Jada Pinkett Smith and her co-star Queen Latifah attended the Essence Festival in New Orleans. The event took place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. While there, they spoke as part of a panel, sharing their past experiences and what advice they would give themselves at age 15. Jada opened up about the struggles she faced growing up, and how those struggles still affect her today.
The mother spoke openly about her past
The star opened up about her childhood and how it still affects her today. When referring to advice that she would give her 15-year-old self Jada stated that things were not easy for her at that age.
She went on to explain that her childhood was surrounded by a lot of pain. She said that everyone needs support in their lives and that pain is a part of learning that. She ended her sentiment with wishing she could go back and tell herself that everything was going to be okay.
In 2013 Jada's mother told the world of her struggles with drug addiction. Now, in 2017 it seems that her mother's experience with addiction still affects Jada. Adrienna told the public that she was young when she was pregnant with Jada and after her birth, she became addicted to drugs. It was never confirmed what kind of drugs the mother became addicted to, however, Jada and her mother were in the middle of the crack-cocaine epidemic in Baltimore.
Jada told the audience how she still fights the demons from her past, and even though she is an adult now she still deals with the weight of her childhood. The mother of three has only recently begun to come to terms with everything she dealt with.
Jada shared her experiences with daughter Willow
Family is very important to the Smiths, and back in 2013, Jada sat down with her daughter and mother.
The three talked about what it means to be part of a family, and Adrienna and Jada divulged into the past. Willow learned about the hardships that her mother faced and the adversity in her early life. Jada shared this with her daughter to show the importance of family and also to show her the dangers of addiction.
Willow currently still lives with her parents, but, as she is due to turn 18 soon, Jada suspects that she will be moving out on her own.
She spoke easily about how she and husband Will Smith have prepared their children for the world. She is confident that Willow will be a strong, independent woman as she continues to come into her own and become her own person.
