Aniya Wayans, daughter of TV actor Damon Wayans Jr., is raised by her mother Aja Metoyer, a former reality TV star turned businesswoman. Her parents, childhood sweethearts, had Aniya and her elder sister during their relationship but never married. Despite their separation, Wayans Jr. and Metoyer peacefully co-parent their children, albeit facing occasional disagreements.
Aniya was born on October 24, 2004, in Los Angeles, California. She is an American citizen. As of now, she is currently nineteen years old.
About Aniya's Father
Aniya Wayans is the daughter of Damon Wayans Jr., a well-known actor recognized for his roles in various movies and TV series such as "Let’s Be Cops," "Happy Endings," "Love, Guaranteed," "New Girl," "Dance Flick," among others. His credits also encompass works like "Happy Together," "My Wife and Kids," "The Harder They Fall," "Major Payne," "Big Hero 6," "Blankman," "The Last Boy Scout," and "Someone Marry Barry."
Damon Wayans Jr. earned acclaim in his career, securing nominations such as the Critics’ Choice TV Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2012 and the NAACP Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2013. These accolades recognized his compelling portrayal of the character Brad, a successful businessman, in the ABC series "Happy Endings."
About Aniya's Mother
Aniya Wayans' mother is Aja Metoyer, an American of Creole ethnicity. Metoyer comes from a family of five, including her sisters Cristen and Melissa, as well as her parents, Ronald and Cynthia. Notably, Metoyer gained prominence through her appearance on the sixth season of the reality TV show "Basketball Wives L.A." in 2017.
Beyond her TV stint, Metoyer has ventured into diverse business endeavors. She works as an independent distributor for a health and wellness company called Total Life Changes. Additionally, she previously launched her athleisure line, although it appears to be inactive at present.
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A Brief About Aniya Wayans' Parents Relationship
Aniya Wayans' parents, Aja Metoyer and Damon Wayans Jr. who met as young teenagers, developed a close friendship that blossomed into a romantic relationship. They dated throughout high school and continued their bond beyond graduation, supporting each other's careers.
Welcoming Aja and Damon's first child, Amara, in 2002, followed by Aniya two years later, they created a loving home in Los Angeles. Despite expectations for marriage, their relationship ended in the mid-late 2000s as they mutually realized they wanted different paths, despite their once-happy family life.
Why Did Aniya Wayans Divorce?
Aniya Wayans was very young when her parents separated, with her mother gaining physical custody while both parents shared decision-making authority. Despite the split, her parents maintained an amicable co-parenting relationship, providing her and her sister a happy and comfortable upbringing in Los Angeles.
Aniya attended quality schools and received abundant love and attention. However, their family faced challenges, including public disagreements over parenting and child support. In 2018, her father sought primary custody, alleging educational neglect by their mother, which resulted in a public dispute. Ultimately, the parents settled, easing the situation for the then 13-year-old Aniya.
Aniya Is A TikTok Influencer
Aniya Wayans, potentially in her final year of high school, might consider college or a career in showbiz following her parents' footsteps. With a significant presence on TikTok boasting 385k followers, she showcases family antics in humorous videos. Notably, a viral TikTok video featured her grandfather, Damon Wayans, a renowned comic and actor.
The video, set to the viral track "My Hair It Don't Move,'' humorously depicted Aniya styling her grandfather's nonexistent hair, accumulating over 7 million views and gaining considerable fan attention. This popularity hints at her potential career as a TikTok influencer.
Siblings Details
Aniya Wayans shares a close bond with her siblings, including her full-blood sister, Amara Wayans, who is two years older and attends Loyola Marymount University while pursuing a career in modeling for brands like Adika. Aniya and Amara are often seen together in social media pictures with their mother.
Additionally, Aniya shares a strong connection with her younger half-brother, Xavier Wade, born in 2013 from her mother's past relationship with basketball star Dwayne Wade. They frequently appear in photos on their mother's social media.
Furthermore, Aniya has three paternal half-siblings—Berlyn, Lua, and Maverick—from her father's marriage to Samara Saraiva. She shares a family connection and maintains relationships with all her siblings across both sides of her family.
Social Media Presence
Aniya Wayans, known not just as a celebrity's daughter but also for her social media presence, actively engages across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Her Instagram handle, @aniya.wayanss, boasts a following of over 13.2k users, where she frequently shares bold and captivating photos.
Similarly, on TikTok, Aniya's account, @aniya_wayans222, has a massive fan base of more than 385k followers. She maintains an active and engaging presence, drawing considerable attention and support from her followers.
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