The Secret to John Legend and Chrissy Teigen's Parenting Success
Perhaps best recognized as one of Hollywood’s super couples, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen are each successful in their own right. And after more than a decade together, it’s no wonder that the world looks to them in awe.
But what really attracts us to this duo is who they are together — particularly as parents of their two adorable kids: Luna and Miles. So, what exactly is the secret to their parenting success? They tend to keep it real, and here’s how.
Teigen’s Humble Beginnings and Model-Worthy Looks
Born in Delta, Utah, Chrissy Teigen’s incomparable beauty stems from her roots. With a Thai mother and Norwegian-descent father, she hit the genetic lottery.
Still, growing up, on account of her father’s job as an electrician, Teigen’s family moved a lot, living in Hawaii, Idaho and Washington before finally settling in California. It wasn't until then that Teigen was discovered as a model while working in a surf shop in Huntington Beach.
Legend’s Talent and Serious Brains
John Legend — born John Stephens — came from equally humble beginnings. As one of four children, born to a seamstress mother and a factory-worker father, Legend developed his love for music by joining a church choir at four and starting piano lessons at seven.
Legend wasn’t just a talented musician though. He was also a gifted student, having earned a spot at Harvard University and scholarships to Georgetown and Morehouse College. Eventually, Legend enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied English and served as president of an a cappella group called “Counterparts.”
Reaching Success
Both had relatively successful careers before becoming an item. Legend is now a household name as a singer, following several hit songs including “All of Me” and “Ordinary People.”
But prior to releasing his 2004 album, “Get Lifted,” Legend had already collaborated with several big-name artists, including Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Fort Minor and Lauryn Hill. Bigger still, the album earned Legend three Grammy nominations, one of which he took home for the “Best R&B Album” category.
Deal or No Deal
Similarly, Teigen had a relatively well-established modeling career, having been represented by international modeling agency, IMG Models, since 2004. She was also a Deal or No Deal model between 2006 and 2007 — a gig that landed her on the cover of Maxim.
And today, she is quite the social media influencer, particularly known for speaking out on parenting.
A Different Kind of Love Story
Unlike most celebrity couples who claim to have met and fallen in love at first sight, Legend and Teigen's love story has a few twists and turns. According to Los Angeles Confidential, after the couple met in 2007 on set while shooting Legend’s “Stereo” music video, things were pretty lukewarm.
When asked if he knew Teigen was “it” from the beginning, Legend said, “Not right away ... 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 of years when I could already see us being together forever.”
It Started as a Fling
In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Teigen said she and Legend started dating after hooking up once the “Stereo” shoot wrapped.
She added, “I played it cool for a long time. Never once did I ask [Legend], ‘What are we?’ Marriage was never my goal because I’ve never been very traditional. I was just happy to be with him.”
Now, They’re #RelationshipGoals
After four years of dating, Legend proposed in 2011. The engagement nearly didn’t go as planned though — Legend had planned a getaway to the Maldives, and TSA stopped him to ask to see the ring box before they got on the plane. Thankfully, things worked out, and Teigen was oblivious when a waiter at their hotel appeared with a silver dome for dessert.
“So, he opens up the dome and a ton of arugula falls out, and then I kind of fish in it … And I see the little box, and then you know, your heart stops and you get so excited,” said Teigen, adding, “There was no big grand speech or anything. I think it was just very lovely and sweet.”
Saying ‘I Do’
The pair eventually tied the knot in Lake Como, Italy, in September 2013, but they legally tied the knot at a New York City courthouse a day prior to the ceremony.
Teigen wore a white-and-ivory Vera Wang gown.
They Used IVF to Conceive
Teigen was very open about the struggle she and Legend had in conceiving their first child. In an interview for People magazine, Teigen said her Sports Illustrated feature took a lot of work, especially in terms of hiding the effects of in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
“I was doing IVF during the shoot. I was getting my shots and everything in Zanzibar; I had a little medical kit. It was hard because you bloat from it, and you bruise — if you hit the wrong area. That’s the kind of thing we had to cover with makeup.”
And Spoke Out About It
Teigen also clapped back at trolls who asked her if she could not “conceive naturally” after coming forward about her IVF experience, emphasizing that people never know what women are going through when the topic of starting a family comes up.
“Anytime somebody asks me if I’m going to have kids, I’m like, ‘One day, you’re going to ask that to the wrong girl who’s really struggling, and it’s going to be really hurtful to them,’” she explained in an interview with Tyra Banks. “I hate that ... I hate it. Stop asking me!”
Teigen Also Spoke Out About Postpartum Depression
In 2016, after giving birth to Luna, Teigen was diagnosed with postpartum depression. She came out about her depression in a 2017 essay she penned for Glamour, saying she "hesitated to even talk about this, as everything becomes such a 'thing,'" but she hoped just merely being open about it helped.
Tiegen further added that she was fortunate to have a solid support network of friends, doctors and her husband, all of whom were her "strength."
Their Two Children
Fast-forward, and the pair is still going strong with two kids in tow: a girl named Luna Simone, born in April 2016, and a boy named Miles Theodore, born May 2018. Both kids are named after music legends. Luna Simone is named after Nina Simone and Miles Theodore, after jazz legend Miles Davis.
Teigen regularly posts milestones of both kids on her Instagram, including their birthdays (with pre-birthday party prep!) and Miles’ almost-first steps.
They’re All About ‘Tag Team’ Parenting
With two toddlers to manage, it’s amazing that Teigen and Legend balance their responsibilities as well as they do. Apparently, their secret is “tag team” parenting — one parent per tagged kid, that is.
“When Chrissy’s breastfeeding, I’m out playing with Luna in the yard ... the idea of splitting up [to manage the kids] is a little different than what we had before,” Legend explained in an interview with US Weekly. “But it’s good to have two of us there to handle the two of them.”
Legend’s Many Awards
In 2015, Legend won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Glory” with Common, which put him well on his way to his next greatest achievement.
Legend became the first black male to achieve an “EGOT” — winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards — following his Emmy win for “Jesus Christ Superstar” in 2018. Per last count, Legend has won a total of 33 awards from 88 nominations.
Teigen’s Many Projects
With her 27 million Instagram followers (and counting), there’s no denying that Teigen is a force to be reckoned with. Combine that with her openness about social and political issues (she was among the first celebrities to be blocked by the current president), and it's no wonder that this mother of two has been dubbed a “social media phenomenon.”
Teigen has also authored two cookbooks, one of which was a New York Times bestseller, titled “Cravings: Recipes for All of the Food You Want to Eat.”
And More Projects
In addition to her cookbooks, Teigen is also Pampers’ first-ever creative consultant for its Pure range. In a press release for the brand, Teigen declared that, since she, her husband and their babies had worn Pampers, they were a “Pampers family.” She added, “From the moment Luna was born, John and I, like all parents, have done anything we can to make sure she is happy, healthy and loved. A Pampers diaper was the first thing she wore, and I have always relied on them.”
Teigen was also named one of the highest-paid models by Forbes in 2017.
But She’s Not the Only One
Legend, on the other hand, has teamed up with companies as well — from beer brand, Stella Artois, to men’s deodorant brand, Axe, for a campaign encouraging young men to enter performing arts through mentorship programs.
It’s Pronounced ‘Tie-Gen’
When she appeared on “Live with Kelly and Ryan” in 2018, Teigen revealed that her last name was being pronounced incorrectly — for years.
As it turns out, it’s “TIE-gen,” so, yes, everyone and their grandmothers had been pronouncing it wrong. But who can blame them? Teigen herself adopted the “TEE-gen” pronunciation as her stage name, of sorts, when she was tired of correcting people about her name’s real pronunciation.
He Was Named 'Sexiest Man Alive'
At the end of 2019, Legend was named People's "Sexiest Man Alive," which fulfilled his and Teigen's dreams apparently.
She wrote on Twitter, "My secret is out. I have fulfilled my dream of having boned People's Sexiest Man Alive!! An honor!!!!!"
They’re More Real Than You’d Think
Legend’s estimated net worth is $40 million, and Teigen’s is reportedly $26 million. But there’s more to a marriage than money: Teigen and Legend are partners in parenting and business (they’ve signed several endorsement deals together). And if their Twitter feed is anything to go by, they’re a lovable, fun-loving couple. Just check out Legend’s response to Teigen’s suggestion that she didn’t need the “real” John after he voiced Google Assistant.
With parents who are gifted role models (and a real model in Teigen’s case) and who care about everything from social good to political awareness, it’s only a matter of time before Luna and Miles step into the spotlight.
Legend and Teigen Through the Years
