Teyana Taylor is clearly in her lucky girl era—and she’s making it look effortless. From winning the Met Gala to starring in not one, not two, but three major film and TV show projects this year, plus a surprise return to music (with executive producer Missy Elliott, no less), and a hard-launch romance with rising star Aaron Pierre (yep…that’s Mufasa!), Teyana is reminding the world that she’s divinely favored.
With abs of steel, a face card that never declines, and a creative force that transcends categories, Teyana Taylor is no longer just a star. She’s a supernova.
But in all honesty, if you have followed her journey closely like we have, you know this moment isn’t mere luck at all. Teyana’s legacy has been years in the making.
A LOOK BACK AT TEYANA TAYLOR’S IT GIRL HISTORY
We’ve felt Teyana’s It Girl presence since her unforgettable debut on MTV’s My Super Sweet 16. Since then, she’s carved out a dynamic and deeply creative path: collaborating with Pharrell, dropping her debut R&B album VII (still a classic), choreographing for Beyoncé, launching exclusive sneakers, becoming a style icon, starring in films, directing music videos, starting her own video production company, balancing being a wife and mommy, leaving us shooketh in Kanye West’s Fade music video, starring in her own VH1 docuseries, and making history as a creative director and muse for some of the biggest names in music, beauty, and fashion.
Honestly, truly–Teyana has had her foot on our necks since 2012. Respectfully.
Still, her ascent hasn’t been without setbacks. Teyana has weathered public scrutiny, rumors, online spats, brand fallouts, friendship breakups, health battles, and music industry politics. And in one of the more painful chapters, she quietly endured a difficult and very public divorce from NBA player Iman Shumpert.
During that period, Teyana stepped back from the spotlight, citing a lack of support in the industry and the toll it took on her mental health. She retired from music and embarked on a farewell tour—a bittersweet goodbye for fans who long admired her unique artistry and vulnerability.
And even though we completely understood Teyana’s desire to prioritize her mental health and well-being, her early retirement announcement left us shattered. Seriously, we didn’t want Petunia to leave us!
But what we didn’t know then: Teyana Taylor’s comeback was already in motion.
FROM BREAKING POINT TO BREAKTHROUGH
Last year, she marked the anniversary of her debut album VII with a stripped-down live performance that gave us chills. In an emotional Instagram post, she revealed her voice had changed—deeper, raspier, richer—after singing through years of heartbreak.
To us, it sounded like resilience.
By February, she was front and center again—announced as the creative director and campaign muse for Victoria’s Secret’s Very Sexy Edit. That same month, she graced the cover of Essence magazine and was honored at their Black Women in Hollywood event, a full-circle recognition of her contributions to culture.
INSIDE TEYANA TAYLOR’S LUCKY GIRL STREAK
Then came the announcement of her new steamy hot romance. At Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s coveted Gold Party following the Oscars, Teyana posted a sultry snapshot with actor Aaron Pierre—and the internet collectively gasped (and secretly asked to be a fly on the wall!). But she wasn’t done.
Shortly after, she revealed she’d be starring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio (yes, that Leonardo DiCaprio!) in the upcoming action film One Battle After Another, premiering September 26.
Teyana continued to gag us in April when she was seen hanging out with Will Smith to promote the release of their song Hard Times. Yes—thee Will Smith! It was at this moment that as fans of her music, we got a little bit excited.
Was our girl back in the studio making new music? Couldn’t be. We told ourselves not to get too hyped. She did announce she was retired after all.
Mere days later, Teyana was featured in a stunning spread in Vogue’s coveted May Met Gala issue (photographed by Tyler Mitchell and styled by Law Roach).
This was followed by Teyana’s show-stopping appearance at the Met Gala itself—draped in a couture Rose in Harlem-inspired tailored look by Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth Carter.
The glam? Immaculate. Hair, nails, makeup, jewelry—it was a masterclass in Teyana Taylor’s amassing star power.
May brought even more headlines: Teyana announced roles in two new streaming projects—All’s Fair, a Ryan Murphy Hulu series on Disney Plus starring Kim Kardashian, and Straw, a Netflix film alongside Taraji P. Henson directed by Tyler Perry.
By early June, she revealed yet another major project: a film called Tudum with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, dropping next year on Netflix.
Then came the moment we didn’t see coming—her official un-retirement from music. Teyana surprised fans with her brand-new single “Long Time,” a cinematic visual co-starring her real-life love interest Aaron Pierre and actor LaKeith Stanfield. The single’s executive producer? None other than super-duper music muse, Missy Elliott.
Whew. We have yet to catch our breath.
WHEN FAITH MEETS WORKS
Teyana Taylor is showing the world what happens when you stay rooted in your purpose, tune out the noise, and keep building—even when no one’s watching. For those just catching on, it may look like an overnight glow-up. But we know better: this is the result of years of Teyana’s hard work and dedication, faithful prayer, active creativity, unwavering belief in her dreams, and quiet perseverance.
Teyana didn’t just survive—she alchemized pain into power. And now, the world is finally catching up.
We couldn’t be more proud to witness her evolution and can’t wait to support everything she does next.
So the next time someone (clearly living under a rock atp) dares to ask, “Teyana Taylor? What does she even do?”— Just tell them: Google her.
Because this Muse Ever After is not hard to find.
