Wiki / Bio Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Andraya Michele Howard |
| Date of Birth | January 23, 1985 |
| Age (2025) | 40 years old |
| Birthplace | Reading, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Ethnicity | African-American (father) & Italian (mother) |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Weight | Approx. 130 lbs (59 kg) |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actress, Model, Fashion Designer, Media Personality |
| Known For | Basketball Wives LA, Mint Swim, Fine Ass Girls |
| Children | Three (Kniko Howard, Jru Scandrick, and one born May 2024) |
| Net Worth (est.) | Around $1 million |
| Social Media | @drayamichele (Instagram & Twitter) |
Early Life and Background
Draya Michele grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania, a city in the eastern part of the state. Raised with a mixed cultural identity — her father being African-American and her mother of Italian descent — she developed a strong sense of individuality from a young age. Her mother was a devoted fan of the late R&B artist Teena Marie, and Draya has spoken fondly about growing up listening to that music and knowing every word of those songs.
As a child, she harbored two very different dreams: at one point wanting to be an aesthetician, fascinated by skincare and beauty; at another, dreaming of becoming a musician. She also admired Victoria Beckham’s style and poise. These early influences — beauty, music, fashion — would eventually collide to shape the multifaceted career she built as an adult.
She graduated from Reading Senior High School and later enrolled in beauty courses, though she did not pursue a traditional college education. Instead, she signed with modeling agencies in an attempt to break into the industry. Rejection was a common experience early on, but it did not deter her. She eventually made her way to Los Angeles, where opportunities began to open up.
Rise to Fame: Basketball Wives LA
Draya’s path to public recognition truly began through her relationship with singer Chris Brown, which drew media attention and put her name in circulation. However, it was her casting in the VH1 reality series Basketball Wives LA in 2011 that launched her into mainstream celebrity.
As part of the original freshman cast, she brought a mix of beauty, sass, and raw authenticity to the show. She remained on the series for four full seasons, departing after season four in 2015 to focus on her growing business ventures and acting ambitions. Her time on the show was not without controversy — she faced criticism about her parenting after a 2011 incident involving her son — but she also demonstrated resilience and a refusal to let public scrutiny define her.
Acting Career
While appearing on Basketball Wives LA, Draya quietly built an acting portfolio. Her scripted debut came in 2011 with TV One’s Will to Love, where she starred alongside Keshia Knight-Pulliam and Marques Houston. It was a strong first step, and she continued from there.
| Year | Project | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Will to Love | TV Movie |
| 2015 | Real Husbands of Hollywood | TV Series |
| 2016 | The Perfect Match | Feature Film |
| 2018 | We Belong Together | Film |
| 2022 | The Sound of Christmas | TV Movie |
| 2024 | Somnium | Film |
Her role in the 2016 theatrical release The Perfect Match was a notable step forward, giving her exposure to a wider film audience. She has continued to take on projects, showing steady growth as a performer who takes her craft seriously.
Entrepreneurship and Fashion Lines
Perhaps more impressive than her entertainment career is Draya Michele’s record as a businesswoman. She launched her swimwear line Mint Swim in 2011 — the same year she debuted on Basketball Wives LA — demonstrating an entrepreneurial instinct that ran parallel to her rise in reality television.
| Brand | Launch Year | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Mint Swim | 2011 | Swimwear |
| Fine Ass Girls | 2013 | Lifestyle Clothing |
| Beige & Coco | November 2016 | Fashion/Lifestyle |
Each line reflected her personal aesthetic: body-confident, fashion-forward, and unapologetically feminine. Fine Ass Girls, launched in 2013, expanded her reach beyond swimwear into everyday lifestyle clothing. Beige & Coco, introduced in late 2016, showed further evolution in her design sensibility — moving toward a more elevated, neutral-palette brand identity.
Her fashion businesses have attracted a loyal customer base largely built through her social media presence, where she has cultivated millions of followers drawn to her style, candor, and personality.
Personal Life and Relationships
Draya’s personal life has been one of the more openly discussed aspects of her public persona. She became a mother at just 17, giving birth to her eldest son, Kniko Howard, in 2002. She raised him largely on her own and has spoken openly about the challenges of single motherhood, including the absence of financial support from the father. Rather than hide this part of her story, she has owned it — earning respect from fans who admire her honesty.
Her long-term relationship with NFL cornerback Orlando Scandrick produced her second son, Jru Scandrick, born on April 8, 2016. The two were engaged in 2015 but ultimately parted ways before marrying.
More recently, Draya began a relationship with NBA player Jalen Green. The couple welcomed her third child on May 12, 2024, adding a new chapter to her story as a mother and public figure.
Social Media and Influence
In the age of the digital creator, Draya Michele has thrived. She maintains an active presence on Instagram and Twitter under the handle @drayamichele, where her blend of lifestyle content, fashion, and unfiltered personality has helped her maintain relevance long after her reality TV days. She has also created content on YouTube, adding another platform to her growing media footprint.
Her influence extends beyond celebrity gossip. She is widely regarded as a style icon within her audience, and her business ventures benefit directly from the trust and attention she has built organically through social media.
Fun and Lesser-Known Facts
- Draya is of African-American and Italian descent, giving her a heritage she has spoken about with pride.
- She has a signature patch of grey hair at the front of her head, which she has chosen to pluck rather than dye.
- She reportedly has a fear of electrical sockets, stemming from being shocked by a vacuum cleaner.
- Her mother was a major Teena Marie fan, and Draya grew up knowing all the words to the singer’s catalog.
- She has appeared in music videos alongside artists including Jay-Z, Usher, and Kanye West.
- Despite early rejection from modeling agencies, she persisted and eventually built her own fashion brands.
Legacy and What’s Next
At 40 years old, Draya Michele shows no signs of slowing down. She has done what few reality television personalities manage to do: stay relevant, evolve, and build something lasting. Her fashion businesses continue to generate attention, her acting credits keep growing, and her presence as a social media influencer remains strong.
Draya Michele is, in many ways, a blueprint for modern celebrity entrepreneurship — someone who used a moment of public attention as a launching pad for genuine business and creative ambitions. Whether you know her from Basketball Wives LA, from one of her fashion lines, or from her film roles, her story is one of persistence, reinvention, and self-made success.
As she steps further into her forties with a new child and an expanding career, the next chapter for Draya Michele looks every bit as compelling as the ones that came before.