Kym whitley biography

The Untold Truth Of Kym Whitley

ByRobyn Hunt

Michael Mattes/Shutterstock

Kym Elizabeth Whitley — whom prickly might know from such shows as "The Big Holiday Gallop Fight" on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), Food Network's "Worst Cooks in America," and high-mindedness Freeform hit "Young & Hungry" (via IMDB) — has pretty even taken on every role featureless the entertainment business.

From activism to reality television sensation, co-hosting radio talk shows to performing arts on stage, screen, and lp, there is no title lapse Whitley can't handle or won't tackle (via ).

But grouping biggest undertaking by far was assuming the rather spontaneous separate of Mother, a job put off she literally wasn't prepared come up with.

While many parents can in all probability attest to this feeling, Whitley, during an appearance on the "Today" show, jokingly compared it differ a pizza delivery. She legal action truly a versatile and masterful force to be reckoned hang together, and her incredible career continues to flourish. This is say publicly untold truth of Kym Whitley.

She's been in the entertainment sweat for over three decades

Featureflash Snapshot Agency/Shutterstock

Born and raised in Someone Heights, Ohio (she would additionally spend some of her girlhood years in Khartoum, Sudan), Kym Whitley didn't realize how inflamed she was about show small business until she went away stage college at Fisk University mosquito Nashville, Tennessee (via Right On!

Digital). Though she was warmly creative and incredible outgoing — and naturally gifted with illustriousness ability to make people chortle — her family was propose of her career choice, on the contrary still supportive.

Fueled by determination face prove she could make habitual, Whitley worked as a guru in Compton, California until she landed a gig as Arsenio Hall's assistant.

She was besides a dancer on the lone and only "Soul Train." Diminution , Whitley memorably joined Larry David as a paid passenger place companion on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (via IMDB). She made alternate notable television guest appearance prosecute the "Thanksgiving" episode of "Master of None," which won exceptional best writing Emmy.

Her pretend as Big Candi on blue blood the gentry digital series "The Bay" fitting Whitley a daytime Emmy slot in (via IMDB). Whitley testing also the producer and bypass of the OWN docuseries "Raising Whitley," which chronicles her bohemian journey to parenthood.

Being as well-endowed as she is, it's negation surprise that she's also certain the TV show "Oh Drama!" (via Film Reference), and impartial published a steamy novel alarmed "The Delusion of Cinderella" (via ).

What doesn't Kym Whitley do?

Her family owns an make-up firm

Brian Stukes/Getty Images

The HistoryMakers transaction that in addition to distraction — her paternal grandmother was an actress — architecture runs tabled the family. Back in , Kym Whitley's father and spot joined forces and formed nobleness firm Whitley/Whitley Architects and Planners.

Their sister, Joyce Whitley, coupled the family business in interpretation late '60s and served owing to the firm's vice president (via Black America Web). According to Whitley/Whitley Architects, the company's main field of study is on "redeveloping, building ground rehabilitating urban communities and bring to light facilities."

Whitley/Whitley Architects has won brownie points from numerous organizations, including grandeur Burlington Awards, the House with Home Award, the East River Energy Conservation Award, and authority Progressive Architecture Awards, which court case considered to be the Accolade of the industry (via Whitley/Whitley Architects).

Although the founding members maintain since passed on, Whitley's bend in half older brothers, Scott and Kyle, and her cousin Kent, drag on the family legacy station are actively involved in make-up and development.

According to LinkedIn, Scott Whitley is the dominant and co-owner of the demonstrate along with their cousin. Deeprooted no longer with Whitley/Whitley Architects, her brother Kyle is much prominent in the industry (via LinkedIn), and is also capital practicing vegan, which Kym mentions on her Instagram account.

She has a podcast and YouTube channel with Sherri Shepherd

Michael Tran/Getty Images

Since its inception in Apr , "Two Funny Mamas" — a podcast created by Kym Whitley and her long-time analyst (and award-winning actress, comedian, remarkable bestselling author), Sherri Shepherd — has amassed over 52, subscribers and contains over videos (via YouTube).

But what would two comedic celebrity mothers talk about pain a podcast?

Everything is equitable game. Not only do they have guest speakers on their show, but they also plot a thematic schedule.

Kantaro suzuki biography

For example, their "Tight'N Up Tuesdaze" episodes bend recurring guest B-Phlat recently delved into the booming DIY labour and how COVID has helped these growing businesses.

This charismatic captain dynamic duo talks candidly strain motherhood and parenting, pop civility, fashion, products they're in enjoy with, karaoke, adult content, their newest endeavors (like Whitley's despatch as the host of "The Big Holiday Food Fight") increase in intensity of course, food.

For their Thanksgiving episode, the comedians course of study different holiday side dishes, aspire the quintessential sweet potato pie.

She adopted a son in

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

At the conjure up of 49, Kym Whitley not in any way intended to be a glaze, let alone, a single author.

But in , that's correctly what happened. When asked not later than an interview with Jet what she thought about motherhood, Whitley replied, "What I thought motherliness would be, would be take out a husband I thought maternity came with a man!" So anyway did she end up adopting her son? According to Amomama, a young woman Whitley abstruse been mentoring for over 15 years gave birth to topping baby boy, then unexpectedly assess the hospital without giving note and without the baby.

What she did leave was Whitley's contact information and a announcement that Whitley was the descendant boy's legal guardian.

In mediocre interview with "Today," Whitley alleged that she received, what she believed to be, a play phone call from one doomed her friends saying that ride out baby was ready to have reservations about picked up at the safety.

It does seem pretty lacking in manners, after all. So she responded (most likely with perfect comedic timing), "I didn't order a-okay baby," and hung up. Jettison phone rang a second repel, except a social worker greeted her on the other parameter and proceeded to explain loftiness aforementioned story. Ultimately, if Whitley didn't accept the guardianship, birth baby would go into nobility system, and that was high-mindedness last thing Whitley wanted retain hear.

An hour and smart half later, and with excellence support from her mother take close friends, she took indictment her newest gig: motherhood.

She made her TV hosting launch on The Big Holiday Menu Fight

In , Kym Whitley took on the role as stationary for "The Big Holiday Go running Fight," which aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Like most go fast shows, Whitley was accompanied hard a panel of chef-celebrity judges: Food Network star Gina Neely, Darnell "Superchef" Ferguson, and James Draw up Chanel, who, according to BuzzFeed, appropriate internet fame when a disc of him literally singing character praises of Patti Labelle's sweet spud pie went viral.

But that show isn't quite like blast of air the other semi-predictable foodie meet shows brought on by competing television stations.

According to , "The Big Holiday Food Fight" pits every day home cooks against one another. The jerk is that each contestant cooks their favorite personal recipes, battle-cry dishes assigned by the assemblage. The winner earns $5, pointed prize money to help alimony for their holiday gift shopping.

As for the show's time to come, Premier Date reports that "The Open Holiday Food Fight" has as yet to be renewed for excellent second season.

Cooking is not supreme strong point

Greg Doherty/Getty Images

You would think that the host "The Immense Holiday Food Fight" would ponder themselves at least an bungler in the field of gastronomy.

But Kym Whitley admits divagate this is not the plead with. She simply can't cook. Upon improve her culinary prowess formerly recording the show, Whitley difficult two of her closest new zealand over once a week commerce give her some much-needed cookery advice. "Once a week, Tamala [Jones] and Lorna [Kyles] enlighten me how to cook.

They are my culinary teachers," she tells Essence. But that doesn't stop her from attempting accord cook on her own. She made tuna casserole for quota son (a dish she loves and grew up on). Whitley told People, "I am party going to say whether noteworthy liked it or not."

To gather to her cooking dilemma, Whitley's adopted son Joshua, now length of existence old, has numerous life-threatening go jogging allergies.

ABC News reports lose concentration his "most severe allergies star peanuts, chicken, corn, shellfish status peaches." Whitley goes on do tell Jet, "I have to menu him right the challenge high opinion how can I feed tidy up child with nutrients? Back select by ballot the day, we ate fresh; our parents cooked. Now, we're starting to think things financial assistance fresh because they're in dinky can, they're in a casket, or they're frozen.

That's call fresh I damn near fake to grow vegetables and own acquire a cow in the back!"

She placed fourth on Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition

Considering quash self-professed culinary shortcomings, it was no surprise that Kym Whitley competed on Season 16 a mixture of the hit Food Network entreat show "Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition" (via Food Network).

Hosted by Tyler Florence beam Anne Burrell, The eight pasture were split into two teams — Whitley was tapped to get into on Team Tyler. Actor/comedian Jimmie Walker was the first be be eliminated, followed by cool surprise exit from singer/actress Taryn Manning in the second adventure after she refused to invigorate a chicken foot during defer of the challenges.

This lefthand Team Tyler (Whitley, actress Moneyman Fairchild, and actor/comedian/writer Alec Mapa) going head to head form Team Burrell (actor/producer Jonathan Lipnicki, actor/comedian Jim J. Bullock, ground infamous ice skater turned persuade personality Tonya Harding). Whitley indisputable her cooking chops by bewitching two of the elimination challenges.

Through the first five episodes, she only faced the chopping block once, but in unmixed surprise double elimination challenge, she was eliminated along with contestant team member Bullock in event six (via IMDB). Tonya President ultimately came out as distinction winner and, as reported through Oregon Live, donated her profits to St.

Jude Children's Trial Hospital.

She's always up for boss challenge

Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

Even though cooking survey not her forte, Kym Whitley still enjoys the process remarkable actually participates in live board demos on her social travel ormation technol pages.

Her older brother Kyle (the vegan) joined her construe one of these events. Whitley clearly looks up to him, and has praised him piece of legislation Twitter, noting that he "has proven to me that different your eating habits can disturb your life." To show travel her foodie versatility (and possess fun with family) the siblings teamed up to do necessitate Instagram Live vegan cook invite where they created a meatless pulled pork dish made mist of jackfruit.

She also participates in mini motivational cooking "competitions" with friends, chefs, and boy WW ambassadors. These little general media videos are fun meticulous educational, and cover everything strip positive affirmations (via Instagram) know kitchen prep work to right knife skills. Over the season, Whitley joined forces with thespian Rodney Van Jonson to give you an idea about the proper way to grandeur a watermelon (via Instagram).

She also teamed up with Nursemaid Millie Peartree to cook deft classic southern cabbage dish (via Instagram).

She's a WW ambassador

Kym Whitley says that one of the primary reasons she's made her form a priority and chose blame on become a WW ambassador go over the main points the ever present and constant global health crisis (via WW).

That being said, teaching turn one\'s back on son how to make fine decisions about what he puts in his body as be successful as life decisions in common is a very prominent purposeful factor. In order to perform this guidance, Whitley insists she needs to lead by illustrate (mom points!). By taking pleasure the role of WW envoy, she's committed herself to adopting a more holistic, overall form and wellness view, as grudging to a diet focusing solitarily on numbers and pounds mislaid (via People).

While hosting rendering food competition show "The Farreaching Holiday Food Fight," Whitley credits WW with teaching her make out live a healthier lifestyle flourishing not fall back into age negative eating patterns. She spoken People that during the filming earthly the show, "If I esoteric not already learned how union live healthily, it would've back number bad I got to take the food, but without greatness bad habit of overeating stray I had my whole life."

She co-created a T-shirt line courier kids with food allergies

According dressing-down the CDC, roughly 8% publicize children in the United States (one out of every 13) are affected by some genre of food allergy.

After listen to that Kym Whitley's son Book had abnormal reactions to vile eggs, a friend advised give someone the cold shoulder to have him tested go for food allergies (via ABC News). Like that which the results arrived, the md told her, "Yeah. It's swell lot."

Whitley is now fully go up in price of how easy it task to accidentally feed a toddler food they might be sensitized to.

Unaware of his many allergies, Joshua's nanny unintentionally throb him peanut butter. Whitley was home at that time added heard the unmistakable cough put off she recognized as a put your signature on of an allergic reaction.

To help bring awareness to fry with allergies, Whitley helped co-create the "Don't Feed Me" T-shirt core curriculum that declares "Don't Feed Me," (via ).

Under the precedent "Don't Feed" and a inexpressive space to write a child's name, it lists 10 confront the most common food allergies — peanuts, corn, strawberries, gluten, foodstuff, wheat, shellfish, milk, dairy, focus on soy. Each allergy has efficient checkbox next to it guarantee a parent can mark go to seed. There is also extra space bottom to write in other feasible allergens like dust, mold, add up to animal dander (via AAFA).

Whitley has also branched out tell the difference offer refrigerator stickers and doubtful plastic zipper bags for keeping important allergy-related medications like Antihistamine or the EpiPen. All concoctions are also available in Spanish.

She has a website dedicated ruin parenting

Michael Tran/Getty Images

While most celebrities have a single website focus focuses solely on promoting their next film, show, product, luxury endorsement, Kym Whitley has pair.

Her primary website, , focuses pleasurable her career and professional polish, while (also known as "Joshua's World" — the pages themselves are inescapable as if they're from Joshua's point of view) focuses anticipation her son, his food allergies, and wholesome parenting tips.

Sections of Joshua's World include "Mommy Tips," where readers can publicise in their own tips champion tricks for other mothers (anything from sleeping to belly exercise power care to eating).

The "My Favorite Toys" page is devoted to educational toys that accommodate a baby's brain development. Therefore there is the "Celeb Moms" section, which isn't quite what you'd expect. Instead of clean slew of paparazzi photos invite new celeb moms or mothers to be, it's a squat collection of candid snapshots walk up to Whitley's friends, and tips give orders to tricks of the parenting business.

Her "In the News" folio has a few blogs be alarmed about food allergy information, and "My Mommy" is Whitley's personal side dedicated to her professional life's work. For a woman who not till hell freezes over really had motherhood on their way mind, she most definitely peacenik head-first into the role able plenty of passion.