*Nzinga Imani has never been afraid to take up space—literally or figuratively. The actress, singer, model, and entrepreneur, best known for her role as Angela on Tyler Perry’s “Zatima” on BET+, is using her platform to challenge beauty standards and rewrite what confidence looks like in real time.
Imani’s presence radiates self-assurance, but she’s quick to admit that confidence didn’t come overnight.
“No one feels like they’re perfect,” Imani said. “I definitely have things I’m constantly working on. But you can love yourself during the journey. That’s what confidence stems from.”
That journey began long before television. As a plus-size model and influencer, Imani built a following celebrating body positivity and authenticity long before those words became hashtags. Today, she continues to stand out in an industry that often sidelines women who don’t fit a narrow mold.
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“There are so many misconceptions about body-positive women,” she said. “People assume we’re desperate or picky. But I know women who are fierce, loved, admired, who take up space in beautiful ways.”
For Imani, visibility isn’t about vanity—it’s about value. Her approach to representation is intentional, grounded in compassion and lived experience. She recalls moments when bias was impossible to ignore.
“I was at an award show with my sister, who looks just like me except she’s smaller,” Imani said. “The security guard stopped me from going to my seat and physically pushed me back while she walked right through. I had to have a cast member come and pull me past him. No one can tell me that wasn’t because of my size.”
That moment, she said, was a reminder of how far society still has to go.
“It’s hurtful to see how little progress we’ve made,” Imani said. “But it just reminds me why visibility matters.”
Rather than shrink under pressure, Imani created her own space. She and her sister launched a plus-size boutique inspired by her years as a designer and influencer.
“It’s a family business, and that comes with challenges,” she said. “But I wouldn’t do it any other way. My sister pushed me to trust myself. I don’t know if I would’ve done it without her.”
Imani’s success, she insists, isn’t about rebellion—it’s about reflection. Her brand of confidence is rooted in self-awareness, discipline, and joy.
“I tell people my bedtime is 10:30, but that just means I don’t want to be outside past that,” she said. “Sometimes I wake up at 2 a.m. and start rearranging my closet. I’m figuring it out like everyone else.”
Through it all, Imani continues to advocate for self-love—not as a slogan, but as a daily act.
“Confidence is not perfection,” she said. “It’s patience. It’s learning to love yourself exactly where you are.”
And for Nzinga Imani, that message is bigger than fashion, television, or fame—it’s a revolution in plain sight.
From the column: Black in the Green Room By Keith L. Underwood – Follow: @mrkeithlunderwood (IG), @blackinthegreenroom (IG), YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook
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