Queen Latifah Biography: Dana Elaine Owens, professionally known as Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, singer, and actress born on March 18, 1970. Over the course of her multifaceted career, she has earned numerous prestigious awards, including a Grammy, a Primetime Emmy, a Golden Globe, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two NAACP Image Awards, along with an Academy Award nomination.
Queen Latifah Biography
Often hailed as hip-hop’s first lady, Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, in East Orange, New Jersey. Her mother, Rita (Bray), was a teacher, and her father, Lancelot Owens Sr., served as a police officer—along with her older brother, whose tragic death in a motorcycle accident in 1992 left a lasting impact on her life. Growing up in a household deeply rooted in law enforcement, Latifah was exposed to both the struggles and resilience of Black urban life in America, shaping the themes in her music and worldview. Before rising to fame, she briefly worked at Burger King and began her music journey performing beatboxing with the group Ladies Fresh. At just 18, she made a significant splash in the late 1980s hip-hop scene, drawing inspiration from jazz, reggae, and soul—crafted over beats by DJ Mark the 45 King.
Queen Latifah Biography 2025 Details
| Born |
Dana Elaine Owens
March 18, 1970 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
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|---|---|
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1988–present |
| Children | 1 |
| Category | Singers Bio |
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About Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens, known professionally by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, singer, and actress.
Queen Latifah Wiki
- Born: 18 March 1970 (age 55 years), Newark, New Jersey, United States
- Partner: Eboni Nichols
- Full name: Dana Elaine Owens
- Height: 1.78 m
- Parents: Rita Owens, Lancelot Owens, Sr.
Queen Latifah Achievements
In 2006, she made history as the first hip hop artist to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Latifah released her debut album, All Hail the Queen, in 1989 at the age of 19, which featured the iconic single “Ladies First.” Her second album, Nature of a Sista’ (1991), came out under Tommy Boy Records. Her third album, Black Reign (1993), broke new ground by becoming the first gold-certified album by a solo female rapper according to the RIAA.
Early Life
Dana Elaine Owens, better known as Queen Latifah, was born on March 18, 1970, in Newark, New Jersey, and spent much of her childhood in nearby East Orange. Her mother, Rita Lamae (née Bray), was a high school teacher at Irvington High School—where Latifah herself later graduated—and her father, Lancelot Amos Owens, served as a police officer. Her parents divorced when she was ten years old.
Latifah was raised in the Baptist faith but also attended Catholic school in Newark and later Essex Catholic Girls’ High School in Irvington before ultimately graduating from Irvington High. She went on to take classes at the Borough of Manhattan Community College after high school. She discovered the name “Latifah” at the age of eight in a book of Arabic names; it means “delicate” and “very kind.” Tall from a young age, Latifah stood 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) and played as a power forward on her high school basketball team.
Queen Latifah Facts
Where does Queen Latifah live? And how much money does Queen Latifah earn?
| Birth Date | 18-3-1970 |
| Heritage/origin | American |
| Ethnicity | Afro-American |
| Religion – believes in God? | Buddhism |
| Residence | She owns a house in Colts Neck, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. |
Queen Latifah Net Worth 2025
| Estimated Net Worth | 70 million Dollar |
| Yearly Salary | 10 million |
| Product Endorsements | Covergirl,Loreal |
| Colleagues | Busta Rhymes, Stevie Wonder & Catherine Zeta-Jones |
| Management | Flavor Unit |
Houses
- Colts Neck, New Jersey, United States house ($2.1 million)(Swimming Pool • Home Cinema • Library • Spa • )
- Los Angeles, California, United States house ($1.8 million)
Cars
Aston Martin Vanquish
- Vanquish Volante - manufactured by Aston Martin ($302,995 )
- Phantom Drophead Coupe - manufactured by Rolls Royce ($450,000)
Queen Latifah: Single, Dating, Family & Friends
| Relationship status | Single |
| Sexuality | Bisexual |
| Partner | Currently in no confirmed relationship |
| Ex-boyfriends or ex-husbands | Debbie Allen Kendu Isaacs Jeanette Jenkins |
| Expecting a baby? | She is not pregnant |
| Has any kids? | No |
Family
Names of father, mother, kids, brothers & sisters:
- Lancelot Owens, Sr (Father)
- Rita Owens (Mother)
- Lancelot Owens, Jr (Brother)
Friends
- Larry Sims
- Shakim Compere
- Jada Pinkett Smith
Skin, Hair & Eye Color
This cool friendly fun tv-personality & actress originating from Newark, New Jersey, United States has a chubby body & oval face type. Queen Latifah makes commercials for Covergirl & Queen, but actually uses: Covergirl.
| Hair color | Light brown |
| Hair type | Curly Spirally |
| Hair Length | long hair (bra strap length) |
| Hairstyle | butch cut |
| Distinct feature | eye color |
| Makeup Style | alternative |
| Skin Tone/Complexion | Type VI: Black brown skin |
| Skin Type | Sensitive |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Does Queen Latifah smoke? | Yes, regularly |
Height, Weight, Body Measurements, Tattoos & Style
Queen Latifah endorses clothing brands like unknown. And wears brands like Moncler, Nike & Badgley Mischka.
| Height | 178 cm |
| Weight | 91 kilo |
| Clothing style | casual |
| Favorite colors | black |
| Feet size | 9 |
| Dress size | XL |
| Bra-size | 40DD |
| Waist size | 90 |
| Buste size | 110 |
| Butt size | 108 |
| Does Queen Latifah have a tattoo? | YesShe has butterfly tattoo |
FAQs
What does Queen Latifah’s name mean?
Queen Latifah chose her stage name when she was eight years old after finding it in a book of Arabic names. “Latifah” means “delicate” and “very kind” in Arabic.
Where did Queen Latifah go to school?
Queen Latifah attended Catholic school in Newark, Essex Catholic Girls’ High School in Irvington, and later graduated from Irvington High School.
Did Queen Latifah go to college?
Yes, after high school, Queen Latifah attended classes at the Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York.
What religion was Queen Latifah raised in?
Queen Latifah was raised in the Baptist faith, despite having attended Catholic schools during her early education.
What sports did Queen Latifah play in high school?
In high school, Queen Latifah played basketball and was a power forward on her school team due to her height—5 feet 10 inches.
What was Queen Latifah’s first performance?
One of Queen Latifah’s earliest performances was singing the song “Home” from The Wiz in a grammar school play.