Nikea Marie
Gospel Artist and Founder of "PRETTY Girls Wait"
By Rodney Wayne Branche
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Copa Style Magazine
Copa: Nikea, where are you from?
Nikea: I was born in Washington, DC.
Copa: How and when did music become part of your life?
Nikea: I think I was born loving music. My dad was a musician and he was known in Washington DC for having a group called Frank Hooker and the Positive People. He would travel and play with Eddie Kendricks from the Temptations, but one day he got saved, and turned his life around. He married my mom, became a Pastor, and then I was born! I would like to think his love for music inspired my love for music. He would have choir rehearsals, and I would go with him all the time. I just always wanted to be around music from a very early age. My dad inspired me, and he still does.
Nikea: I think I was born loving music. My dad was a musician and he was known in Washington DC for having a group called Frank Hooker and the Positive People. He would travel and play with Eddie Kendricks from the Temptations, but one day he got saved, and turned his life around. He married my mom, became a Pastor, and then I was born! I would like to think his love for music inspired my love for music. He would have choir rehearsals, and I would go with him all the time. I just always wanted to be around music from a very early age. My dad inspired me, and he still does.
Copa: Your style of Gospel music is unique. How would you describe it from your prospective?
Nikea: Timeless. I love gospel music, and to me it’s good news. The way you share it shouldn’t matter, as long as the message is clear. I just want to share good news with people. I turn on the tv, and see so much bad news, and I just want someone who listens to my music to know they’re unstoppable. I want them to know that nothing should hold them down. When someone listens to my music I want them to feel motivated and rejuvenated! They should look at themselves in the mirror and say I believe in me! With God, I can do all things, point blank, period!
Nikea: Timeless. I love gospel music, and to me it’s good news. The way you share it shouldn’t matter, as long as the message is clear. I just want to share good news with people. I turn on the tv, and see so much bad news, and I just want someone who listens to my music to know they’re unstoppable. I want them to know that nothing should hold them down. When someone listens to my music I want them to feel motivated and rejuvenated! They should look at themselves in the mirror and say I believe in me! With God, I can do all things, point blank, period!
Copa: Who is your favorite Gospel Singer of all time?
Nikea: Other than my dad, Frank Hooker, I would have to say Ms. Yolanda Adams. I remember going to a concert as a little girl, and she sang a song called "Through the Storm," and I was amazing. She would minister with an anointing that was out of this world! I remember crying as a child wondering how someone could have such a gift that caused a child to weep. I mean, I was in full tears like I’m crying, but these are happy tears. I would go to her concerts all the time, and I believe she influenced me musically as well. I remember the feeling I recieved at her concerts, and i used to tell God that I wanted a gift like that. Another artist I loved to see was Pastor John P Kee! He is one of my favorites! |
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Copa: Not only are you a singer, but you also have an organization for women, please share what that’s all about?
Nikea: Well I was a Virgin when I got married, and I really felt like I was the only virgin in the world. Who really does this? I think think myself and Mary in the Bible are the only ones. I was a Pastors kid, but I was also committed to whatever I chose to do. It wasn’t easy, but I committed myself to it. I feel like when you have support, it helps you through anything. When my older sister got married, she was a virgin, and I looked up to her. I said if she can do it, so can I. I wanted to create a support system for women to know that they can also wait! I started an organization called PRETTY Girls Wait. PRETTY means Pure Righteous Eternally True To You. We inspire, and encourage girls and women to know their value, seek after their purpose, and walk in purity. We meet every month, and we have a true sisterhood. It’s not just about sex, it’s about being pure in our hearts, minds, souls, and spirits. The moment you realize who you are, that is when you become unstoppable!
Nikea: Well I was a Virgin when I got married, and I really felt like I was the only virgin in the world. Who really does this? I think think myself and Mary in the Bible are the only ones. I was a Pastors kid, but I was also committed to whatever I chose to do. It wasn’t easy, but I committed myself to it. I feel like when you have support, it helps you through anything. When my older sister got married, she was a virgin, and I looked up to her. I said if she can do it, so can I. I wanted to create a support system for women to know that they can also wait! I started an organization called PRETTY Girls Wait. PRETTY means Pure Righteous Eternally True To You. We inspire, and encourage girls and women to know their value, seek after their purpose, and walk in purity. We meet every month, and we have a true sisterhood. It’s not just about sex, it’s about being pure in our hearts, minds, souls, and spirits. The moment you realize who you are, that is when you become unstoppable!
Copa: In our society, a lot of people don’t have the patience to wait for anything, How would you encourage them?
Nikea: Waiting is not just for singles, or young people, or even just about sex! Waiting built my faith! Waiting built character! Waiting boosted my confidence! Waiting allowed me to make clear decisions. After I was married, guess what? I had to wait to get pregnant! Wait for my husband to get a job because he lost his soon after we said I do! Wait for a home! But because I had history with God, I knew my waiting was not in vain. I want to encourage someone in the waiting room! Enjoy the process! It’s making you better. I have been married 9 years now, and I am still waiting for things to come to pass in my life. It’s not that God is trying to punish you, He is preparing you.
Nikea: Waiting is not just for singles, or young people, or even just about sex! Waiting built my faith! Waiting built character! Waiting boosted my confidence! Waiting allowed me to make clear decisions. After I was married, guess what? I had to wait to get pregnant! Wait for my husband to get a job because he lost his soon after we said I do! Wait for a home! But because I had history with God, I knew my waiting was not in vain. I want to encourage someone in the waiting room! Enjoy the process! It’s making you better. I have been married 9 years now, and I am still waiting for things to come to pass in my life. It’s not that God is trying to punish you, He is preparing you.
Copa: How do you balance all this with your marriage and your kids?
Nikea: Balance is so key! We have to make sure we stay dating each other. We can’t lose us! We have 2 beautiful sons, Michael and David, and they need us too. We have to have phones off after a certain time, and just be present in the moment. God and family is always top priority! |
Copa: I see that your husband is also alongside you with his ministry! What does he do?
Nikea: My husband mentors young men, and he encourages them to Man Up! A lot of men weren’t taught things, or they feel like respecting women is corny, or they aren’t a man if they cry. All the things they were taught, they have to be retrained, it takes a man who had to Man Up to tell another man he needs to. Being a man back in the day was about how many girls you can get! No sense in trying or showing emotion! Not being open, and being cold at times, but that’s not being a man. The Bible says, when I was a child, I spoke as a child, but now that I’m a man, I’ve put away those childish things. The problem is that age has nothing to do with if you’re a man or not. You can be 40, and still have not put away childish things. We are looking at broken men in their 40’s, still hurt about things from their childhood. We have to be more invested in our men. We need you! You’re necessary! You also need a safe place to know that you can MAN UP with men who will cover you, and help you through it. I am so proud of my husband because he wants to see change, but it starts with the men. A lot of issues stem from broken families, and I believe when the men grow up, and step up, there will be change in women, change in children, and change in the world. |
Copa: What does the future hold for Nikea Marie?
Nikea: I have so many things coming up! I am about to launch a new business soon, and I am so excited. I am doing conferences, workshops, more events empowering women, more music. Also my husband and I are going to be launching something big really soon as well. I can’t tell you everything yet, but be on the lookout. I would say the future is looking very bright!
Nikea: I have so many things coming up! I am about to launch a new business soon, and I am so excited. I am doing conferences, workshops, more events empowering women, more music. Also my husband and I are going to be launching something big really soon as well. I can’t tell you everything yet, but be on the lookout. I would say the future is looking very bright!
Copa: How can people stay in contact with you?
Nikea: Follow me on Fb Nikea Marie
IG @Nikeamarie313
Email: [email protected]
https://diaryofmadblackvirgin.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/diary-of-a-mad-black-virgin-life-after-sex/
Stay connected so you can be apart of what we are doing!
We love to serve, and our hearts are to see people win, and live their best life! 😝
Nikea: Follow me on Fb Nikea Marie
IG @Nikeamarie313
Email: [email protected]
https://diaryofmadblackvirgin.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/diary-of-a-mad-black-virgin-life-after-sex/
Stay connected so you can be apart of what we are doing!
We love to serve, and our hearts are to see people win, and live their best life! 😝
~Copa