Nicole Covone, an ex-girlfriend of chart-topping rapper Lil Durk, first met her future partner in 2008 when they were just teenagers. Their relationship began long before Durk’s rise to fame.
The teenage sweethearts dated for three years before welcoming their first child, Angelo Banks, on November 28, 2011. Nicole was 21 and Durk was 19 when they became parents for the first time.
Their family expanded again on July 18, 2013, when Covone gave birth to their daughter, Bella Banks. It seemed like the couple had it all – young love, two beautiful children, and Durk’s promising career in music. But their happiness was short-lived.
Just months after their second child’s arrival, news broke that the Laugh Now Cry Later singer had fathered another child, Zayden, with a different woman. He also took responsibility for his son, but the revelation deeply affected his then-girlfriend, Nicole.
By the end of 2013, with Bella only a few months old, the couple’s relationship ended.
However, the drama didn’t stop there. Even after three years of splitting up, more drama followed. In 2016, Durk took to Instagram, stating that he wanted to take all of his children away from their mothers and raise them himself.
Although he mentioned that the kids’ moms were all “perfect and good,” Nicole wasn’t about to let that slide. She clapped back publicly, saying, “Gotta be talking to his other 10 BABYMAMAS,” making it clear that the idea of him “taking somebody’s kids” wasn’t going to happen in her case. She also urged him to focus on being a better father, instead of making bold claims online. Despite the tension, Nicole has admitted that Durk was a good dad to their two kids.
Now that the dust has settled, she is currently single and living in Chicago, Illinois. Let’s take a look at what she’s been up to lately.
She Has Embraced The Role Of Single Motherhood
Since parting ways with Durk, Nicole, 36, has fully embraced the challenges and joys of raising her two children as a single mother. Her Instagram provides a heartwarming window into her life, overflowing with affectionate captions and countless photos that celebrate her bond with her kids.
For her, her children are her “biggest blessings” and “best friends.” In one post, she wrote, “My Everything 🖤🌎 Never needed no one as long as I have y’all, my best friends.” Her followers are quick to acknowledge her dedication, with one commenting, “One thing about Nikki, she’s gonna take care of her kids,” and another adding, “You don’t play about your kids!! AT ALL.”
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Her Instagram is a constant flow of praise. Comments like, “You’re a real superwoman” and “Blessings upon blessings for you and your babies” frequently appear under her posts.
Alongside the support she receives, Nicole remains focused on a bigger goal—instilling self-worth in her kids. In one post, she wrote,
My hope is to raise my children so that they love themselves so fiercely that they refuse to settle for anything less than they deserve.
Now, She Is A Successful Business Owner
While managing her responsibilities of parenthood, Nicole has also built a successful career. Today, she is the CEO and owner of The Credit Clique, a successful credit repair business that has helped her achieve a net worth of over $300,000. Based in Chicago, she’s spent more than five years helping people improve their credit and gain financial independence. Looking back to her past, she shared with the Credit Repair Business Secrets podcast,
…It was super hard being a single mom doing that. So here we are today, and I’m a successful business owner. So, anything is possible. (sic)
Nicole’s work isn’t just about credit repair; it includes advanced credit restoration, tax preparation, and helping people regain their financial footing. Her expertise has also allowed her to mentor startups, guiding them through growth and planning.
It Was Not Always A Bed Of Roses For Her
Life wasn’t easy for Nicole as she faced the daunting task of raising two young children on her own. With Angelo just two years old and Bella a newborn, she quickly had to adapt to this new chapter of her life. The initial years were tough, as she juggled multiple nine-to-five jobs to make ends meet, leaving little time for her kids.
Living paycheck to paycheck, she knew something had to change. She longed for financial freedom and more time with her children. A friend in the credit repair business sparked an idea, and despite the uncertainty, she decided to take a leap into entrepreneurship. Balancing the demands of raising her kids and growing her business, Nicole built it from the ground up, determined to create a better future.
That struggle has proven worth it, as her children are now also beginning to creat their own paths. At 14, their oldest, Angelo is already making a name for himself as a promising football player. His younger sister, Bella, just 13, has already launched her own beauty brand, Bella Beauty. Starting young, right?
Through it all, Nicole takes great pride in celebrating her children’s milestones. Durk has remained involved in their lives as well, with both Angelo and Bella mentioning their father in their Instagram bios, showing their close bond with him.
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