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Halle Berry is celebrating daughter Nahla Ariela’s early admission to college!
“Congratulations to my sweet angel Nala on getting into college early!” Berry, 59, posted on her Instagram Stories on Monday, October 13. In the photo, when the box was opened, it read, “Today is the sweetest day,” and a pale pink funfetti cake was revealed, along with a box that read, “You did it, Nala!!” Written in white icing.
The actress shares 17-year-old Nahla with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry and is also mother to 12-year-old son Maceo Robert with ex-husband Olivier Martinez. Berry is currently dating Van Hunt, who revealed that he proposed in June, but she has not yet accepted the proposal.
Halle Berry/Instagram
On the June 4 episode of Today with Jenna & Friends, Berry spoke about her hopes for Nahla’s future.
“She’s 17 years old. She’s in a college summer program, which is the college she wants to go to next year,” Berry said of her daughter. “She is planning to go to a university summer program this year.”
“We’re almost there! Is that wild?” Jenna Bush Hager asked at the time.
“That being said, I’m not one of those moms who is like, ‘Oh, I’m going to miss her.’ Yes, can I be worried? Absolutely,” Berry continued. “But am I excited for her to start her life and decide who she’s going to be? Absolutely. I’m excited to see who she’s going to be, what she’s going to do, what she’s going to discover.”
Berry went on to say she wants to “break down the stigma” about being a working mother.
“We are still seen as good mothers for our children, but at the same time, we have to be there for ourselves as well, as our children grow up and move on. What happens if we can’t maintain our own lives?” she said.
“What happens when our loved ones leave home? What have we built for ourselves? So I think it’s really important to maintain your love life, maintain your career, maintain what makes you who you are, your hobbies, your passions, whatever it is,” Berry continued. “Keep them alive while you’re a mother too.”
Although the X-Men star tends to keep her children’s lives private, she has opened up about motherhood. When Berry accepted the People’s Icon Award at the 2021 People’s Choice Awards, she thanked the children and also shared some words of wisdom.
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“My two little children, I have to lose a lot of time to spend with mom because I can go to work and do what I like. So, thank you Nala, thank you Maceo. I hope you find something in life that you can love and that you can approach your work with as much energy and enthusiasm as I do. I love you guys,” she said.