From Bestselling Author to Mother: The Story of Ayesha Curry

While everyone may know her as Golden State Warriors basketball player Stephen Curry's wife, there is more to Ayesha Curry than meets the eye. From chef to mother to entrepreneur, here's her story.

Meet Ayesha

Before she was the mother to three, a Food Network personality, or the wife to Golden State Warriors basketball player Steph Curry, Ayesha Curry was one of five children to Carol and John Alexander.

The family resided in Markham, Ontario, around 20 miles north of downtown Toronto. Both of her parents were immigrants and came from diverse backgrounds; Carol is Chinese-Jamaican, and John is African-American and Polish. Ayesha was born in March 1989 and grew up in the '90s.

Welcome to the USA

Then, her parents decided to make a big move. They packed up their things and headed down south to the United States. The family relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina when Ayesha was 14 years old. She spent the rest of her teenage years and high school experience in America.

When the family picked up and moved to the United States, Ayesha didn't get involved in extracurriculars like the drama club or playing on a sports team. However, she was involved at their local church and would attend the Wednesday-night youth group.

The Cute Boy at Church

There was another person who went to the youth group every Wednesday. His name was Stephen Curry. The two inevitably crossed paths. Ayesha told People, "He was the cute boy at church that all of the girls were obsessed with, so I made a generalization that maybe he wasn't for me."

When Ayesha told her sisters about this cute guy she saw at church, they made fun of her because "they said he looked like a relative," per E! News. However, the two never became more than friends at this point. Ayesha had bigger plans in mind than staying in North Carolina. She had her sights set on Hollywood.

LA Girl

After graduating high school, Ayesha didn't go to university or get a job right away. She made the cross-country trek to the West Coast and moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Her love for performing and the arts all began when she was growing up. Her dad was a music manager.

Once she got to LA, Ayesha was hard at work. She started getting work in small roles. Some of her roles include a guest role in Hannah Montana, a regular role in the television series Whittaker Bay, and a part in the television movie Dan's Detour of Life. Ayesha's career was steadily gaining traction.

No Athletes

The ESPYs are an award show for achievements in the sports industry. In 2008, Stephen Curry was playing basketball for Davidson College. Everybody knew he was going to be a star. As a college sophomore, he was nominated for Breakthrough Player of the Year at the ESPYs. While he was in town, he met up with Ayesha.

Ayesha told People, "My parents found this paper from my high school theater class where you had to write down what you wanted in a significant other. At the bottom, it said, 'No athletes because they're arrogant.'" So, there was no way that anything would become serious between these two. 

The First Date

How wrong Ayesha was! While Stephen was in town for the ESPYs, they reconnected and went on their first date. Ayesha recalled the night on Jimmy Kimmel Live, "I picked him up in my '98 Astro van. He had on 3XL shorts, so that's a sign of the times. It was our first official date."

She continued, "We did Madame Tussauds. Listen, we were 18 and 19, so if that, like, clarifies anything. And we got chai tea lattes." The cute boy at church impressed Ayesha. She told People, "He was so funny and silly. The absolute opposite of what I thought he was going to be."

Saying "I Do"

When Ayesha told her husband-to-be that she loved him, he didn't say it back right away. The aspiring actress was absolutely devastated and cried in her car. However, a few months later, he finally whispered the words into her ear. The happy couple dated for two more years before the basketball player proposed.

Steph asked Ayesha to marry him in the same spot where they shared their first kiss on her parents' driveway. Meanwhile, her family was watching the entire proposal from the window. A year later, the lovebirds tied the knot in North Carolina with 400 guests in attendance.

Baby on the Way

A year after that, the couple's life changed in another significant way. They found out that they were pregnant. They were about to go from lovestruck newlyweds to parents! The couple settled in the Bay Area as Steph played for the Golden State Warriors, and Ayesha was debating the next step in her career.

However, everything went on pause to welcome their firstborn into the world. Ayesha gave birth to a baby girl on July 19, 2012, and they named her Riley Elizabeth Curry. The former teenage flings had new job titles. Now they were Mom and Dad. Ayesha didn't stop at just being a mom, though.

Major Foodie

From a young age, Ayesha had always loved food. Growing up, her mother had an in-home hair salon, and she used to watch as her babysitter would make Trinidadian curry and roti for the customers. That love for food continued for the rest of her life and evolved into a newfound passion when she became a wife and mother.

In 2014, she launched her blog, Little Lights of Mine. She shared her homemade recipes with friends and family. What started as an internet blog turned into a YouTube channel. It was actually Steph who motivated her. Ayesha told Oprah Daily, "Starting my blog was so scary! My husband is the one who encouraged me to do it."

Growing Family

Not only was Ayesha's career growing, but so was her family. Three years after they welcomed Riley into the world, Ayesha gave birth to the couple's second daughter. On July 10, 2015, Ryan Carson was born, and Mom and Dad were thrilled with their latest addition to the fam.

The basketball star posted a photo of Ayesha and Riley holding newborn Ryan on his Instagram. He wrote, "I'm wayyyyy up I feel Blessed! God is Great. Thanks to the doctors and staff at Alta Bates for taking care of my girls… Healthy baby and @ayeshacurry is all I prayed for. #prouddaddy."

Career Woman

Not only was Ayesha an amazing mother to her two girls, but she was also establishing herself separately with a flourishing career. She turned her vlogging into a profession, and the number of subscribers just kept growing. Ayesha wasn't afraid to reach for the stars.

She told Oprah Daily, "When I really started diving deep into my career, I said I wanted to have a cookbook, I want to be on the Food Network, and within a year, I accomplished those goals." In 2016, she published The Seasoned Life: Food, Family, Faith, and the Joy of Eating Well, and Ayesha's Home Kitchen premiered on TV.

Ayesha Takes Over

A cookbook and a television show were only the start for the entrepreneur. Ayesha continued to build her career. She became a Food Network personality, appearing as a guest judge on Chopped and Guy's Grocery Games. Ayesha launched a lifestyle company called Homemade. 

She offered a meal kit delivery service and a range of cookware, kitchen essentials, bedding, jewelry, and more. Ayesha also owns International Smoke, a barbecue restaurant with multiple locations around the US. Her first cookbook topped the New York Times bestseller list, and she wrote two more since then.

Finding the Balance

The superstar mom and businesswoman is juggling many hats. How does she manage to do it all? It's all about finding a balance, and Ayesha is the first to admit that there are difficult times. She told Oprah Daily, "There are moments when I kind of want to give all of this up and just be at home with my kids..."

She continued, "…but then I take that moment to breathe and realize this is beautiful. What keeps me going is knowing that perfection doesn't exist - and that's okay. I try to find beauty in the chaos and thrive in it." While it may be difficult, Ayesha knows she can be a wonderful mother and a powerful businesswoman.

Life of a WAG

Not only is she juggling a career and motherhood, but Ayesha is also a supportive and loving wife to one of the biggest basketball stars. Curry is a four-time NBA Champion, two-time NBA MVP, and is considered to be one of the greatest shooters in basketball history. It's always Ayesha who is cheering him on.

When he broke the NBA record for most career 3-point shots of all time, Ayesha wrote on her Instagram, "2,974 and counting. Congrats my baby. I love you so much! You did that. To God be the glory. I'm so proud of ya @stephencurry30." The power couple attended the Met Gala, the ESPYs, and more together.

Ayesha and Steph

While they may spend their free time going to lavish celebrity-filled affairs and mingling with the athletic elite, Ayesha and Steph are just two kids who met at church and fell madly in love with each other years later at the end of the day. They are always supportive of each other in life and their careers.

Ayesha told Insider, "We really feel like we've grown together and grown up together. He's truly my best friend." Whether Ayesha is cheering from the court sidelines at the Chase Center or Stephen is taste-testing one of his wife's recipes, these best friends have each other's backs. 

Baby #3

In July 2018, the couple welcomed another family member into the world. Their son, Canon W. Jack Curry, was born. The Curry family was now made up of five members. Their youngest is already showing a love for playing basketball. Maybe one day he'll follow in Dad's footsteps?

Where did they get the idea for Canon's unique name? The couple actually picked it out on their honeymoon. Ayesha told People, "France is one of our favorite places to vacation, and so his name's actually French and it means young wolf, which Stephen loved because we kind of consider ourselves a wolf pack."

Opening Up

Ayesha got real candid when she made an appearance on Facebook Watch's Red Table Talk. Ayesha appeared alongside her mother-in-law, Sonya Curry, sister-in-law, Sydel Curry-Lee, and future sister-in-law, Callie Rivers. The women opened up about everything from their anxieties to dealing with jealousy. 

Ayesha revealed, "I have anxiety too, really bad, to the point where I actually take medication for it, and I think it's something that everybody, in some way, has moments." However, after the episode aired, Ayesha was not thrilled about her portrayal, saying to Insider, it was "edited in a way that made me sound crazy."

Ayesha's Growing Empire

During all this time, Ayesha hasn't stopped working her butt off. She hosted the ABC cooking competition series Family Food Fight and was an executive producer of the project. She also was a co-host on the Great American Baking Show. Curry also started a wine line with her sister-in-law, and they named it Domaine Curry Wine.

That's not it, either. In April 2020, Ayesha launched a new company, Sweet July, and it encompasses everything. Sweet July has a brick-and-mortar store in Oakland, its own line of lifestyle products, a production studio, a quarterly magazine, and a publishing house. The lifestyle brand marks a new chapter in Ayesha's career.

Ten Years Together

Not only was Ayesha's career making big moves, but her marriage to Stephen also reached a major milestone. The couple celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary in June 2021. Stephen wrote on his Instagram to Ayesha, "Never a day goes by I'm not thankful for your presence, your beauty, your spirit!" Where are the tissues?

The couple marked the occasion with a vow renewal ceremony in their backyard. Stephen surprised Ayesha with the entire thing, even picking out a long-sleeve lace gown for his wife. Their eldest, Riley, officiated the ceremony while Ryan and Canon walked their mom down the aisle. What a beautiful moment!

Keeping Things Spicy

After ten years together and three children, it can be hard to keep things exciting. However, Ayesha and Stephen have managed to figure out ways to keep the spark alive in their marriage. What's their secret? They spilled the deets to Access Hollywood.

Ayesha told host Zuri Hall, "For us, it's just not forgetting to date each other, make the time to get dressed up and go out and do all the things. That's what keeps it spicy." It seems simple enough! After ten years together, they have proven that it works.

It Takes a Village

From being a chef to a business owner to a mother and loving wife, Ayesha has many different titles to her name. How does she manage to do it all? With the help of her village. She told People, "I also like to say 'it takes a village,' and that's true in family and in business."

She continued, "I've been fortunate to be able to surround myself with people who share the same values, and that 'village' has allowed me to be at my best and helps make everything happen." The key to success is having a good team supporting and helping. Her husband, Steph Curry, sure knows a thing or two about that!

Taking the Next Step

Now that the couple has conquered being parents and their separate careers, what's the next step for this power couple? Going into business together, of course! They launched a game show on HBO Max titled About Last Night. The Currys were the co-hosts and executive producers of the program.

The show centered around celebrity couples answering questions and sharing funny stories in an effort to see who knows each other the best. The teams competed to win the money prize to donate to their charity of choice. The show aired on February 10, 2022, but was canceled ahead of its second season.

Most Valuable Wife

While Stephen may have won Most Valuable Player multiple times, it's Ayesha who deserves the award for Most Valuable Wife. When she's not cheering her hubby on from the sidelines, she holds down the homefront and takes care of their three children. She is seemingly everywhere all at once.

After the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics to become the 2022 NBA Champions, Ayesha was there to give her husband a huge kiss. Stephen was named MVP of the series. The businesswoman and mother wrote on Instagram, "So beyond proud of @stephencurry30 and the @warriors !!! #wcfchamps #wcfmvp God is great!"

The Assist Goes to…

With the Currys, though, everything is a team sport. Ayesha says that it is Stephen who helps her to keep going when things get tough. She told FabFitFun, "As a mom, I hit road bumps really often. There are days when you feel you aren't good enough or not doing enough."

Ayesha continued, "My husband is the one that keeps me going. [He] is my driving, motivating force, and I'm really appreciative of him for that." Just like in basketball, a relationship is a team sport. It takes more than one person to make a play succeed.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Ayesha Curry always had a feeling that she was going to be doing something big in her life, and she certainly has lived up to that expectation. In 2018, she was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Since then, her entrepreneurial spirit has only grown. When she became a mom, she had this feeling of doing even more. 

She revealed to People, "I always had this feeling of like, I think that there's a double duty that I could be playing here as I was like, I have hopes and dreams for myself and there's gotta be a way to do both. I felt this weird bug, like this entrepreneurial bug." 

Giving Back

Ayesha is all about giving back. The bestselling author is a mentor for a business accelerator program called Forward and tries to promote small businesses through Sweet July. Ayesha told People, "I want my kids to know that in our family, we lift as we climb. When you're in a position to uplift others, you go for it."

The parents are certainly leading by example. Ayesha and Stephen launched Eat. Learn. Play in 2019 to help families and children in need around Oakland, the Bay Area, and the United States. Since its inception, they have distributed 500,000 books and have served 25 million meals.

Paying Homage

Ayesha expanded her empire once more with a Sweet July skincare line. The three-piece collection is rooted in her Jamaican heritage. She told People, "I'm paying homage to my heritage and I'm really proud of that. I have a pretty mixed up background, and the thing that's always kept me grounded is my Jamaican roots."

Her family even got involved in the process! She also said that her grandma would always send her ideas of ingredients to use in her products. Once she puts her mind to something, Ayesha Curry gets it done. But what is it like to live an everyday life with everybody knowing your name and face?

Life in the Public Eye

It is more challenging than one may think. With every move analyzed by the public and every post potentially under fire, it can be stressful and exhausting to be a public figure. Ayesha came under fire for her comments on Red Table Talk and experienced the negative side of the media.

The mother admitted she has regrets about sharing her eldest, Riley, on social media. She shared with Insider, "If we had known back in the day just how chaotic it would make life, I don't think we would've done it." Currently, none of the Curry kids have social media accounts or cell phones.

In Her Spare Time

Between her busy life as a businesswoman, mother, and wife, it is hard to imagine that Ayesha Curry has any time to waste. However, when she has a spare moment, Ayesha likes to kick back, relax, and enjoy life like anyone else. She loves to cook big dinners for the entire family to share.

She also enjoys using her sauna, taking her paddleboard out into the Pacific Ocean, and taking a warm bath with a glass of wine in hand. The entrepreneur also loves to spend time with her family, whether at home lounging in PJs or going on vacations around the world.

Ayesha's World

It is Ayesha Curry's world, and we are all just living in it. The mother of three, superstar wife, and businesswoman extraordinaire has accomplished so much in her life. She is an inspiration to all for her perseverance, dedication, and love to help others along the way.

Her husband, basketball star Stephen Curry said it best when he thanked her in his acceptance speech for Sports Illustrated's 2022 Sportsperson of the Year, "You are the backbone of our family. I wouldn't want to share this life with anybody else. I love you."