Gabrielle Monique Union is a well-known actress, singer, and former model residing in the United States. She is popular for her roles in the movies Bring It On, Bad Boys II, Cadillac Records, and Think Like A Man.
She worked at a talent agency to supplement her acting income while playing soccer at the University of Nebraska. Gabrielle Union didn't plan to become an actress initially, even though many people who have witnessed her perform, praised her beauty, natural talent, and star quality.
Early Life and Childhood
Union was brought up in Pleasanton, California, while being born in Omaha, Nebraska, on October 29, 1973. Her age is 49 years, as of writing.
The early years of Union's life were spent in a wealthy black neighborhood as part of a big family that had lived in the Omaha region for many generations.
The small community was primarily made up of white people but her mother made sure that she and her siblings were educated about their Black heritage.
Union struggled with self-esteem issues as a child since she thought as a child that the epitome of beauty was blonde, therefore if she didn't resemble that, she must be unattractive.
When she was younger, she learned how to decide to be an independent woman who can handle her problems on her own and can resist being pushed down.
Education
Union was a brilliant and ambitious athlete in high school who excelled in basketball, soccer, and track. She was just eight years old when her family immigrated to Pleasanton, California, where she later attended Foothill High School.
Union played varsity soccer while attending the University of Nebraska to study. Later, she switched schools and enrolled in Cuesta College before deciding to transfer to UCLA, where she graduated with a sociology degree.
Family, Parents
Her mother Theresa worked as a manager at a phone firm, and her father Sylvester E. Union was a corporate executive and a former military sergeant.
She has two sisters Kelly Union and Tracy Union. Having been married for thirty years, Union's parents separated.
She stated that they managed the divorce and their ensuing adjustment into a dysfunctional family with decency, respect, and grace. They excluded us and constantly placed us last.
She is fortunate to be able to just emulate what her parents did and always put the children first.
Professional Career
Career in Modeling
Following graduation, she accepted a job as a temporary office assistant at a modeling agency, where clients frequently confused her for one of the models. She accepted the agency's invitation to become a model, and after doing so, she began to appear in magazines like Teen.
Career in Movies and Tv Shows
Minor roles were Union's entry point into the performing world. She had her very first tryout for Saved by the Bell. Union landed a string of guest parts on various TV shows during the ensuing years.
After that, she started acting in many movies and enjoyed great success. Her most notable film roles include Isis in the cheerleading film "Bring It On" and Will Smith's girlfriend in the movie "Bad Boys 2."
In the ABC sitcom "FlashForward," Union portrayed a recurrent role. She received an "NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series" nomination in 2010 for her work in the show.
Personal Life
First Marriage: Married Life with Chris Howard (2001-2005)
At a party in 1999, Union met Chris Howard, an NFL player. They were married on May 5th, 2001, and separated in October 2005. Their divorce was finalized a year later in 2006.
She described the marriage as a "dumb relationship that shouldn't have progressed past the courtship stage." Union acknowledged that she was not "winning wife of the year awards" for her marriage to the former Jacksonville Jaguars athlete and said she felt bad about his prior affairs.
She had said that she had to settle all of the expenses because she believed that what comes—the spoils of her wealth.
She said that portion of her alleged infidelity was caused by Howard's alleged infidelity, and the other portion was due to her philosophy on the dynamics of power in relationships.
Second Marriage: Dwyane Wade (2014-present)
When it comes to their relationship, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade have never been hesitant to be open and honest.
The couple began dating in February 2007, but it took them more than two years to make their relationship known to the world.
When they first met, Wade was still married to his then-wife, Siohvaughn Funches, with whom he raises two children, Zaya and Zaire.
After initially announcing their separation in 2005, Union just divorced her first spouse, former NFL player Chris Howard.
Union and Wade first revealed their romance in 2010, and they subsequently got married in 2014. Union became the stepmother of Wade's two kids with Funches, as well as his son Xavier. Wade is also Dahveon Morris' guardian under the law. In November 2018, the couple welcomed their daughter Kaavia James.
Gabrielle Union's Difficulties During Pregnancies
Union disclosed that she had been dealing with infertility problems for years and had suffered "eight or nine miscarriages" as a result of adenomyosis, a uterine disorder comparable to endometriosis.
Many people, especially those who experience fertility problems, simply respond "no," since this is much simpler than being truthful about what is truly happening " she added.
Union claimed that despite her challenges, she and Wade "are still overflowing with love and will stop at nothing to have the child we've both always wanted.
Being Rape Victim
In 1992, when Union was 19 years old, she was working part-time work in a Payless Store when she was attacked and raped. Union and another employee were shutting the store that evening when an armed guy came in, emptied the cash register, and forced Union into a sexual assault while holding a gun to his head. She eventually managed to acquire the gun and made an effort to shoot her assailant.
But when the gun jammed, the man beat her before leaving the shop. Later, after turning himself in, Union discovered that the man was a worker of another Payless location who had previously assaulted a Payless employee and committed several store robberies.
He was found guilty of his conduct against Union, and she later won a lawsuit against Payless for negligence on their part for failing to alert staff to the man's prior offenses and potential threat to other female employees.
Union turned to her closest friends for support after the incident left her traumatized. She started gathering with a group of other victims who had also survived sexual assault, and for many years she spoke up in favor of other victims.
She was profoundly changed by this terrifying experience, becoming a stronger, more resilient individual.
Net worth
Hollywood needs to take Gabrielle Union seriously. She is among the wealthiest actresses with more than $40 million net worth. She earns most of her money from her lucrative acting career and Flawless by Gabrielle Union, her haircare line.
A professional NBA player, her husband is thought to be worth $170 million. His lucrative basketball career and the endorsement deals that go along with it are what bring in the money.
Assets, Properties, and Other Sources of Income
Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union's joint net worth is largely derived from their real estate holdings. In February 2020, Dwyane and Gabrielle invested $20 million in a lavish home in Hidden Hills, California.
A home cinema, a cabana by the swimming, an indoor swimming pool, and a 12-car garage with an automated turntable are all features of the two-story, 22,000-square-foot residence.
They also own a house in Sherman Oaks that they purchased in 2018 for $6 million. The couple also owns a huge oceanfront home in Miami that Dwyane bought in 2010 while he was a player for The Heat for $10.7 million.
The year 2019 saw a $32.5 million asking price placed on this house's listing, however, it was later reduced to $29 million. The property was still for sale in 2020. Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade signed a prenuptial agreement to protect their financial interests when they got married.
Body Measurements
Gabrielle is one of the most attractive actresses in the film industry. She is tall as her height is 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m), weighs 57 kg (125 lbs), and has a 24-inch waist. She has dark brown eyes and black hair. Her dress size is 4(US) and her shoe size is 9 (US).
