"A dream I've carried in my heart for so long” - Teyana Taylor shares excitement over joining culinary school

When we talk about reinvention, few stories shine quite like Teyana Taylor’s latest chapter. The multi-hyphenate artist, whose résumé already reads like a “Top 10 Things I Can Do” list, has announced she’s officially enrolled in culinary school. This isn’t a spur-of-the-moment detour; rather, it’s the realization of a lifelong ambition.

Fans caught the reveal on Instagram in early June, as Taylor, clad in a chef’s coat alongside her daughter Junie, declared that a culinary career has long simmered in her soul. She described food as “passion, peace, therapy,” revealing how cooking kept her grounded since her Harlem upbringing.

But what does joining culinary school mean for Teyana Taylor’s future? It's more than academia, it’s a full-on come-to-life dream. As the camera pans away from the glitz of Hollywood, it’s replacing it with the warm glow of the kitchen, and Taylor couldn’t look more thrilled.

Teyana Taylor joins culinary school with passion and purpose

Teyana Taylor’s announcement isn’t just heartfelt, it’s heartfelt with serious heat. In a video shared on June 11, the singer-actress appeared in full chef regalia, dancing with her daughter to GloRilla’s anthem “LET HER COOK.”

She captioned it, “Wow… a dream I’ve carried in my heart for so long is finally becoming a reality.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jimmy Neutch (@teyanataylor)

Her words weren't just celebratory fluff—they leaned into nostalgia and identity: cooking, she said, is “my passion, my peace, my therapy,” recalling how she was “glued next to whoever was in the kitchen while the other kids played around.”

Taylor’s love of food has deep roots in Harlem. By age 13 or 14, she was dubbed the neighborhood’s “hood Betty Crocker,” baking cakes for neighbors and honing her kitchen hustle early on. That spark never dimmed. In addition to enrolling in culinary arts, she confirmed she’ll study pastry arts too, all under the encouragement of friend Alexis Welch Stoudemire, who pointed her toward the culinary path.

Support quickly poured in from her circle: Kerry Washington cheered,

“YAAAAAAAS CHEF. this is SOOOOOOOOOOO inspiring!!!!!” while Niecy Nash responded with a string of heart-eye emojis, and husband Iman Shumpert added, “Passionately chasing your purpose.”

With celebrity applause came public excitement, and it was clear this pivot was more than a viral moment, it’s a real commitment.

As she delves into kneading dough and mastering soufflés, Taylor isn’t stepping back from entertainment. She’s currently slated to star in Paul Thomas Anderson’s upcoming film One Battle After Another alongside heavyweights like Leonardo DiCaprio and Regina Hall, releasing September 26. So yes, she’s juggling yet another title, but this time it’s “Chef.”

Career highlights: From Harlem to Hollywood

Before diving into culinary school, Teyana Taylor was already making moves with her hustle and creativity. Growing up in Harlem, she got her start choreographing Beyoncé’s “Ring the Alarm” video back in 2006. Not long after, she landed a deal with Star Trak/Interscope, dropped her single “Google Me” in 2008, and eventually joined Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music crew. She’s released three well‑received albums—VII in 2014, K.T.S.E. in 2018, and The Album in 2020, which even cracked the top 10 on Billboard.

On screen, she’s popped up in Stomp the Yard: Homecoming, Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family, Coming 2 America, and the series Star. Most recently, her turn in A Thousand and One earned praise, and she snagged a BET Award as director “Spike Tee.” Now, she’s adding chef to her long list of talents.

Teyana Taylor’s culinary school enrollment isn’t a side project, it’s a homecoming to a passion she’s nurtured since childhood. As she shifts from stages and cameras to stovetops and ovens, it’s clear one thing remains unchanged: Taylor brings star power and soul to everything she does.