were considering me for that I personally had to pull away [from], and they were like, “Well, we can put you in a suit. Da-da-da.” I’m not doing that because, to me, we have enough representation in the plus community where if that role is no longer for me, it’s no longer for me, and that’s okay. What’s for me is for me, and I trust that things will come along. I mean, one thing is, I gotta get a new reel because [in] all my footage, I look totally different now. You know? Just navigating the industry is definitely different, but I don’t feel like we’re ever hindered. We are where we’re supposed to be, and we’re doing the things we’re supposed to be doing. If I continue to do the work I’m doing, the right opportunities will come. That’s kind of where I’m focused now. A lot of people have wanted to hire me for things that I’ve been like, “no.” I got a lot of GLP-1 commercial offers. For me, I’m like, “I’m not gonna do that.” For one, because that’s not how I lost the weight, but also because I’m always about truthful representation. I don’t feel like the main thing about me is that I lost weight. You know what I mean? So, for me, I don’t really want to do anything that focuses solely on that. There’s so much more to me. There’s so much to my journey, where it’s like, “We’ll find something else. That’s okay.”
Parlé Mag: What’s next for you? What can we expect?
Nzinga Imani: I don’t want to speak too much, but [I’m] about to go back into production for something that I shall not speak of! I’m really excited about going back into production. And then I’m just excited to step into mommyhood. Like, I’ll be locked in on that for several months. [laughs] So, whenever I do come out of my mommy cave–and just know I’m gonna come out with some fire–I’m gonna come out with some new magic. After that, I’ll be locked into mommy mode.
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