Keisha Nash Whitaker, born on March 8, 1972, in Boston, Massachusetts, was a multifaceted personality known for her work as an actress, producer, model, and entrepreneur. She was married to actor Forest Whitaker for two decades, and their relationship, career highlights, and her later weight loss became subjects of public interest.
Early Life and Career
According to her IMDb profile, Keisha Nash was born on March 8, 1972, in Boston, Massachusetts. Before marrying Forest Whitaker, Keisha established herself in the entertainment and fashion industries. She was an actress, producer, and model. She appeared in the 2004 film "Proud" and served as an executive producer on the 2008 movie "Kassim the Dream". Keisha also ventured into the beauty industry, launching her luxury cosmetics line, Kissable Couture. While promoting her line back in 2007, she told Women's Wear Daily: "Before and after modeling, beauty was all around me, and it became part of who I am. Although lipstick is making a comeback, so many people rely on lip gloss because it’s so effortless."
Marriage to Forest Whitaker
Keisha met Forest Whitaker in 1994 on the set of the film "Blown Away." Speaking of her husband, she previously told Ebony: "I had seen him in ‘A Rage in Harlem,' she said, according to Essence . 'Right away, I thought Forest had a gentle soul and a nice spirit.'" The couple married in 1996 in Jamaica. Together, they have two daughters: Sonnet, 27, and True, 25. Forest also has a son, Ocean, from another relationship, and Keisha has a daughter, Autumn, from a previous relationship.
During their marriage, Keisha and Forest were often seen together at high-profile events, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2014 and Forest's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2007. Keisha also spoke about her husband's support for her career aspirations. While promoting her cosmetics line in 2008, she told O, The Oprah Magazine: "I've always been very ambitious. When my kids were younger, I tried to start a clothing line for children. But you have to be really committed to a new business, and at that time I was more focused on being a mother. Now, with Forest's success and my kids being older, I can set and achieve higher goals." She even named one of the shades in her line "Forest," explaining, "I wanted to call it something everyone can relate to. Each shade is named after a man who gave someone I know her first kiss. I called one shade Forest, because I was never really kissed until I met him."
Weight Loss Concerns
In 2014, Keisha's appearance at the Film Independent Spirit Awards alongside her husband sparked concern. She was seen displaying a noticeably thin figure, leading to speculation about her health. According to RadarOnline.com , Keisha was estimated to have lost around 35lbs (two and a half stone) over the last few years.
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Dr. Fred Pescatore, author of The Hampton’s Diet, commented on the potential health risks associated with such rapid weight loss. While he had not treated Keisha, he told Radar: "She runs the risk of premature ageing of her heart and bones. Most importantly, going up and down like this wreaks havoc on the metabolism and makes it increasingly difficult to continue to stay thin without more and more effort. Possibly to the point of starvation and pills." He warned that drastic measures are never healthy, suggesting: “Looking good for the Oscars is one thing - looking like a poster child for a death camp is another.”
Despite the concerns, Keisha defended her physique, tweeting that she was comfortable in her skin. She also mentioned eating pizza and tacos, suggesting she wasn't on a strict diet. However, comparisons of her photos over the years revealed a considerable difference in her appearance.
Divorce and Later Years
Forest Whitaker filed for divorce from Keisha in 2018, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in 2021. Despite the split, sources claimed that "Forrest continued to have a great deal of respect for Keisha following their divorce." Another source stated, "They remained friends and their divorce was amicable, but because Whitaker said his wife was, ‘kind, funny bright and out - going, as well as a good mother to their children, there was no need to not remain friendly.’"
In the last year of her life, sources indicated that "Keisha seemed to become more and more frail. She didn’t venture out as much as she used to and spent a lot of time in the hospital. She hired a driver to transport her when she visited friends or ventured out."
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