Jada Pinkett-Smith + Will Smith Defy All Odds

Jada Pinkett-Smith for Vogue ©2001, Jerry Avenaim. Photo source: Wikimedia Commons. by Angela Magnotti Andrews Deemed too short for the role, Jada Pinkett-Smith was turned down by NBC in 1990 for the part of Will Smith's girlfriend on the hit TV show, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. While on set, neither actor could have imagined that she would land that leading role only five years later, this time for real. In 1992, Will married Sheree Zampino. They were young and expecting a son, and they vowed 'til death do us part'. That death came, not in a physical way, but in an emotional way. Not one to make light of his commitments, Will Smith speaks of their divorce as "the only thing in my life I consider a failure" {cited: WikiAnswers}. Theirs was a love borne out of youthful zeal and idealism, unsustainable through the hard seasons every marriage must endure. They parted amicably in 1995. That same year, according to Essence Magazine, Duane Martin and Tisha Campbell-Martin invited two of their dear friends to share a meal with them. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett had mingled many times since her audition for NBC. However, it wasn't until that night in Mexico that Jada realized Will "had grown from this lanky kid to this really responsible man" {6}. Their friendship deepened and soon bloomed into romance as the couple spent more time together. Theirs was a slow burn, truly the best kind. Both had learned lessons from the past they wished not to repeat. It would be two years before Will mustered the courage to take their romance to the next level. According to author Chris Nickson, the proposal took place in bed. Will declared that he did not want to live without her, and she swiftly agreed to his spontaneous marriage proposal. Their engagement hit the news stands in November, and Jada Pinkett was seen sporting a stunning $250,000 pear-cut diamond engagement ring (worn with tip facing away from the hand) {3}. The happy couple exchanged vows in front of 125 close friends and family members the following month, on New Years Eve, at Cloisters Castle in Lutherville, Maryland. Jada worked closely with a wedding planner to pull off the wedding of her dreams. The beautiful medieval-inspired mansion lent the perfect backdrop for the rich and romantic wedding decor she chose. The space was draped entirely in velvet, flooded with golden light from above. Gilded magnolia leaves and burgundy calla lilies lent an air of sophisticated romance to the exotic flower arrangements which "filled all the nooks and crannies" {3}. The brickwork was trimmed with small lights and maroon ribbons, and the interior was lit with 300 candles {3}. Before their family and friends, secreted away by a fleet of limousines to the private ceremony, the two friends read letters of declaration as a part of their vows. This year marks their 17th year of wedded bliss. Though like every long-married couple they have experienced their share of troubles, neither would choose different partners for their journey. "I honestly believe there is no woman for me but Jada. No-one can handle me that way she does...Once you feel someone locked in on you, it's not contest. This is it. I can't imagine what anyone else would offer," Will reportedly told The Docklands & East London Advertiser {5}. Despite numerous rumors that Will is gay, that they swing toward an open marriage, and that they are about to split, this Hollywood couple plans to defy all odds. Their secret? It begins with trust, with a hefty dose of appreciation, affection, and vulnerability, and ends with a resolve to make it work no matter the cost. "In order to have a good relationship, you've got to give yourself. There's so much beauty in having that vulnerability," Will said {6}. "Will and I BOTH can do WHATEVER we want, because we TRUST each other to do so. This does NOT mean we have an open relationship...this means we have a GROWN one," Jada recently wrote on Facebook {6}. It is this deep affection and transparency which inspires them to cherish the ordinary moments. "We tend to find magic in the mundane," Jada told Redbook {4}. The couple relish the little things, like picking up their children from school, enjoying ice cream together as a family, and just being there for each other {6}. And it is their commitment to excellence as individuals that galvanizes them against the typical here-today-gone-tomorrow approach to marriage. "I will throw away my career before I let it break up our marriage," Jada told USA Weekend {5}. "The secret is removing divorce as an option. Anyone who gives themselves that option will get a divorce," Will reportedly said {1}. Built upon this foundation of implicit trust and deep affection, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith have forged a marriage and family unit that I believe will continue to withstand the pressures Hollywood and the paparazzi typically place on celebrity couples. "We've created love, we've created a family, and we create power and unity," Jada told Redbook Magazine {6}.

Notes

1. All Women Stalk. "Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith--Greatest Celebrity Love Story." Accessed February 28, 2014. http://allwomenstalk.com/will-smith-and-jada-pinkett-smith-greatest-celebrity-love-story.
2. Essence. "Exclusive Photos of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith." Accessed February 28, 2014. http://photos.essence.com/galleries/exclusive-photos-will-smith-and-jada-pinkett-smith/#126935_2037.
3. Nickson, Chris. Will Smith. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1999.
4. Rivera, Zayda. "Jada Pinkett Smith says she would only 'abandon' Will Smith 'if he did something bad to the kids'," New York Daily News, June 4, 2013.
5. Stritof, Sheri & Bob. "The Marriage of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith," About.com Marriage. Accessed February 28, 2014.
6. Washington, Angela. "Throwback Thursday: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith + High Neck Wedding Dresses," Munaluchi Bride, June 6, 2013.
7. WikiAnswers. "Why did Will Smith and Sheree Zampino get divorced?" Accessed February 28, 2014. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_did_Will_Smith_and_Sheree_Zampino_get_divorced.