• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your legacy
  • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty News
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifestyle News
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · Relationships

Black Love: Magic Johnson and Cookie Through the Years

Black Love: Magic Johnson and Cookie Through the Years
By · September 13, 2011October 28, 2020
01
In the Beginning

Magic and Cookie met at a party in 1977 as college freshmen. “It was so funny because every girl on campus wanted to meet him,” Cookie recalls of their first encounter. “I just thought forget it. There’s no way he’s going to pick me over all these other women.” Boy was she wrong!

02
826793
03
By Your Side

Cookie and Magic stayed by each others side during the early days. “There was a lot of breaking up and getting back together, a lot of ups and downs. We’ve been through everything together,” Cookie has said.

04
Family Values

Magic and Cookie pose together with daughter Elisa and son E.J. at an event in 1997.

05
Keeping It Fresh

Cookie and Magic seem to always have a smile on their faces. Despite the challenges they faced early on, they hold onto their happiness together.

06
Totally In-Sync

The couple is all smiles as they attend a movie premiere together in 1996. They are so in-sync that they almost dressed alike!

07
Special Honor

Magic and Cookie are beaming with joy during a ceremony honoring Magic with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Their children Earvin Jr., Elisa and Andre and Magic’s parents Earvin Sr. and Christine came along for the special moment.

08
Through Thick and Thin

When Magic announced to the world that he was HIV positive, many doubted why Cookie remained committed to their marriage. “I never even thought about leaving,” Cookie has said. “To stay by him was not a hard thing to do.”

09
Stronger than Ever

After learning about Magic’s illness, the couple was able to emerge from the situation with a stronger bond. “I don’t know of many women who would have stayed in this situation,” Magic has said reflecting on his resilient wife.

10
The Couple that Prays Together

A strong faith is the foundation of Cookie and Magic’s union. “God and Cookie give me the strength to carry on,” Magic has said.

11
Rising to New Heights

Contrary to popular belief, Cookie is taller than many think. Perhaps the 5’8" beauty looks short compared to her 6’9" husband!

12
Giving Back

Since leaving the NBA, Magic has started the Magic Johnson Foundation to help raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. Cookie proudly supports her hubby at a foundation event in 2006.

13
Substance and Style

Cookie and Magic are both savvy entrepreneurs. Cookie’s chic fashion sense led her to start CJ by Cookie Johnson, a premium denim line and Magic owns Magic Johnson Enterprises.

14
Perfect Balance

Magic and Cookie attend a lot of red carpet events together. It takes hard work to balance their busy schedules, but these two make it work beautifully.

15
Support System

Magic came out to support Cookie during an in-store event for CJ by Cookie Johnson. We love how supportive these two are of one another!

16
Birthday Surprise

In honor of Cookie’s 51st birthday, Magic surprised his loving wife with a blow-out birthay party. “He really got me this time,” she said. “I thought we were going to see Frankie Beverly!” Little did she know that Frankie Beverly and Maze, who were performing at the nearby Nokia Theater, would take the stage at her party by night’s end.

17
A Love Like No Other

Cookie & Magic embrace for a slow dance at Cookie’s surprise birthday party. Awwwww!

18
Taking Time to Relax

Cookie and Magic take a romantic getaway to Portofino, Italy last year. The happy couple knows that a balance of work and play is essential.

19
Out and About

Magic and Cookie step out for a romantic dinner for two in Los Angeles.

Read More

Entertainment
Lil Kim Shares The One Thing She Wants Viewers To Take Away ...
Travel
Airbnb Cancels All DC Reservations Ahead Of Inauguration Week
Oprah Winfrey Documentary Coming To Apple TV+
Videos
Who is Lorna Simpson
Beauty
Skincare Products For All Your Problem Areas
FOLLOW US
Privacy Policy
Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now