One of the world’s most famous ballerinas married her long-time lawyer boyfriend in a lavish ceremony in Laguna Beach. Misty Copeland, 33, wed Olu Evans, 37, on July 31 at the Montage Hotel, US Weekly reports. The celeb mag adds that Copeland wore an Inbal Dror gown with Christian Louboutin shoes.
In August 2015, Copeland told Essence magazine about her engagement and love for Evans saying, “I can’t believe my life right now.” The couple has been together since 2005.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. He’s Taye Diggs’ Cousin & It Was the Actor Who Introduced the Happy Couple
That’s Olu Evans. My cousin. Misty’s man.
The couple was introduced by Evans’ cousin Taye Diggs in 2006 in a New York City nightclub.
According to the couple’s online gift registry, they were due to be married in New York City.
2. He Runs a Dancewear Company Out of the Couple’s Upper West Side Apartment
Copeland and Evans arrive for the State Dinner for President Xi of China at the White House on September 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Getty)
Online records show that Evans runs a dancewear business, Muse Dancewear, out of the couple’s apartment on New York City’s Upper West Side. The company was formed in 2010.
A 2014 New York Times feature detailed the couple’s life together in one of the city’s swankiest neighborhoods. The article describes a typical New York lifestyle of shopping, going to brunch and watching Netflix before going to bed. In the piece, Copeland describes herself as a “homebody.”
3. Copeland Previously Said That ‘No Man Is Taking Me Away From Ballet’
In July 2015, Copeland told Soledad O’Brien about how she knew that Evans was the one. The ballerina said:
It took me finding a person that respected me, that allowed me to still fulfill what I wanted in my career. That was most important to me.
I always said, “No man is coming in and taking me away from ballet.” And that was so important to me that the person I ended up with was going to support me in every way, because my career is so important to me.
And I knew immediately when he wasn’t afraid of hearing or seeing me so damaged – and that he wanted to help because he cared about me as a person.
Copeland also said that although she has dated guys in the past, Evans was her first boyfriend.
Copeland later told the Daily Telegraph about the positive influence that Evans had on her life saying, “He made me feel like [my body] is my instrument and I have to take care of it.” While she also told Elle, “He taught me to communicate in ways I’d never learned before, to not run away from problems, and sit down and think about things critically. And he made me feel like I really did have a bright future as a ballerina.”
She told the New Yorker in September 2014 that her life goals were to “become the first African-American principal dancer with A.B.T…And, you know, of course, to get married and have kids.”
4. He’s Described as a ‘Corporate Attorney’
Copeland and Evans pictured in May 2016. (Getty)
Numerous online profiles describe Evans as a “corporate lawyer,” notably this Wall Street Journal feature on Copeland. He worked for a time at Quinn Emanuel trial lawyers but is no longer listed as an attorney on their website.
Evans went to law school at Emory University and was admitted to the New York bar in 2007.
His parents are Jon and Linda Twichell.
5. Due to Their Busy Schedules, the Couple Has to Schedule Time Together ‘Months in Advance’
Copeland and her cousin-in-law pictured in August 2015. (Getty)
Copeland told the Daily Telegraph is a 2015 interview that she has had to scale back her desire for many children. She said, “Maybe two. I’m trying to think about timings of that with my boyfriend. I’m very regimented and organized – [he] understands that. And there will be plenty of time after [I retire].” While Copeland added that due to their busy schedules, the couple have to plan in advance to spend time together.