Actress Tika Sumpter has graced the screen for about two decades with roles in several hits, including Gossip Girl, Think Like a Man, and, more recently, the Sonic the Hedgehog films. But since welcoming her daughter, Ella-Loren, in 2016, with husband Nicholas James, Sumpter launched herself into the business world and is focused on families.
“I just wanted to reach out to women who I felt needed more joy. And I wanted to reach out and make it a family affair,” she tells Parents. “I also love just filling in spaces that I didn’t have when I was younger. Wanting to see families win is very important for me.”
Sumpter caters to kids with her 2025 children’s book I Got It from My Mama, as well as the Adventures of Curiosity Cove podcast. In August 2025, she also launched Yummy Tummy, a clean, multi-use skincare line for mothers, babies, and families.
“I just want products that are safe for me and my kid,” she says. “I always wanted to do a multi-purpose situation, where I can use it, but also I can use it on my child, or moms can use it while they’re pregnant for stretch marks and skin that is dry and itchy.”
The line features a balm, oil, and cream—all under $26. She says she uses the oil every single night.
“There’s vitamin E, there’s rosehip oil in there, and avocado oil. It’s all these amazing ingredients that really absorb into the skin,” she says. “You’re not gonna sit on somebody’s couch and be like, ‘Ouu!’”
But running a business takes a lot of resources, time, and patience. Add parenting on top of that, and the duties intensify. How does Sumpter get it all done while keeping her peace? Her schedule shifts when she has an acting role, but she breaks down, in her own words, what a typical day looks like for her.
Morning Grind
My daughter has to wake up at 6 a.m. to get ready for school. I used to get up and make the pancakes, but her dad does it now and he makes those from scratch. They are so good. Then I get her ready. I try to comb her hair. She doesn’t want me to comb it. She wants to do it— that’s another story—and then she gets out the door.
I spend my mornings journaling a little bit. I seriously have to get my thoughts out and just feel like I have moments for myself. Then I make my chocolate protein shake. And I try to go to the gym during the day. If I have to go to a set or something, I go to the gym after work. But muscle building is so important for me.
I was starting to have super spiked blood pressure. All this stuff was starting to happen, and I was like, “What is going on?” I got a blood panel. I will say, every woman needs to have a blood panel to tell them what’s going on with their body. It literally changed my life and how I think about my body.
After that, I’m literally in meetings all morning. Adventures of Curiosity Cove just launched, which is my kids’ podcast that I created with my husband. And so he’ll be writing the stories, and I’ll be doing the back end of what we need to do, and the dates and all that stuff, and talking to the team.
Photo:
Claire Leahy
Afternoon Break
I’ll make an afternoon coffee. I like it looking pretty. I’ll put the ice and the coffee and then the cream, and all that stuff. And then after that, I just need to sit down and read a book. I finished a book yesterday called Flash Boys. I was really proud of myself and I was like, I need to read more. I told myself, life felt like it was just a series of lists—things I had to get through. And I’m like, no, I need to enjoy my life.
Then my daughter comes home from school. I’m probably just getting off another call or writing, and then I spend time with her. I’m really trying to not be on my phone when she’s around.
I’m cooking by early afternoon because I hate cooking late. And I just make sure we have a little bit of family time, talking, catching up on the day, and helping my daughter do her homework.
Evening Wind Down
After all of the homework, we go outside for a little while, come back in, and she takes her shower. We try to eat together, enjoy the meal, and clean up. Then my husband usually reads a story to her. She just lays and listens, and we’re all in there cuddling, and then it’s time for her to go to bed.
Then I’m on the couch. One of my favorite things is turning on a television show that me and my husband want to watch and hang out for a little bit. I’ve really gotten into these UFC fights with my husband. So we’ll watch that together, or we’ll watch Mayor of Kingstown together, or something else.
And I’m in bed by probably like 10 p.m.
I would say for anybody who wants to launch something, it doesn’t have to be picture perfect; It could start small and then grow it…Things are constantly changing. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to say I don’t know; this is not my ministry, and I need you to help me figure this out. That is the great reliever.
