Dana Elaine Owens better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American musician, actress, and rapper. Her work as a music actor, filmmaker and TV performer has garnered an impressive the distinction of two Screen Actors Guild Awards and two Image Awards. She also was awarded an Grammy Award along with six additional Grammy nominations. Queen Latifah's parents are Lancelot and Rita Owens. They were both police officers. Rita was a Newark New Jersey teacher, who taught in Irvington High School. The couple divorced in the year Latifah was ten years old. Latifah went to Catholic school in Newark, NJ and was educated by the Baptist Church. Latifah is an Arabic word that means "delicate and kind". Her aunt bestowed it on her in the age of eight. Latifah was always tall, standing 5'10" and was the power forward of her high-school basketball team. The number she sang was Home from The musical The Wiz in a high school play. Latifah was part of Ladies Fresh, a ra...