Draya Michele Is Turning Criticism Into Capital—Starting With Clean Air
Draya Michele pictured in front of her latest wellness tech investment, Sereniby—a smart air care ... More system designed to support healthier environments for babies and young children.
On a sunny afternoon in Santa Monica, California, I settled in for an NAD infusion and Normatec therapy—expecting a routine wellness reset—alongside entrepreneur, designer and now investor Draya Michele.
Inside the sunlit sanctuary of Dripology—a sleek, minimalist wellness studio founded by ICU-trained nurse Hamed Afshari to bring medical-grade care into a luxury experience— what began as IV drips, compression boots and a few light laughs quickly unfolded into something far more intimate.
The wellness advocate is entering a new era—one rooted in clarity, legacy and deeper intention. Known for her style, and decade-long success with Mint Swim, Draya is now channeling her energy into something far more personal: creating a safer, healthier world for the next generation, starting with her daughter.
Watch Full Forbes.com Interview Here
For Draya, wellness isn't just a treatment—it's a lifestyle that informs how she lives, parents and does business. And in doing so, she's reminding women—especially Black mothers—that they deserve to breathe deeply, build boldly and define success on their own terms.
'This season of my life feels different,' she tells me, as we settle in for our IV treatments. 'It's personal now. Every decision I make, I think about the impact it has on her.'
A Partnership Rooted in Purpose
Her newest move is a strategic investment and partnership with Sereniby, a wellness tech company redefining air care for babies and young children. The brand's flagship product—a smart, medical-grade air purifier—goes beyond filtration. It's built to support restful sleep, cleaner breathing environments and peace of mind for modern families.
'This isn't just another brand collab,' Draya clarifies. 'It's ownership. It's alignment. It's me investing in something I wish I had from day one as a mom.'
Draya's connection to Sereniby didn't begin in a boardroom—it started in her daughter's nursery. During her pregnancy, she was remodeling her home and found herself surrounded by drywall, paint fumes and dust.
'I remember thinking, 'I can't be breathing this in while I'm growing a baby,'' Draya recalls. 'It made me hyper-aware of how overlooked air quality really is, especially for children.'
Sereniby is a modern air purifier designed for nurseries, featuring medical-grade HEPA filtration, ... More whisper-quiet operation, and a gentle nightlight. Its sleek white body and wood-tone base blend seamlessly into any calming, baby-safe space.
Sereniby stood out, thanks to a heartfelt note and family photos its founders sent Draya before the product even arrived.
'It wasn't just a product drop. It felt like something bigger,' Draya says. 'The purifier came days later and I was blown away. Not just by the design, but by the thoughtfulness behind it.'
With hospital-trusted HEPA and carbon filtration, smart sensors that detect microscopic pollutants, and integrated white noise and light therapy features, Sereniby offered something that matched both her lifestyle and values.
As a new mother again, Draya saw the product work firsthand—especially in supporting her daughter's sleep. 'She doesn't sleep easily, so anything that supports rest is gold to me. And if it also protects her health? That's not a luxury. That's essential.'
Draya has faced public scrutiny in the past over her parenting style during her early years as a mother—a narrative she's since reclaimed by showing her evolution and deep commitment to growth.
The entrepreneur's decision to invest wasn't just about the product—it was about the position. 'It's important to me that my daughter grows up seeing her mother not just as the face of something, but as someone who has a stake in it,' she says. 'I want her to see that we—Black women, Black mothers—belong at the forefront of wellness, parenting and innovation.'
Draya Michele enjoying playtime with her daughter, with Sereniby in the background helping keep the ... More air fresh and clean.
That positioning is key. As the wellness space grows, Draya's involvement signals a deeper shift: intentional representation at the ownership level. 'I've done collaborations. I've been the ambassador. This time, I wanted equity,' she says.
Her investment also challenges the outdated notion that celebrity partnerships are purely transactional. 'This isn't PR. This is my daughter's air. This is our home. I use it every day. That's the difference," Draya expressed.
Motherhood looks different this time around. Draya is juggling entrepreneurship, farm life (yes—more on that later), and raising a daughter who demands presence and patience. 'My sons were easy. My daughter? She's attached. She's loud. She's fire,' Draya says, laughing. 'I love it, but I've had to re-learn balance.'
That means prioritizing routine, setting boundaries — especially on social media — and redefining what self-care looks like. 'I'm a post-and-go kind of woman now,' she says. 'I've limited who can comment on my posts because peace matters. If I didn't ask for your opinion, I don't need it.'
It also means making smarter choices as a consumer and a mom. 'I used to be that person who bought the most expensive baby bottles—imported, hand-blown glass, $80 each,' she shares. 'Now? I'm an Evenflo six-pack for $10 kind of girl. They work just as well, and I don't cry when they break.'
Draya Michele carries her daughter in a chest harness during a quiet moment together.
Despite the glitz of entrepreneurship and the digital attention that follows her every move, Draya keeps her circle tight—and intentional. 'I'm really blessed to have a group of women around me that don't compete with each other,' she says. 'We all have our own lanes, and we show up for one another in real life.'
Her core friend group—rooted in mutual respect, aligned values and zero performative energy—isn't just about vibes. It's protection. 'In this industry, especially as a Black woman, people project so much onto you. It helps to have friends who remind me who I am outside of social media, outside of work, outside of the noise.'
And there's been plenty of that noise. Over the years, Draya has navigated harsh public judgment and unsolicited commentary about her personal life—most recently, when she shared an unpaid post about Sereniby during the LA fires, encouraging families to protect their indoor air quality.
Santa Monica, California — Friday, June 6: Draya Michele sits down with Forbes contributor Corein ... More Carter for an interactive wellness interview at Dripology, where the two discuss motherhood, legacy, and Draya's newest investment in wellness tech.
'The comments were intense. People were like, 'Draya, people lost their homes—why are you talking about purifiers?' And I get that. But I wasn't speaking to those who experienced loss—I was speaking to the millions of others in LA breathing in that smoke,' she says. 'It came from a pure place. I wasn't paid. I just wanted to help.'
Rather than clap back, she chose peace of mind. 'I've learned I don't have to explain everything. But I also won't let people twist my intentions. I believe in what I support.'
To guard her peace, Draya has made a simple but profound adjustment: she limits who can comment on her social media posts. 'I post and go. I'm not here to be debated. This is my life, not a group chat,' she says.
Though wellness is her latest move, Draya's swimwear brand Mint Swim remains a cultural staple. Known for putting Black and brown women at the forefront of its campaigns since the beginning, Mint Swim continues to champion diversity in a space that once overlooked it.
Draya Michele stuns in her signature swimwear line, Mint Swim
This past Earth Day, she introduced a limited capsule made from repurposed materials—using her boyfriend's old T-shirts to create new swimwear. 'Fabric waste is a real problem, and fashion contributes to it,' she says. 'I just wanted to do something that felt good and looked good.'
With her usual eye for style and practicality, the drop was equal parts thoughtful and fashion-forward. 'It was fun, it was conscious, and it sold out fast,' she notes. 'We'll definitely do more.'
In perhaps the most unexpected twist, Draya is now exploring homesteading. On her property, she has 16 chickens, three dogs, a cat and a full vegetable garden. 'I'm learning to grow what I eat. I'm obsessed with the process,' Draya expresses.
The farm, like the purifier, represents something larger: autonomy. Peace. Slowness. 'This version of me isn't just about hustle. It's about health. It's about home. I want to show my kids what it looks like to build a full, beautiful life on your own terms.'
In her garden, Draya Michele showcases her brand, Mint Swim.
She's just as honest when reflecting on her early years as a founder. 'I used to be stubborn. I didn't ask for help. I made expensive mistakes,' she admitted. 'Now? I ask questions. I lean on my peers. You don't have to build alone.'
Showing the Woman Behind the Brand
In a world that often flattens public figures into brand extensions, Draya is committed to showing her whole self—even if it's unexpected. 'People have assumptions about me,' she admits. 'But the reality is, I'm a mom who recycles, a woman who gardens and someone who genuinely cares about this planet.'
One of her quirks? She never litters. 'I'll carry trash in my purse all day before I throw it on the ground,' she says, laughing. 'And if you come to my house, you better write your name on your water bottle. We don't waste around here.'
Draya Michele pictured in front of her latest wellness tech investment, Sereniby—a smart air care ... More system designed to support healthier environments for babies and young children.
These small rituals—along with her larger moves in sustainability, wellness and conscious parenting—paint a fuller picture of Draya Michele: not just a personality, but a person.
'I'm not trying to be perfect. I'm trying to be real,' Draya adds. 'That's how I humanize myself—by showing up honestly. Whether it's on my farm, in the boardroom or online.'
I want to keep showing people what's possible when you operate from intention, not just attention.'
And for the little girl watching her every move, Draya's already paving the way. 'This isn't about being perfect. It's about being present. And I hope that everything I do shows my daughter she can build anything—and breathe deeply while doing it.'
'My biggest flex right now isn't a look or a moment,' Draya expresses. 'It's peace. It's alignment. It's knowing that every move I make reflects who I am and what I stand for.'
'I want my daughter to grow up watching me do this with grace, with grit, and with integrity,' Draya says. 'That's legacy. That's impact. That's the kind of woman I'm raising her to be.'
And if this chapter is any indication, Draya Michele is just getting started.
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