In today’s environment, it makes no difference whether you’re a gay couple or a heterosexual pair. However, when it comes to interracial weddings, especially between black and white couples, we remain conservative.
Gary Owen and his wife Kenya Duke, on the other hand, defied all prejudices. Not only do they have a wonderful marriage, but they also have a wonderful family.
Their long-term interracial marriage is one of the most inspiring examples of interracial love. Furthermore, many of you may not be aware that Gary is Kenya’s second husband. So, who was her first husband, then?
Find out everything you need to know about Kenya’s parents, children, first spouse, father, and more!
Early Life
Kenya Owen was born in the United States on May 9th, 1968, as Kenya Simon Duke. Barbara Jean Cooper and her husband are her parents. Her father served in the Navy.
Kenya didn’t get to spend much time with her father, unfortunately. Kenya’s father died when she was just six years old, according to her mother Barbara.
Kenya’s mother never talked about their father when she was growing up, so she doesn’t know anything about him. Kenya also claims that her mother didn’t have a good relationship with her father.
Barbara refused to talk about his father-in-law in an episode of The Gary Owen Show when Gary asked about him.
Kenya also disclosed in the show that her father wasn’t a great husband based on her mother’s reaction. This is why, since her father’s death, she has never taken Kenya to his grave. Kenya is 52 years old and has yet to pay a second visit to her father’s grave.
Her mother, Barbara, also lives in Ohio, close to Gary and Kenya’s home. Owen had only been there for a month when she moved there.
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Kenya Duke- Career
Kenya is enjoying her professional life just as much as her husband, Gary, who is a well-known comedian and actor. Premier Sports and Corporate Travel is her company.
She also flips houses, according to her Instagram bio. For the uninitiated, the term “flipping house” refers to the act of purchasing a revenue-generating asset and then reselling it for a profit.
Tarek El Moussa, the host of Flip or Flop, is a well-known house flipper. She has also worked with TWiSM, a clothing business.
She is also an actress, with roles in Aries Spears: Hollywood, Look I’m Smiling (2011), Gary Owen: Breakin’ Out the Park (2008), and DeRay Davis: Power Play thus far (2010).
Relationship Status
On July 19th, 2003, the husband and wife married in front of their friends and family. Kenya wore a lovely white gown at the wedding, while her groom wore a sky blue suit. She also walked down the aisle with a bouquet of white flowers in her hand.
Since then, their bond has grown stronger and stronger. It would be an understatement to call them one of the most passionate and loving interracial couples. In several of his stand-up routines, her husband discusses their ethnic disparities.
The rest of the conversation demonstrates that they are both quite accepting of their differences. Perhaps this is the key to their long-term relationship’s success.
Kenya’s wedding was marred by a slew of issues
Unlike their rock-solid marriage, the couple’s wedding wasn’t particularly memorable. Both of them arrived late at first, and as a result, the pastor had to leave. Later, a brawl erupted, with one side landing a punch.
It’s not over yet. As a result, the couple had placed an order for a five-tier wedding cake. However, only one tier of the cake could be saved after the baker, who appeared to be a lady, slipped and damaged the cake.
At the same time, a strip club was located just in front of the church where they were meant to marry. A dancer was allegedly beaten up at the club by a pimp.
We can safely state that the ceremony was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for the couple and their children who were also present.
Kenya is a single mother of three children
Emilio Toliver Owen, Kennedy Owen, and Austin Owen are the celebrity wife’s three children. Gary Owen’s family includes his wife and children.
Emilio, her oldest son, was born on January 18, 1991. He is currently 29 years old. Emilio is a son she shares with her ex-husband. Gary, her second husband, eventually adopted him.
Kennedy, Kenya and Gary’s only child, was born on July 3rd, 2002. She is currently 20 years old. Her daughter is a student at North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University right now.
On November 27, 2000, Duke gave birth to her son Austin. He is a 20-year-old man. When did Kenya and Gary start dating? Their strange first encounter took place in the late 1990s outside Sunset Boulevard’s Comedy Club. Gary was an up-and-coming comedian at the time, and he had a show at the club.
Many of you may be aware that they first met thanks to NBA legend Shaquille O’Neil’s assistance. Kenya used to work for Shaq’s apparel business, TWIsM, back in the day. He also took one of his employees, Kenya, to the comedy club.
Gary Owen is seen on a date
Kenya claims that the first time she saw him, he was quite amusing. They didn’t exchange numbers or even speak until their second meeting, which took place at the same spot.
Kenya approached Gary again, but this time it wasn’t to ask him out. She only wanted to tell him that his second performance was far inferior to his first. Gary immediately requested for her phone number, and before long, they had been conversing on the phone for a year.
Gary asked her out after a year of talking on the phone, and the rest is history.
Gary Owen and Kenya Duke are divorcing
Just when you think everything is going smoothly, life throws you a curveball. We always thought of Kenya and Gary as one of the most inspiring couples whenever we talked about them. The inspirational couple, though, has split up.
Kenya filed for divorce in March 2021, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split. Gary had just posted a video on his Instagram account previewing a new show, The Gary Owen Show, a week before TMZ broke the news of his divorce.
Kenya Duke Owen’s first husband is who?
Kenya has been able to keep details about her first spouse under wraps so far. Her first husband’s name is Emilio Toliver Sr., which we know. Her ex-husband and she had a son together, as we previously stated.
Emilio is currently living a life away from the spotlight. Kenya, on the other hand, is averse to discussing her relationship with Emilio. He has an Instagram account that hasn’t been updated since 2019.
He has one grandchild, according to his Instagram account. Kenya has had a few affairs in the past, aside from him.
She also maintains that, with the exception of her spouse, she has never dated a white man. Gary, on the other hand, has always had a thing for black ladies since he was a kid.
Kenya’s mother, Barbara, was dubious when Kenya began dating Gary. She even inquired if she was still willing to date a black man rather than marry a white man.
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