What advice would you give to your younger self? Scratch that, how would you react if someone handed you a photo of your teenage self and asked for an autograph? That’s exactly what happened to Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade’s wife, Gabrielle Union. And her reaction? Pretty much what any fan would expect, pure shock, and maybe a little secondhand embarrassment.

On January 2025, Gabrielle Union teamed up with IPSY, an $800 million beauty brand, to curate the February Icon Box as part of its Black History Month celebration. Recently, she shared a lighthearted Instagram story featuring a funny moment with an IPSY representative. But what caught fans’ attention wasn’t just the laughter, it was an unexpected glimpse into Union’s past.

In the video, an IPSY representative handed Gabrielle Union a plain document file. One that held memories from her past. On the front, it featured teenage photos of Union. But the real surprise? The representative asked her to autograph her own picture. With a stunned expression, Union signed it. Then came the unexpected question: “Do you remember her?” Union, caught off guard, responded with a laugh, “Do I remember her? Yes.” The two burst into laughter, sharing a merry moment. But the biggest revelation came at the end. Pointing to her younger self in the photo, Union shared a fun fact most fans didn’t know: “I sucked my thumb until I was twelve.” Man! It looks like this million-dollar collaboration will make her reveal many more secrets in the near future.

If that was the end of the story, fans would have simply laughed it off. But their shock skyrocketed when Union shared the clip on her own Instagram profile with a caption that left every fan wondering. “Life before braces 😜” she wrote. Wait… she had braces? Yup! For two years. And for the record, this wasn’t the first time she talked about it. A few years ago, during an interview with TODAY, Union admitted, “I had headgear, Netgear-like braces for two years.” As for the reason, she added, “I had buck teeth. I couldn’t close my mouth, so yeah.”

Safe to say, fans weren’t expecting that little blast from the past! But Gabrielle Union has always been refreshingly honest about her life. She’s never cared about following strict social norms, always staying true to herself and the world. Speaking of honesty, did you know she once revealed a secret about Dwyane Wade that not even his closest friends knew?

Gabrielle Union Spills Dwyane Wade’s Secrets in Public

When it comes to NBA power couples, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade might just take the crown. While Union’s TV character, Mary Jane Paul has had her fair share of love troubles, her real-life romance with D-Wade couldn’t be smoother. And with each passing day, their bond seems to grow even stronger.

But what’s their secret to keeping the spark alive? In an interview with PEOPLE, Union revealed that the Flash has a surprisingly romantic side. One that even his closest friends might not know about. Turns out, the NBA legend writes her heartfelt poems.

“They’re about love and devotion and his feelings,” Union shared. “And they’re really impressive. Like, at first I thought he had a ghost writer.” Who knew Wade had bars both on and off the court? Maybe poetry is the real key to a happy marriage. And with love notes like that, no wonder Union is still swooning over him!