Dress, Dolce & Gabbana (price on request). Neiman Marcus, 737 N. Michigan Ave.; neimanmarcus.com. Earrings and ring, Cartier (prices on request). 630 N. Michigan Ave.; cartier.com
Jennifer Hudson is having a fantastic summer: On the eve of her 29th birthday, she’s planning her upcoming nuptials to reality-star-turned-wrestler David Otunga (with whom she has a one-year-old son, David), playing the role of a lifetime as Nelson Mandela’s controversial ex in the movie Winnie and working on a new—and deeply personal—album. And despite a beyond-hectic schedule—from several weeks spent filming in South Africa to her recent gig as a Weight Watchers spokesperson—Hudson is most excited about a big move she’s planning this fall back to her hometown of Chicago (Otunga is from nearby Rockford). “With the baby growing up, we want him to be around our family,” she says. They’ve been living in Tampa, where David trains. “We feel so secluded. Both David and I are the babies of the family, and we want to be home with our families as well.”
Lately it seems like she’s everywhere, thanks to the high-profile Weight Watchers ad campaign, and Hudson is even blogging on their website with regular updates on her progress, such as discovering the joy of frozen yogurt with fresh fruit. Though she won’t give a number of pounds lost, she says she’s between a size six and an eight and “completely satisfied,” though she still finds it exciting to see frequent changes in her appearance. “Lord knows it changes every week,” she laughs. “I feel the same, but then when I look at my picture, I’m like, ‘Oh my god! That’s me?’”
A big bonus of the weight loss is that she can fit into a broader selection of clothes. “It’s more exciting, especially coming out of Hollywood,” she says. “If you’re a size 12, that’s a normal size, but you’re treated like you have limited things to wear.” Today, even something as simple as wearing jeans seems special. “I’m 5-foot-9, and if I put on heels I’m over six feet tall, so [jeans used to] fit in one spot, but then didn’t fit in another spot, so it was uncomfortable.” Now they’re a wardrobe staple for the first time in her life.
Her twin loves of fashion and showing off her new figure are both evident in her wedding gown, which she says has already been altered several times and will probably need more tailoring before the wedding. And while she’s coy about the date (her engagement has already run nearly two years), she’s excited to talk about the gown’s design. “It has three parts to it, so it transforms into three different dresses, and I designed it myself,” she says. “It’s crazy; it has its own show. It’s a very Jennifer thing to do.”
She’s equally pumped about her sophomore album. “I’ve noticed when people have heard music from this project, their reaction is amazing,” she says. “It makes them happy. And with my fans I feel like they know me that much more, so now anything I sing is about something they can relate to.”
