Tameka Foster
{{short description|American wardrobe stylist}}
{{Infobox person
| name =
| image =
| caption =
| other_names = Tameka Raymond
Tameka Foster Raymond
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|1|1}}
| birth_place = Oakland, California, U.S.
| alma_mater = Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
| occupation = Designer, fashion stylist
| years_active = 1993–present
| spouse = {{ubl
| {{marriage|Ryan Glover|||end=divorced}}
| {{marriage|Usher|2007|2009|end=divorced}}
}}
| children = 5
| website = {{URL|www.cultdejour.com}}
{{URL|www.tamekaraymond.com}}
}}
Tameka Foster (born January 1, 1971) is an American fashion stylist.
She has worked as a personal stylist for Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, Toni Braxton, Ciara, Patti LaBelle, Nas, and her ex-husband Usher.{{Cite web |url=http://www.stepsevents.com/tamekafoster/biography.htm |title=Tameka Foster - Wardrobe Stylist, Image Consultant, & Personal Shopper |access-date=2010-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829204248/http://www.stepsevents.com/tamekafoster/biography.htm |archive-date=2010-08-29 |url-status=dead }}
Career
Her professional career started with her employment as a sales associate and evolved to management positions. During her attendance at FIDM, Foster worked as a dresser at the Giorgio Armani fashion shows, and since then, she has styled numerous celebrities, including Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, Ciara, Nas, and Mary J. Blige.{{Cite web |url=http://www.stylewhim.com/about-us |title=About Us - Style Whim | for a more stylish world, one click at a time |access-date=2014-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715133222/http://www.stylewhim.com/about-us/ |archive-date=2014-07-15 |url-status=dead }}
Foster's work as a stylist gained the attention of several television networks including, MTV, E! and Access Hollywood.{{cite web | url = http://lostonesfoundation.org/biography/ | title = Biography | publisher= Lost Ones Foundation | year = 2010 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100324130243/http://lostonesfoundation.org/biography/ | archivedate = March 24, 2010}} She has also been featured in InStyle, People, Glamour, Vibe, Upscale and Essence Magazines.
On August 18, 2014, Foster joined the cast of VH1 spinoff Atlanta Exes. She starred alongside Christina Johnson, Torrei Hart, Sheree Buchanan and Monyetta Shaw.{{Cite web |url=http://blog.vh1.com/2014-01-29/vh1-the-return-of-hollywood-exes-atlanta-exes |title=Hollywood Exes + Atlanta Exes Coming in 2014 | Reality TV News and Gossip | VH1 Blog |access-date=2014-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705144152/http://blog.vh1.com/2014-01-29/vh1-the-return-of-hollywood-exes-atlanta-exes/ |archive-date=2014-07-05 |url-status=dead }}
In August 2019, Foster with the help of her sons launched a 3-D animated series entitled, The Odd Life of Kile Lyles.https://www.oddlifeofkilelyles.com/history# {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} The series began development in 2013 and is the story of a quirky 11-year-old boy experiencing the classic middle child syndrome. His day-to-day life of creating various gadgets that decorate his room and tree-house, changes drastically after a trip to an antique toy museum.{{Cite web|url=https://thejasminebrand.com/2019/08/16/tameka-foster-raymond-creates-series-honoring-late-son-the-odd-life-of-kile-lyles/|title=Tameka Foster-Raymond Creates Series Honoring Late Son 'The Odd Life of Kile Lyles'|first=T. J. B.|last=Writer|date=August 16, 2019}}
Philanthropy
Foster is a co-founder of the 'Oakland Natives Giveback' nonprofit organization founded in 2007.https://www.oaklandnatives.org/history# {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} Dr. Nyeisha DeWitt, Dee Dee Abdur-Rahim, and Tameka Foster, created Oakland Natives Give Back (ONGB). Their aim was to give back to the children in the community in which they were raised. The first ONGB initiative was the annual Attend and Achieve Back to School Rally at Oakland City Hall. The event was an expo for the start of the school year, where children received fully-loaded backpacks, public transportation vouchers, shoes, and school supplies.
Foster is credited as the founder of charity organization, The Lost Ones Foundation, founded in 2009.{{Cite web |url=http://lostonesfoundation.org/about/ |title=About | Lost Ones Inc |access-date=2010-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407233046/http://lostonesfoundation.org/about/ |archive-date=2010-04-07 |url-status=dead }} The Lost Ones Foundation is a non-profit organization that helps to adolescent girls ages of 12-18 who are in at-risk environments.{{Cite web|url=https://globalgrind.com/194586/tameka-raymond-on-the-lost-ones-foundation/|title=Tameka Raymond On The "Lost Ones Foundation"|date=January 3, 2010}}
Foster's philanthropic work continued and in March 2013 on what was to be her son Kile's 12th birthday; she honored him by launching the 501c(3) nonprofit organization Kile's World Foundation. The Foundations mission is, "Gifting children with endless possibilities of creative endeavor through applied, fine and performing arts“ and intends to offer comprehensive art education to children ranging from ages 10‐17.{{Cite web |url=http://kilesworldfoundation.org/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115180414/http://www.kilesworldfoundation.org/ |archive-date=2018-01-15 |url-status=dead }}