You guessed it, it all started with a camera and a photoshoot.

As you well know if you’re reading this, Mohammed is ALWAYS shooting behind a camera and I’m always posing in front of one! Lol

Our story first began when we met back in 2016. Mohammed did a shoot for one of my friends, and I loved it. So I reached out to do a photoshoot via DM on instagram, not knowing he was even a guy, (because he didn’t have his face as his profile pic, nor his name on his page) his name then on social media was con.firm. So I assumed he might have been a girl.

I realize looking back now, randomly showing up at a strangers place could have been dangerous and had a very different outcome. BUT thankfully to my surprise- a warm, enthusiastic, handsome guy opened the door, when I arrived!

And although thrown off at the fact that he was a not a girl. I soon began to feel comfortable because of his upbeat attitude and professionalism.

Throughout the entire shoot he literally cheered me on. In all complete honesty, he did it so good I wasn’t sure if he even swayed my way. lol but yrs later I came to know, that he did indeed.

A few days later he sent me the photos. Here's a couple of shots below:

And from that point on, we kept it cordial and professional and only really reached out when we were tagging each other in photos or I needed to hire him as a videographer/photographer for an event.

Until one random time he reached out to me via DM’s to let me know I was holding my book upside in a picture (even though it was just my prop for the pic🙃). I started to notice that this man was brutally honest, but also try’s to look out for people when he can. Lol he insisted he “didn’t want me out here becoming a meme.” The proof is below:

I also started to notice his sense of humor, which invited more of a connection, because if you know me, you know I LOVE to laugh.

Then I believe it was later that year, or the top of 2018 when Mo reached out and asked if I wanted to go for coffee, he said something along the lines of he found my mind interesting and just wanted to talk and ask me some questions, (not sure if that was game, or he was just being his outgoing self Lol maybeee a mixture of both)

I wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to chat about, but I was open to it, since he was slowly becoming a friend. We conversed about World and religious views. And at that time we didn’t exactly agree on everything, but there were some interesting points made nevertheless.

But yet we just remained friends, and he would go on to do a couple more shoots for me and he even recorded and edited a promo video for a project very dear to my heart called, Fluidity! (a faith based performing arts show I started).

When Mohammed showed up to record at my grandma’s backyard that day in Nov of 2018, he literally came on crutches with a sprain ankle. He didn’t even happen to mention this was his circumstance. Instead he kept his word and came right over.

This is a photo from that day he recorded for us, in my grandma's backyard

I truly appreciated his tenacity to still show up and do the job without excuse. And furthermore he willingly told me that he actually would come see my event. I thought he was just talking, but he actually came! And not with any one, just showed up by his self. And not only did he come, but he stayed for the whole thing.

That’s when I started to see him in a different light. Not just as someone I occasionally called on to help record or capture a moment, but as someone I respected, some one who keeps their word, and someone I could maybe trust.

The trust began to grow little by little in our friendship. And we would every now and then encourage and motivate each other to keep going in our endeavors and dreams!

Shortly after the fluidity project, so many people loved the promo videos he did for me, they reached out to connect with him. And one of those connects turned into a part time job for him as a videographer and sound man at my old church I grew up in.

This is when we started to run into each other a little more often. Because I would still visit my home church every so often. And every time I visited, we’d converse and check in on each other!

We maintained friendship throughout the year and even started to run into each other a lot once I started going to CSUB. Mohammed would always seem to catch me sitting in the same spot & encouraged me to get out of that same spot and switch up my surroundings a bit. Lol Well I took the advice and did that, but he somehow still found me. lol I remember one specific day we bonded over the love we had for Kanye west’s new gospel choir album in front of the library, in my new spot btw. Lol

Later in November 2020 we were asked to model for a bridal shoot at this place that used to be called Edwards Estate. Little did we know this was the start of a new chapter. The photographer and I arrived first and mo arrived shortly after. But this guy didn’t bring his suit or shoes🙃 he went to get fitted but didn’t know he was suppose to pick up the suit. Lol thankfully the other guy that was modeling in a couple, had almost identical measurements to Mo, so he just wore his and it worked out!

Once we were both dressed and ready to shoot, while walking over to the photographer, Mo said, “you look breath taking! How do I look?” And I said you look prettyyy handsome, but maybe you should flip up the nose ring?” Lol I didn’t want too put too much dip on my chip. Because I honestly thought he looked finee. But I was trying to be modest😅

Bridal Shoot - Modeling for Edwards Estate, Nov 2020

As we began to take the photos, it was a mix of natural and awkward at times, I think because of nerves. I remember at a specific time. We were leaning our foreheads on each other and the photographer said "what are y’all comfortable with?" and Mo blurted out, “I’m good with whatever, I mean whatever she’s good with!” and I said "I'm good with this, I'm comfortable with touching heads." That's what transpired at this moment below. lol I think the next step was possibly going to be a kiss, but I wasn't ready for that just yet.

From that day we began to txt more frequently and we finally got the photos back and realized how amazing they came out to be and that we didn’t look too shabby next to one another. Mohammed then insisted that I modeled for his new CON hoodie drop, and I was down!

So he set up a studio shoot in LA for us, he picked me up one early morning in November, about 5am and obviously we were both crushing, cause why were we willing to get up at like 4AM to go do a shoot together that we weren’t getting paid for?! lol So when he pulled up, he txted me "Your chariot awaits!" (He didn't knock because it was so early.) So I hoped in his Jeep with him one dark morning, before the sun even came up. (And You gotta be a special person to get me out of the bed before the sun rises haha) I should also mention I believe this is when he started sharing his location with me. (He then later stated, he did that because he trusted me, and to build trust within our relationship.

As soon as I hopped in the car, he enthusiastically said, "you look cute!" I said thank you and we started making small talk as we hit the road. As we were driving down the grapevine, we chatted the wholeee entire time, asked each other questions (and even about 5yr goals) and we laughed way too much.

Once we got to the studio we started shooting. It was very easy going and fun. When we were almost done. Mohammed wanted to try some poses with me. A few were very couple like. lol It was like the moment when the guy tries to put their arm around you at the movie theatre. lol

Welp he did just that, and we even did one holding hands. Which is why this picture exists before we were even dating! (And do you peep that our hands are even interlocked and not just the regular hand holding way lol)

This was our first time holding hands with out being told too, lol so there was some little sparks at this point. After the shoot Mohammed treated me to another meal, it was a quick stop at chipotle, and we headed back to Bako.

We then arrived safely at my place and I invited him in. Because my cousin and my aunt, who I was living with at the time, came to the door before we even got all the way out the car. Lolll A hint of nosiness definitely exists in my family, but I didn’t mind cause my aunt knew and loved Mohammed already from him working at the church, and my cousin wanted to meet him. I mean after all I did drive off with this guy at 5 in the morning🤣.

So he came in chatted it up with my fam and then we went to my room, he sat on the ground and I sat at the edge of my bed, while we chatted a little more as he sent me the photos.

Before he left, we gave each other a hug, but this was a different, longer type of hug. My hands were around the top of his back while I was on my tippy toes and his slightly around my waist. I remember feeling a bit of butterflies. No kissing was involved, it was just a little more sentimental. It was a sweet little moment.

And later that night he sent me the sweetest message🥺

I expressed similar sentiments, then he txted me the next morning! Later that day I sent him a picture of goals notebook I was looking at in barns and noble, because we were just chatting about goals the day before.

He then suggested we hop on a call or link up to talk about them, he wanted to hold me accountable to reach them.

So later that day is when we started FaceTiming! This is when as some would say the courting began, and we would face time literally almost every night, 9pm on the dot he would call!

We would talk for hours and hours and I even had a questions book one of my girlfriends left at my place that I’d ask random questions from. Sometimes they were serious, sometimes they were thought provoking, but It was so fun, and we learned so much about each other within those few weeks of FaceTiming everyday.

Then one night is when everything shifted. It was a weekend and I was wanting some wings from wing stop. I was at home and I decided to ask my aunt if she wanted some as well.

She stated she would like Wing Stop and then proceeded to ask me how things were going with Mohammed cause she could clearly see I was on the phone with him every night. I filled her in a bit and express there were some feelings developing. She was hopeful and believed we could actually workout. And as previously stated she got to know him for herself through him working at the church and she thought he was a great guy from what she knew and seen. So she said why don’t see if maybe Mohammed wants some and maybe you guys can just hang out in person for a little bit.

I was a little nervous to do so, because we’d only FaceTime at this point. And I’d be initiating it, but with love comes risk. So I went for it, I let him know that I would be going to the wing-stop near him and asked if he wanted some. Of course he said yes, because who really turns down wings!? Lol I brought him some, and he invited me in.

To my surprise his room was very clean, put together and even had a little vibe and decor to it(which makes sense, as a creative. I was kind of impressed lol (but later after we started dating he disclosed to me, that his homies who stayed there with him actually helped him clean up his room very quickly before I got there! Haha)

So we ate our wings and carrots and ranch, which he thought I was weird/different for getting carrots instead of fries😂 but I didn’t care, cause he said get me whatever and plus I loved me some carrots and ranch!

Nevertheless he was sitting near his desk eating and I was sitting on his rather low orange couch. We ate and talked, and then he randomly turned key operation.👀 He said, “ you think you can help me with my hair, I’ve been meaning to take it down so I can get it re done. “

At this moment I realized what may have been taking place here?? Lol He was trying to get closer to break the touch barrier. (Once again this is the moment of the guy in the theater in every show) He then plopped hisself down right in front of me on the floor and leaned back on my legs. I kind of chuckled and we started to take his hair down.

We continued to talk and go down old Facebook memories, and I don’t recall this next moment as clearly. But I remember leaning near his face I honestly don’t remember if it was to undo a twist or because he was showing me a old photo, but either way he slightly leaned back, turned his face, we locked eyes and that’s when we had our first kiss.

The sparks were flying, it felt like we were apart of some rom com movie. Later we were literally slow dancing together in the middle of his room, like we were at a high school prom. It was honestly the sweetest moments. I felt so comfortable with him, like I could just be myself, it felt as if we’d been together for a while the way we were goofing around and being ourselves, but I think we honestly owe it to just being friends first.

After that night, the next day we went skating at Riverwalk. This was our first actual date, he was on his skateboard and I was on my roller skates. It was a beautiful fall day and all the leaves had turned, so the trail at the park was so pretty. We coasted for hrs and he played music from his speaker it was a whole vibe. Still one of my fav dates to date. It’s was in nature, simple, genuine and literally easy breezy enjoyment.

These are screen grabs from videos we recorded that day:)

After that date. He tried to kiss me again, but I had already made up in my mind this wasn’t going to be some situationship type of thing or friends with benefits. I wasn’t trying to go down that path. So I stopped him in his tracks and gently put my hand in front of his face and said, “mmm friends don’t kiss”. Yes I had already let it happen the first time. But after thinking about it I didn’t want that to casually continue.

So I had to take a few steps back, to make sure I didn’t fall into that pattern. He was a little caught off guard but said something like oh okay I can respect that and as we walked to the car he explained how he definitely felt like we have something, and we were more than just friends and that we could talk about it and he left it at that and we both drove off in our separate cars. Later that evening we still did our daily FaceTime and he cutely express that he was crushing on me. The next day in the evening he brought me orange flowers, an iced tea (because that’s what I said I was wanting) and a hoodie in a "Get in ya bag" bag that he had created for his brand😄

Dec 7th, 2020

At the time he just dropped those things off and stated he would be back in a bit to talk. So he came back and I just straight forward asked him what his intention were within our relationship. There was no sugar coating, beating around the bush or stringing along verbiage that came out of his mouth. In the most direct way he said. “I’m trying to be with you, I want to date you.”

I was kind of stunned of how straight forward he was, he wasn’t trying to play it cool or string me along for a roller coaster. Then he said “you can think on it, you don’t have to feel pressured to give me an answer right now if you’re not ready. Think about it.” And then he left shortly after.

Two days later I reached out to him and asked if we could meet up in front of chic fi La to talk. (And till this day he brings up how this place still makes him a bit nervous when we are in the parking lot, because of how much his nerves were going that day I asked that. Lol) He agreed and met up with me, he hopped in my passenger and I had got him something too, so he started to seemingly nervously eat his food very quickly lol as I began to speak.

I basically explained my thoughts, hopes, limits and intentions. And we had a pretty smooth conversation, that ended with us becoming boyfriend and girlfriend on Dec 9th, 2020! We were both so happy, as you can see in this photo below:

When we officially started dating as bf/gf,

DEC 9TH, 2020

Later that month we shared our first Christmas together and he got to meet ALL the rest of my family. And though we didn’t get each other much, it was the best Christmas in years.🥰 Photo below from our first Christmas together in 2020.

Which was followed by the best Valentine’s Day I ever had, where he surprised me with the cutest romantic picnic set up! That was such a magical, lovely day and we'll always cherish those memories. 🤍✨

Valentines day, 2021

To sum it up (cause if I kept going I’d have to write a book lol), since then we’ve dated for a little over 2 years, got engaged back in Nov 2023 for a few months, it was quite a spontaneous one.

OUR ENGAGEMENT! 💍 - NOV 19TH, 2022

Then officially got married Jan 7th of 2023!!! (and had a very small intimate wedding w/ just parents and grands)

Our intital intimate Wedding Day - Jan 7th, 2023

Then we had another little blessing arrive, our beloved son Abloh, on April 4th, 2024!🤍 (One day after Mohammed's birthday!)

All in all we’ve had our ups and downs and our challenges, just as any other couple, but we fought through them together and always aim to lead with respect and love. Ultimately life has been quite awesome with one another and we make a pretty great team. We know there is still more to learn about each other and we still have so much room to grow, but we are committed and excited to climb those mountains together, expand our faith and reach new heights.

I know God has so much more in store for us, as we keep him first. This is just the beginning of our story and there’s no one else we rather do life with than each other.

If you've read through this whole thing, I want to specifically thank YOU for taking the time out to read and know more about our love story. Chances are if you read this far, you really do love and care about both of us and for that we thank you and love you and we can’t wait to celebrate our big day with you our family and friends!!

#THECOOKOUT 2024 here we come!