Johanna Leia is an influencer, former Ford and Wilhelmina model, and entrepreneur. Most people know her as the mother of NBA player Amari Bailey. Known as Johanna Edelberg in her early years, she first forged a career as a model before finding her way to the public eye on reality television and later in her own right as a sports management professional for her son, who plays basketball. For years, she has had her name in the entertainment headlines for her celebrity romance rumors as much as for her own career.
Who is Johanna Leia?
Johanna Leia is an American model, sports manager, and television personality who first built a name in the world of fashion long before she became known around the globe as the mother of emerging NBA star Amari Bailey. Between her modeling background, her stint on reality TV and her current work managing young athletes, she’s stayed in the public eye in more ways than one. Here’s a quick look at the key facts about her.
| Detail | Information |
| Real Name | Johanna Edelberg |
| Known As | Johanna Leia |
| Date of Birth | February 19, 1981 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, USA (also spent time growing up in Chicago) |
| Occupation | Model, Reality TV personality, Sports Manager, Entrepreneur |
| Known For | Bringing Up Ballers, her modeling work, being Amari Bailey’s mom |
| Children | Amari Bailey and Savanna (“Savvy”) Bailey |
| Children’s Father | Aaron Bailey, former NFL player |
So basically she is a mother, model and businesswoman- all in one, and she was also known way before her son’s NBA career had brought her name back in the limelights.
Johanna Leia Early Life
Johanna wasn’t born into fame. She grew up moving between Los Angeles and Chicago, and her mom, Joan Edelberg, played a big role in shaping who she became, working hard to support the family on her own. Growing up, Johanna was into sports herself; she played basketball in high school, which probably explains why she understood the game so well when it came time to support her son’s career later on. She’s always kept the childhood part of her life not to be publicily shared.
Family Background
Speaking of family background, Johanna herself was raised by her mother as a single parent, Joan Edelberg, who is a hardworking woman. Joan studied art in Chicago before becoming a realtor and running her own jewelry business. Johanna-related data about her father is not publicly available. She was raised in a world of sports and entrepreneurship and it shows- not only in how she has raised her own children but in the arc of her career.
| Family Detail | Information |
| Johanna’s Mother | Joan Edelberg |
| Johanna’s Father | Unknown |
| Johanna’s Son | Amari Bailey (born February 17, 2004) |
| Johanna’s Daughter | Savanna “Savvy” Bailey (born 2015) |
| Johanna’s Boyfriend (her kids’ father) | Aaron Bailey, former NFL player |
| Marital status | Unmarried |
| Current location | Los Angeles, California |
Johanna Leia Age & Physical Appearance
Johanna was born on 19 February 1981 in Los Angeles, California. Therefore, she is 45 years old as of 2026, and her zodiac sign is Pisces.
Johanna Leia is an ex Wilhelmina and Ford model with an athletic and attractive body. She was born in February 1981, and stands about 5’5″ (165 cm) tall, and is known for her long, dark brunette hair, her expressive eyes and her strong fashion sense, that she often shows on social media.
| Detail | Information |
| Date of Birth | February 19, 1981 |
| Age | 45 years old (as of 2026) |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Height | Approximately 5’5 (165 cm) |
| Build | Slim, athletic |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
Johanna Leia’s Career Highlights
- Started in modeling as a teenager – adopted “Leia” as her professional stage name early on.
- Worked with major agencies, including Elite, Ford Models, and Wilhelmina, and landed several magazine features along the way.
- Rose to wider fame through her son Amari’s basketball career – first via the 2017 reality show Bringing Up Ballers, then through her own growing online visibility as Amari progressed through Sierra Canyon, UCLA, and into the NBA.
- High-profile dating rumors, most notably with Drake, added to her public profile.
- Founded her own sports management company, “Just Living” – helping young athletes and their families navigate sponsorships, branding deals, and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities.
- Currently balances multiple ventures: modeling and social media work, real estate, and continued athlete management.
Johanna Leia & “Bringing Up Ballers”
In 2017, Johanna was featured on a Lifetime reality series, Bringing Up Ballers. It explored the lives of Chicago moms whose sons pursued basketball dreams and it allowed some real insight into how much work (and pressure) goes into raising a young athlete. On the show, Johanna stood out on the show for speaking her mind and not holding back her opinions about her son’s future. The series only ran for a single season, with Johanna subsequently stating that production involved more drama than she and Amari had anticipated- and neither of them enjoyed the process. Still, it’s the project that introduced a lot of people to who she is.
Johanna Leia Net Worth
Although a popular query is how much Johanna Leia makes, the truth of the matter puts it somewhat in a grey area. The most recent estimates average in around the $1-1.5 million mark, but this is not from an official source so approach with caution. The one thing we do know is (where) the money probably comes from- modeling, brand deals, influencer deals, her sports agency and real estate.
| Details | Information |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $1 million – $1.5 million |
| Main Income Sources | Modeling, brand endorsements, social media, sports management business. |
| Source Reliability | Unofficial/estimated — not confirmed publicly |
Johanna Leia Personal Life
Johanna seems more of a private person away from the cameras and the headlines. She doesn’t talk much about her relationships or what’s going on outside of her kids. She has been very vocal about being a mom, which is surely her focus in personal life, even more so than modeling or business work. These days, she’s settled in Los Angeles after a Chicago-based part of her life and appears to keep her circle small rather than chasing extra attention.
Johanna has never been married and does not have a husband. She was in a long relationship with former NFL wide receiver Aaron Bailey. She was also linked to rapper Drake in 2021.
Johanna Leia’s relationship with Aaron Bailey
Aaron Bailey is Johanna’s ex-boyfriend and the father of her two children – he was a former NFL wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. The couple were together for a number of years, had Amari and Savanna but went their separate ways. Neither of them have publicly spoken about the reason for their breakup but they have been civil towards each other, choosing to keep things amicable while continuing to co-parent their kids.
Johanna Leia Dating Rumors with Rapper Drake
This is probably the thing that Johanna gets asked about the most. She was infamously connected to rapper Drake back in 2021 when the two were allegedly spotted on a private dinner date at an empty Dodger Stadium- a story that went viral at the time. That relationship is believed to have ended quietly by October of that year. She’s also been rumored to have dated Alfonzo McKinnie and Ja Morant, both of whom play in the NBA, but neither ever confirmed that either.
Johanna Leia Children
Johanna has two children from her past relationship with Aaron Bailey-a son, Amari Bailey, born on February 17, 2004, and a daughter named Savanna (a.k.a. Savvy), who was born in 2015. At just 23 years of age, she gave birth to her son, Amari, in Chicago. As Amari’s basketball talent grew, she made the decision to move the family to Los Angeles so he could attend Sierra Canyon School, a decision that ended up being a big part of his path to college basketball at UCLA and eventually the NBA. Johanna has raised her children on her own, while staying on good terms with their father, Aaron Bailey, for co-parenting purposes.
Johanna leia Social Media
Johanna even has an active Instagram page with 280k followers, with 45 posts about fashion, travel and her business – as well as of course her kids. She has a modeling background, and it shows in her online presentation- so often called stylish and put-together, she’s done some work to remain more than Amari’s mom. She also uses her platform to sometimes promote her sports management career.
| Platforms | Social Media Handles |
| @johannaleia | |
| TikTok | @johannaleia |
| X | @onlyjohannaleia |
Interesting Facts About Johanna Leia
- Her real name is Johanna Edelberg – “Leia” is a professional name she adopted for modeling.
- She played basketball in high school herself before her son ever did.
- She started her own sports management company, “Just Living”, to help young athletes with deals and sponsorships.
- She’s said the reality show that made her famous, Bringing Up Ballers, ended up being more dramatic than she expected.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Johanna Leia is more than just a famous mom. She built a career of her own long before her son became a basketball star, and she’s continued to grow it ever since – through modeling, TV, business, and now helping other young athletes navigate their own careers. Sure, her dating life tends to grab the headlines, but the real story is about a single mom who worked hard, stayed business-minded, and helped her son go from a kid with a basketball to an NBA player – all while building something for herself along the way.
FAQ’S
She was born on 19 February 1981, making her 45 as of 2026.
Her son is Amari Bailey, an NBA player
Yes, the two were linked in 2021, including a widely reported dinner date at an empty Dodger Stadium.
Former NFL wide receiver Aaron Bailey.
She’s a former model and reality TV personality who now runs “Just Living”, a sports management company for young athletes.
No, she is not currently married.
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