Actor Jussie Smollet has a type: smoking hawt, ruggedly handsome Black men. The biracial, openly ghey ‘Empire’ star is reportedly dating a 38-year-old investment banker named Tawan.
Tawan is a bookish, clean cut gentleman who was raised by a single mother in the Portland area. Jussie, whose real name is Justin Smollett, was also raised by a single mother in Santa Rosa, CA, along with his 5 siblings.
Jussie, 36, caught the acting bug early when he co-starring as a child in the films The Mighty Ducks (1992) and Rob Reiner‘s North (1994).
He made acting his lifelong career, and he also dabbled in a music career which is somewhat successful.
A member on Lipstick Alley has more deets on both men, in case you’re interested.
Tawan grew up in the inner city of Portland with a single mother but worked extremely hard. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Georgetown University, a Master’s degree in Sociology and Economics from Oxford University, England, and an MBA in Finance and Real Estate from Harvard Business School. He was the first African American elected as student body president at his high school and was also president of student government at Georgetown. The Steinbridge Group of NYC appointed him as their first ever Chief Executive Officer.
Jussie is a board member of the RuJohn Foundation. He also serves on the Board of Directors at The Black AIDS Institute and when he heard about their recent budget shortfall Jussie immediately stepped up and donated $20,000. Tawan serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of Harlem Hospital and the New Horizons Children’s Advocacy Corporation.
All this to say they are a prime example of Black Excellence and show that even at the height of success you can find your potential soulmate and not have to date some young white model.
