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Draya Michele

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Draya Michele aitting with a Apple laptop.
Draya Michele

Full Name: Andraya Michele Howard

Born: January 23, 1985, Reading, Pennsylvania, United States

Job: Founder, CEO, Designer

Works for: Mint Swim

Primary Industry: Apparel

Nationality: American

Residence: Tarzana, California

Draya Michele Howard, also known as "Draya," is the CEO of PA2LA Inc. and the founder of Mint Swim, a swimwear line that launched in 2011. Leveraging her social media influence, she transformed the swimwear brand into a multi-million dollar e-commerce and swimwear empire. “I saved up $12,000 and I invested it completely into my company," she shared in a 2017 interview with Refinery29. In 2022, Cosmopolitan magazine recognized her brand as one of the "19 Black-Owned Swimwear Brands to Shop Before Summer Hits."

Ms. Howard's journey in the fashion world began with aspirations to become a renowned designer and a sought-after model. Despite facing initial challenges due to her unique physique, including a distinctive figure and an elongated neck, she persevered. Unfazed by rejections from magazines, she took matters into her own hands by creating a portfolio of her best photos and sending it to her favorite publications.

Her determination led to opportunities working with photographers, editors, and video directors, who recognized her potential. She appeared in music videos alongside notable artists such as Jay-Z, The Game, Nicki Minaj, and Kanye West, marking a significant turning point in her career.

Ms. Howard's hard work and talent eventually brought her recognition and acclaim in several magazines. Her journey extended beyond modeling as she became a prominent figure on the popular reality show "Basketball Wives: LA," solidifying her status as a versatile talent in the entertainment industry.

Ms. Howard, age 39, is the proud mother to Kniko Howard and Jru Scandrick. In March 2024, she announced on her social media pages that she's expecting her third child with 22-year-old NBA player Jalen Green. Ms. Howard is of African-American and Italian descent.

Filmography

Title Role Type Year
Marshmello & Polo G & Southside: Grown Man n/a Music Video 2023
Be Someone Mia TV Series 2023
The Sound of Christmas Chloe Musical 2022
Be Someone Mia TV Series 2021
The Fight That Never Ends Beverly Williams TV Movie 2021
Don Toliver - Cardigan n/a Music Video 2020
L.A.'s Finest (2 episodes) Charlotte Hume TV Series 2020
Tales Viveca TV Series 2019
We Belong Together Tracy Jacobs/ Laura Santiago Movie 2018
All In Gina Movie 2018
Star Chloe David Movie 2018
True to the Game Cherelle Movie 2017
Til Death Do Us Part Amanda Movie 2017
The Perfect Match Holly Movie 2016
Bring Out the Lady Dody Monroe Movie 2016
Will to Love Candice Koleto Movie 2015
Real Husbands of Hollywood Herself TV Series 2013
Basketball Wives LA Herself TV Series 2011

Work Experience

  • Founder, CEO, Designer, Mint Swim

  • CEO, PA2LA Inc.

    PA2LA Inc. is the owner of mint-swim.com.

  • Founder & Designer, Beige & Coco

  • Actress & Model, VH1

    Basketball Wives LA as Herself (2011), Real Husbands of Hollywood as Herself (2013), Will to Love as Candice Koleto (2015), The Perfect Match as Holly (2016), Bring Out the Lady as Dody Monroe (2016), True to the Game as Cherelle (2017), 'Til Death Do Us Part as Amanda (2017), We Belong Together as Tracy Jacobs/ Laura Santiago (2018), All In as Gina (2018), Star as Chloe David (2018), Tales as Viveca (TV Series) (2019)[7], Don Toliver - Cardigan (Music Video) (2020), L.A.'s Finest as Charlotte Hume (TV Series, 2 episodes) (2020), Be Someone as Mia (TV Series)(2021), The Fight That Never Ends as Beverly Williams (TV Movie) (2021).

  • Founder & Designer, Fine Ass Girls

Related Links

  • Twitter: @drayamichele Designer - Actress - Creative Director.

  • Instagram: @drayamichele

  • Draya Partners With PacSun To Carry Mint Swim In the season of independent fashion labels thriving, entrepreneur, actress and reality television darling Draya Michelle is celebrating a big win with her swimsuit label Mint Swim. The brand we once saw emerge on VH1’s Basketball Wives has now partnered with the retailer PacSun. “I never expected it to be what it was going to be today,” Draya tells ESSENCE. “In my mind I was just doing something that I loved and I was hopeful that it would make me some money, but I never really knew that it would be sustaining like it is.”

  • https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/08/169024/draya-michelle-mint-swim-interview In 2011, former model Draya Michele was cast for the debut season of Basketball Wives LA, Shaunie O'Neal’s Los Angeles off-shoot of the Miami series that followed a group of women whose claim to fame were their relationships with famous athletes. The only catch? She wasn't romantically linked to anyone in the NBA. (At that point, Michele was best known for her relationship with Chris Brown). But after moving to LA from Pennsylvania and earning some cash, she launched her first of now three clothing brands: Mint Swim, a swimwear line designed with “all shapes and sizes in mind.” Now, she's a self-made millionaire.

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