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Whether her divorce decree from Usher was signed off by the judge or not, Tameka Foster's near-two-year marriage to the international music superstar is over.
That's a fact.
Yet, the fortysomething single mother of five (allegedly by three different men) says she has not been given a fair shot in the way she has been "judged."
The Oakland native (pictured above with Keshia Knight Pulliam and Tasha Smith) spoke to Isoul Harris for Upscale magazine's September/October edition.
In the Atlanta-based Bronner Bros.-owned magazine, Foster says she didn't fit the image of the kind of woman people thought Usher should marry.
Oh, is that why it didn't work?
"I understand where all the negativity comes from," she said. "Unfortunately I think that some black women are, subconsciously, not in love with the image they see in the mirror. Therefore, in turn, they do not love someone like me. I look too much like them."
Hmmmm.
The only woman that I think Tameka Foster
What about you?
Like Foster, Bynum appeared on the cover of Essence magazine.
A renowned best-selling author and televangelist, the 50-year-old Chicago native is also a regular motivational speaker during the Essence Music Festival's Empowerment Seminars in New Orleans, which is populated mostly by black women.
"People passed judgment without getting to know me," Foster opined to Harris, then asked, "How can you get the entire concept of who I am from a blog?"
The September/October edition of Upscale -- with actress Taraj P. Henson on the cover -- is on newsstands now.
Below, BV Newswire takes a look at other women who were/are spouses to famous men – who are not judged and have successful careers for their own talents. Check out these bold soul sisters who are off on their own...
While gold digging hoochie mamas vying to marry rich and successful men will never get old, there is a flip side to that: women with talent and skill and a drive to stand on their own. Blackvoices.com takes a quick look at the successful spouses of famous men.
BHM MEDIA NEW
While on a family vacation with Tom and Suri, Katie Holmes hit the beach near Rio de Janeiro in this blue one piece.
bauergriffinonline.com
Rihanna hits the stage at the NFL Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Concert in a pair of knee-high black boots. What do you think about the pop singer's look?
Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images for NFL
Mischa Barton wore this Elie Saab couture mint green gown to the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d'Armenonville. Is Mischa's look a hit or miss?
Eric Ryan, Getty Images
Heroes star Hayden Panettiere arrives at the NBC Universal Pre-Super Bowl event at Portofino in a black tuxedo jacket and dress with a plunging neckline. Is the Hollywood starlet hot or not?
Gerardo Mora, Getty Images
Diane Kruger wore Nina Ricci for the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d'Armenonville. Is her dress a mess or amazing?
Eric Ryan, Getty Images
Kim Kardashian opted for this floral strapless Tracey Reese dress for the 2009 Moves Magazine Super Bowl Party at The Venue Club. Let us know what you think about Kim's look.
Tim Boyles, Getty Images
Burlesque beauty Dita Von Teese wore an ice blue Elie Saab (left) satin dress at the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d'Armenonville.
Dominique Charriau, WireImage
Spanish actress Penelope Cruz appeared at the the 2009 Goya Cinema Awards in Madrid in this black lace Chanel gown. Is it a win or a loss?
Carlos Alvarez, Getty Images
Amy Adams wore a Jasmine di Milo gold and silver sequin backless dress and Christian Louboutin heels to the 61st Annual Directors Guild of America Awards.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Being thousands of miles away didn't stop Meryl Streep from celebrating the inauguration. The actress wore this Catherine Malandrino flag dress to the Paris premiere of Doubt.
Julien Hekimian, WireImage
Comments: (23)
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By: lexdiamonz on 9/02/2009 7:40AM
the only thing that perplexes me is that Tameka is not what i would called "dark-skinned" my sister is ten times darker than her so what is she talking about i think the issue i have is she is being trashed because she is feeding into it she is a BEAUTIFUL woman her skin is flawless
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By: simplycheryl on 9/02/2009 7:52PM
I don't believe her complexion had anything to do with public perception of Tameka.It was the way she handled herself,before,during and after the marriage.Supposedly she left her previous children with their father(it is alledged that she said she would also leave these children also{which I doubt}).Also,she was said to have sold clothes which were loaned to her for events(I believe they were going to take her to court about this).Her demands of her family related to her wedding(she didn't want to invite her mom-because she didn't fit the so called image she wanted to portray.
I really don't care one way or another about her complexion-seeing as though I'm a brown skinned woman.My issues with her is that a WOMAN of her age shouldn't be involved in twitter wars,arguing back and forth with a spouse's mother(let him deal with his mother-stay out of it.In time if what you say is true about your relationship the objecting parent with realize it-otherwise you're fighting a losing battle)Lastly don't allow the media to define who you are-ie -flying to Brazil shortly after giving birth for palstic surgery putting your health at risk.What Ms. Foster should do is learn to love herself.Our skin may be darker than others but we are truly BEAUTIFUL WOMEN,especially if it radiates from the inside.If she reads this(Ms.Foster-Raymond)ask yourself this-why are we the ones always targeted for these comments,yet others go get the same things they put us down for-such as large lips,hips dark skin,etc.We are also told we are loud(no this mess has been propegated by the media)-ghetto-(the ghetto can apply to anyone-besides ghetto is an area where one resides-you don't have to act as though you were raised by a pack of wolves because of your zipcode)-loose-(well what the heck is Paris Hilton,Pamela Anderson,Kim Kardasian(sp)that applies to alot of people-we didn't corner the market in this behavior)-uneducated(take a look around many black women have graduated from college and hold profession jobs)!Ms.
raymond what is happening to you is what has happened to us all(black women)to some extent.You are from a race of beautiful women and others have issues with it.Don't allow their insecurities become your own.Love who God made you as-a strong black women-don't apologize for it,but also treat others with the respect that any person deserves
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By: kim on 9/02/2009 10:25AM
Yes, there is a deep seeded problem with many black women and their image. Many will not admit it, but that's the way it goes.
What happened between Tameka and Usher is their business. I just hope that their children will grow up to be postive, happy people.
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By: LIBERIANWOMAN on 9/02/2009 11:46AM
I HAVE SAID THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN "WE AS BLACK WOMEN ARE OUR OWN WORSE ENEMY" THAT IS THE GOD FEARING TRUTH.LONG HAIR, SHORT HAIR, DARK SKIN, LIGHT SKIN, NATURAL HAIR, WEAVE IN............DAMN! HAVE WE NOTHING BETTER TO CHAT ABOUT? AND, THIS TAMEKA PERSON, WHY DOESN'T SHE JUST GET ON WITH HER LIFE AND STOP DRAWING NEGATIVE ATTENTION TO HERSELF?
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By: LadyJNewYork on 9/02/2009 11:51AM
It was her "shady" past....People are going to talk, spread rumors, etc. If her relationship with Usher was solid, they would still be together....so blaming others, please get over yourself, Tameka and move on you paid, isn't that what you wanted? Kick rocks!!
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By: "DimePiece" on 9/02/2009 12:09PM
Tameka is the blame for her OWN INSECURITIES! She is using color as an escape goat to make people give her attention and to make her feel better! I guess this discussion will continue on and on and on..... about Ms. Tamkeka Foster. I thought BV wouldn't do another article on this woman being that her Publicist don't want to make any more comments, quotes to BV? BV please, don't give this woman the spotlight again?
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By: Dimples on 9/02/2009 1:24PM
BV Bloggers do not like Tameka Foster and stay throwing shade at her.
That's a fact!
Whenever someone goes in on Tameka Foster in BV Blogs they make her
out to be some crazed individual even though most of them have never
met her. That's a fact!
BV Bloggers are know for inaccurate, one sided, misspelled, badly
written, misleading, and biased blogging. That's a fact!
Whenever Tameka Foster defends herself, the bloggers go in harder.
For instance, BV inaccurately reported that her divorce was final.
So instead of cleaning that mess up for the readers, they go back in
on her on some "oh well, that marriage is over anyway." That's a
fact!
The woman cannot win for losing with BV Bloggers. That's a fact!
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By: Dimples on 9/02/2009 2:01PM
I am not a fan of Tameka but seeing her being ripped on BV every day / week / month is getting old. Print everything she said and allow readers to form their own opinions (is too much like right.)
My last comments regarding this were removed, BV 'can't handle the truth' much?
The blogger does not like what I write, hopefully can grow some thicker skin and leave my comments up. I mean it's ok to dish it right?????
I agree with Tameka's comment - I was not given a fair shot. People passed judgment without getting to know me. How can you get the entire concept of who I am from a blog?”
My hope for Tameka is that she learns to stop going back and forth with bloggers. She needs to move on with her life and leave the haters hating.
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By: Katy Katwilder on 9/02/2009 7:10PM
Tameka Foster surely didn't get a fair shake in the press, but finger-pointing isn't going to solve her image issues. Clearly she's got a few and they have more to do with her than the media. Her image was tainted by the way her hookup with Usher was reported. No one knows the real truth but her and her ex-husband. And all black women need to get over the dark-skinned/light-skinned thing. Willie Lynch made his speech on the banks of the St. James River in 1712. 2012 will make it exactly 300 years ago that the speech was delivered and what he predicted then is still working: we are still trippin' on the same old tired B.S. with each other when we need to work harder to lift each other up. Tameka needs some therapy - for real. And any sister who is still allowing anyone to tell her she's not the baddest sister on the planet because of the hue of her skin needs to get over herself and start celebrating herself. Folks are going to judge - it's the world we live in. Get over it and stop allowing others to define who we are by buying into Willie Lynch's prediction. Tameka's problems have nothing to do with her color and everything to do with her state of mind and heart. There is where the real changes need to occur with her and with all of us. GOOD BLACK DOESN'T EVER CRACK!! If that weren't true, tanning salons would be out of business today. Others may hate on us, but they sure want to BE like us. That alone is reason for celebration. Remember ladies: Nobody can do it like we do it when we do what we do - THAT'S A FACT!
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By: Just saying! on 9/03/2009 9:24AM
Unfortunately, I think her first “mistake” was that she was not the typical arm candy most men in Usher’s field favor. You know, young, light skinned with long hair. Tameka’s fault is that she is older than him & already had children. Because she didn’t earn as much as him, is older than him & already have children & an ex, people just assumed she was a gold digger. Then, the media reports made it look like she was the other woman with ill intentions and not only was she reported to be all of those negative things but she did not get along w/his mother. Do we know what it was that she did to hurt his mother besides marrying her son?! I don’t even agree with the way Khandi’s mother treats her fiancé (on the Real Housewives of ATL) because of his six children. Unless someone personally attacks you, you shouldn’t mistreat them. You may not agree w/the relationship but why not be cordial. So w/the reported breakup stories, beef w/his mother, being older, already having an ex & kids, plus not being the arm candy many thought he’d end up with, she got a lot of disrespect from a lot of people in the media, mainly black media outlet/blogs. It was sad & it’s even sadder that so many people openly seemed to be wishing for the demise of their marriage instead of praying for their union to be blessed. What does that say about us? Tameka has a right to call it like it is. If she has come across (in print & blogs) as much of the negative things said about her & her intentions with Usher as I have, she has a right to be hurt & feel how she does, if she does in deed have a good heart and meant no harm. I have never really heard her speak so I don’t know much about her personality. If she had ill intentions, then God worked it out. However, if the pressures of momma’s dislike & fans/media’s disrespect & dislike was the reason for the split, she should count her blessings & gladly move on if her man was not man enough to stick it out. I wonder if he chose to leave their marriage only to salvage his career? Prayer changes things for sure! We need to stop hating and learn to pray for our people, especially those that live/work within the spotlight of fame.
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