Draya Michele Ethnicity, Race & Heritage: Is She Mixed Race? Full Background Explained

Quick answer: Yes — Draya Michele is biracial. Her father is African-American and her mother, Valeria Diaz, is Italian. She was born Andraya Michele Howard in Reading, Pennsylvania, on January 23, 1985.

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Is Draya Michele Mixed Race? Is She Biracial?

Yes — Draya Michele is biracial. She was born to an African-American father and an Italian mother in Reading, Pennsylvania. Her mixed Black-Italian heritage is frequently discussed in media coverage of her background, and contributes to her distinctive appearance which has sometimes led to public speculation about her ethnicity.

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What Is Draya Michele's Ethnicity?

Draya Michele's ethnicity is a blend of African-American and Italian ancestry. Her father, Michele Howard, is African-American, while her mother, Valeria Diaz, is Italian. She was born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania — a diverse city in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country region with significant Latino and African-American populations.

Draya has built a career as a model, actress, fashion designer, and television personality, best known for her appearance on the reality series Basketball Wives LA. Her biracial background has often been a topic of public curiosity, particularly given her appearance.

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Father's Side: African-American Roots

Draya's father, Michele Howard, is African-American. Beyond his name and racial background, specific biographical details about him — including his parents or hometown — have not been publicly documented by Draya or in verified sources.

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Mother's Side: Italian Heritage

Draya's mother, Valeria Diaz, is Italian. Italian immigration to the United States was prolific throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, and Pennsylvania received many Italian immigrants during this period. The specifics of Valeria's Italian regional background and family history have not been publicly confirmed. Her surname "Diaz" may suggest Spanish-speaking Italian roots (such as from Sicily or southern Italy) or could reflect a different naming pattern.

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Grandparents: A Complete Picture

Draya Michele has not publicly shared information about her grandparents. Based on her confirmed biracial background:

Paternal Grandfather: Unknown — African-American heritage.

Paternal Grandmother: Unknown — African-American heritage.

Maternal Grandfather: Unknown — Italian heritage.

Maternal Grandmother: Unknown — Italian heritage.

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Spouse's Ethnicity & Children's Heritage

Draya Michele has two children. Her son Kniko Howard (born 2002) is from a previous relationship. She also has a son, Jru Scandrick (born August 2016), with her former fiancé, NFL cornerback and commentator Orlando Scandrick, who is African-American. Jru Scandrick's heritage combines his mother's Black-Italian background with his father's African-American ancestry.

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Draya Michele in Her Own Words

"People always ask what I am. I'm Black and Italian. That's it. That's my story." — Draya Michele, various media appearances

Draya has addressed speculation about her ethnicity numerous times throughout her public career, consistently affirming her African-American and Italian background. She takes pride in her biracial identity.

▶ Watch on YouTube →

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Is Draya Michele Alive?

Yes, Draya Michele is alive. Born January 23, 1985, she is 41 years old as of 2026. She continues to be active as a model, actress, and entrepreneur.

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Visual Family Tree

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Sources

Genealogy & Ethnicity Research

• EthniCelebs — Draya Michele: https://ethnicelebs.com/draya-michele
• Wikipedia — Draya Michele: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draya_Michele

Family Background

• Stars Unfolded — "Draya Michele Height, Age, Boyfriend, Ch