Singer and actor Marques Houston and his wife Miya are enjoying family life with their two children—2-year-old daughter Zara and soon-to-be 1-year-old son Greyson.
For Marques, family has become his top priority. “I think now I prioritize my family, being a husband, being a dad, I think that’s a top priority for me over business, over everything,” he tells Essence. “When I was younger, everything was about work, business. I still run companies, I still do music, I still do all that. But being a dad and a husband, that’s where I’m happiest.”
Marques and Miya recently marked their fourth wedding anniversary on August 24. Their strong bond has helped them navigate public scrutiny, particularly regarding their significant age difference. Marques, 43, proposed to Miya, now 23, in 2019, and the two wed when she was just 19. This age gap has fueled speculation and criticism, which the couple has often had to address.
Marques acknowledged the rumors that have swirled around their relationship since their marriage, particularly allegations of grooming. While he remains “unbothered” by the gossip, Miya admitted it was challenging for her at first.
“I feel like it was easier for Marques to adapt to that. He has been in the spotlight since he was nine, so he already knew how to take those punches. But for me, it’s new territory completely,” she says. “It is just crazy how people can really make up stories and really, truly believe it. You can tell them the truth, and they won’t believe it.”
In 2023, Marques faced backlash for comments he made during an interview with PageSix, where he described dating women with children as a “red flag” based on his past experiences.
“I think it was just one of those situations where I just was talking, and it just kind of got taken out of context and taken the wrong way,” he says of the backlash. “I don’t mean any disrespect to anyone because there’s a lot of strong women out there who are single moms who are raising kids on their own and doing it all by themselves, and much respect to them because I see how hard it is even with us as a family raising children. So somebody alone in that, that’s commendable, and that’s to be praised.”
Despite the controversies, Marques and Miya remain focused on their family and future endeavors. Marques, who has been in the entertainment industry since 1990, is not only a devoted family man but also a successful filmmaker. He is set to release a new album titled The Best Worst Year Ever at the end of August, marking his return to music after years in the film industry.
