How good and pleasant is it when God’s people live together in unity. (Psalm 133v1).

What is the formula to long lasting marriages and relationships? At first I thought there is no formula, but after looking at successful relationships in the celebrity world, I would say that the formula is one person plus another person agreeing to stay committed to each other come what may. Even though we don’t know the ins and outs of each relationship, (maybe that’s also the secret, to keep other people out of your relationship) theres one thing they all have in common and that’s staying power.

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen (10 years together, married for 3 years)

They are one of my favourite Hollywood couples at the moment because she’s like the complete opposite of him but yet she completes him. She’s fun lively and talkative, he is more cautious, reserved and conservative (to the public eye). They met in 2006 on the set for Legend’s music video “Stereo”. Although they hooked up that same night they didn’t start dating officially until 2007. Chrissy Teigen said that she had to “play it cool for a long time”, her patience paid off as they were married in 2013. The interesting thing about their relationship is that as gorgeous as Chrissy Teigen is, Legend said it wasn’t love at first sight for him, “I’m more cautious than that…I wasn’t like, This is the woman I’m going to marry from day one. For me I’m the kind of person who needs to grow into that feeling. It was probably a couple years in when I could already see us being together forever”. During that time the couple have had issues conceiving but they welcomed a baby girl into the world this year. What do I learn from this relationship? Patience is definitely a virtue. (read full interview here)

Denzel Washington and Pauletta Pearson (married 31 years)

The couple have been married since 1983, a lifetime for some people. They first met on the set of a television film Wilma. Pearson was pursuing a career as a musician and Washington was an up and coming actor. The sweet thing about this couple was she gave up her career to support his, and it was a wise decision if we fast forward to how succesful Denzel Washington is now. They have 4 children together and Pearson is older than Washington (I’m going to explore ages differences in another post soon). On marriage Mr Washington says “I think that you have to work at it. Not give up on each other. It’s a commitment. It’s not all the honeymoon, it doesn’t last forever, so you work at it. And hopefully you’re good friends first, that might help”. What do I learn from this relationship, self sacrifice, perseverance and friendship strengthen the bond. (read full interview here)

LL Cool J and Simone I Smith (20 years)

It’s amazing that I only just found out the other day that this guy was married. He is a successful rapper/actor, she is an entrepreneur of a jewellery designing business. They met while they were both teenagers. LL Cool J gave Smith a pair of chunky hooped earrings as a gift and that was the beginning of her jewllery business and relationship. They got married eight years after meeting and they have four children together. In 2004 Simone was diagnosed with cancer, LL Cool J stuck by her through this and she has fully recovered. What do I learn from this relationship? Real love stays committed in sickness and in health. (read full interview here)

David Bowie and Iman (Married 24 years)

Another relationship you don’t hear much about is of the late David Bowie and Iman. Behind all the glam and gilts you see a love that is endearing and understanding. When David saw Iman for the first time it was love at first sight. The couple married two years after meeting. Iman explains “I think the secret to a lasting marriage is timing, first of all…you have to be in the right time in your life that you are ready for an everlasting relationship, that it becomes first, and a priority in life”. The couple married in 1992 and have one child together. David lost his battle to cancer this year and I can’t even begin to imagine what she is going through. What do I learn from this relationship? That love endures to death and beyond. (read full interview here)

Morris Chestnut and Pam Byse (Married 18 years)

I love Morris Chestnut, just putting it out there (hehe), I think he’s a good actor and when I found out he was married I wasn’t disappointed believe it or not but quite impressed that he’s a family man who can hold down a marriage. The couple have two children together and he said that the one thing that keeps his marriage strong is ‘mutual respect’. I did post on how love and respect is synonymous for a man here. I like the fact that his marriage is private, like I said earlier it’s best when other people are not in your relationship as it could have dire consequences particularly when you are a celebrity. Hopefully their reasons for being private are because they are both protective of it and not because they are hiding something terrible. Chestnut reinforces the element of patience when he told essence magazine “Unless a woman is involved with a straight knuckle head, sometimes you just need to be a little more patient with a man or a potential partner because he may not be as informed as it seems”. What do I learn from their relationship. You don’t have to share every part of your relationship with everyone. (read full interview here)