All About Ayesha Curry’s Parents, Carol and John Alexander

Ayesha Curry is a successful actress, author and entrepreneur — and her parents, John and Carol Alexander, have cheered her on through it all.

The multi-hyphenate was born and raised in Canada before moving to Charlotte, N.C., with her family as a teenager. There, she met her future husband, NBA star Stephen Curry. However, they didn’t start dating until years later when they reconnected in Los Angeles. That chance encounter sparked an enduring romance and it was all possible because of Ayesha’s parents.

During an interview on the Skimm’d From The Couch podcast, the Irish Wish star explained that she moved to L.A. to pursue modeling and acting at the age of 17. Although her parents were strict while she was growing up, they were surprisingly OK with this decision. “I think they just believed in me,” Ayesha shared.

Ayesha and Stephen married in 2011 and welcomed their first child together the following year. Shortly after, she decided on a new career path in the culinary arts. While she always had a passion for food, she found the strength to “step outside of my comfort zone” from her family.

“Having their support and understanding and backing, I think, really gave me the confidence to spread my wings and give it a try,” she explained.

Here’s everything to know about Ayesha Curry’s parents — John and Carol Alexander — and their relationship with the lifestyle mogul.

They share five kids

Ayesha is currently expecting her fourth baby with husband, Stephen. Luckily, she has plenty of experience with large families as the cookbook author is one of five herself.

She was born in Toronto on March 23, 1989, to parents John and Carol Alexander. The couple had already welcomed two daughters, Maria and Janiece Alexander, when Ayesha came along. They went on to have two sons, Jaz and Chad Alexander.

While not much is known about Maria, Janiece, Jaz and Chad, in 2020, Ayesha gave them a sweet shout-out on Instagram in honor of National Siblings Day.

“Love my sisters and brothers! I have middle child syndrome for sure. 💁🏽‍♀️💁🏽‍♀️💁🏽‍♀️,” she wrote alongside a series of throwback photos.

They moved to the U.S. in 2003

When Ayesha was 14, her family moved to the U.S. from Canada, which led to a striking change in terms of her identity.

During an interview on The View, she explained that, in America, her diverse heritage seemed to be at the forefront. Her mother is Jamaican and Chinese while her father is Black and Polish.

“Growing up in Toronto, I was Black. I’m a Black woman,” she said. “I moved to the south, to North Carolina, right at the start of high school, so at 14, and there it was like … who do you choose?”

Ayesha explained that for the first time, she felt a lack of acceptance as a black woman.

“It seemed like my own community didn’t want to, like, wrap their arms around me and embrace me,” she shared. “That kind of hurt.”

Ayesha’s parents were protective of her

Ayesha was raised in a fairly creative household: Her mother worked as a hairdresser and her father was a musician and talent manager. While they encouraged her creativity, they were also strict parents.

In an interview with Business Insider, Ayesha explained that, aside from going to school and church activities, her parents didn’t let her do a whole lot as a teenager. “If I couldn’t ride the bus home, it wasn’t happening,” she said.

As an adult, her mother apologized for keeping her so sheltered.

“She was like, ‘I was scared. I thought something was going to happen to you,’ ” she explained. “It took me a while to realize that some of her apprehensions were straight out of fear. Not out of not wanting me to do anything.”

Now, with three kids of her own, Ayesha understands that fear. She spoke about wanting to simultaneously protect her children and give them more freedom than she had growing up.

“Where’s the middle ground, where we’re strict, but we’re also allowing our kids to experience life?” she said. “We’re trying to figure out what that balance is.”

Ayesha’s mom inspired her work ethic

Ayesha is a successful entrepreneur: She’s written multiple cookbooks, opened her own restaurant and created a lifestyle brand called Sweet July. She credits that entrepreneurial spirit to her mother, Carol.

“My mom was a hairstylist and a business owner for 40 years. Watching her hustle, I think it’s embedded in me,” she told Shape magazine. “[People ask,] ‘Why do you work so much? You don’t need to.’ But I’m like, ‘No, I do need to, because it makes me feel good.’ I thrive off having an idea and seeing it through to the creation.”

In an essay for Bustle, Ayesha praised her mom as her inspiration in business. “She taught me the value of hard work and that if you want something, don’t be afraid to fight for it,” she wrote.

“I was able to watch her tenacious work ethic from being a hairdresser working out of our basement to owning her own award-winning salon. That has really stuck with me and influenced how I’ve built my career,” she continued. “Most of all, though, she taught me kindness and empathy — to try to understand people rather than judge.”

Ayesha’s mom gave her the best relationship advice

Carol also inspired the way Ayesha approaches her marriage to Steph Curry

The couple first met as teenagers at a church youth group in North Carolina. Years later, they reunited and started dating before ultimately tying the knot at just 22 and 23 years old.

During an appearance on The View, Ayesha shared that the best piece of relationship advice she ever got was from her mom, who told her, simply, “Never lose yourself.”

“‘Always make sure that whatever it is you’re doing — if you’re a stay-at-home mom, if you’re not, whatever it is in your marriage — make sure that you have the passion that you’re fulfilling,’ ” Ayesha recalled.

“I took that to heart, and it’s kept me who I am,” she continued. “I want my husband to always see the same woman, if not better, that he first laid his eyes on when he married.”

Ayesha’s love of cooking comes from her mom

Ayesha has built a massive culinary empire for herself. “Food is my passion. It’s my love language,” she told Shape magazine.

In an interview with The Cut, Ayesha explained that her culinary passion comes from her mother.

“Growing up, that’s how my mom, grandma, and parents showed me love — by nourishing us,” she said. “I took that with me into my adulthood.”

“Giving somebody a bowl of chili when they come over and nourishing the soul through food is so important to me,” she continued. “It makes such a difference in relationships to have that moment together to put the phones down and enjoy a good meal, a good glass of wine, and great company.”

They have always supported her

Although John and Carol have kept their lives out of the spotlight, they share a strong relationship with their daughter, who frequently praises them on social media.

In 2018, Ayesha posted a heartfelt Father’s Day message on Instagram. “The reason Stephen has to deal with a full fledged diva princess every single day,” she wrote alongside a series of photos of her and her dad.

She went on to call him her “day one biggest supporter” before adding, “You always encourage me to be my best self and shoot for the stars!… best grandpa ever too. Goodness I have some blessed children.”

Ayesha has also dedicated a number of similar posts to Carol along with an essay she penned for Bustle.

“My mom is my greatest role model and one of my closest friends,” she wrote for the publication. “As a mother, she’s an incredible caretaker who nurtures everyone around her. She’s influenced who I am as a parent, as a cook, as a person. Every aspect of my life emulates the example she set for me.”

Ayesha went on to explain more about her relationship with her mom and how Carol gave her the reassurance she needed as a young entrepreneur.

“In the beginning of my professional journey, I was suffering from a lot of guilt being away from the kids,” she wrote. “My mom was an amazing support system in encouraging me to pursue my goals. She was constantly reminding me that the kids are happy and healthy and that I should push past the guilt and not let it hold me back.”