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Draya Michele Is Turning Criticism Into Capital—Starting With Clean Air

July 21, 2025
10:07 AM
11 min read
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Draya Michele turns past criticism into power moves—starting with her latest wellness tech investment. She's focused on clean air, motherhood and legacy.

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11 min read

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investment

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Published

July 21, 2025

10:07 AM

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Forbes

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LeadershipForbesBLKDraya Michele Is Turning Criticism Into Capital—Starting With Clean AirByCorein Carter, Contributor

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights

I am a Forbes contributor covering beauty, culture and travel

AuthorJul 21, 2025, 10:07am EDTJul 21, 2025, 10:47am EDTWith a new investment in wellness and a fresh perspective on motherhood, Draya Michele steps confidently into a chapter defined by purpose, power and quiet reinvention (an important development)

Furthermore, Draya Michele pictured in front of her wellness investment, Sereniby—a smart air care (an important development)

More system designed to support healthier environments for babies and young children (this bears monitoring). 22Spring 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

In contrast, 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, in today's financial world

Moreover, The wellness advocate is entering a new era—one rooted in clarity, legacy and deeper intention, in light of current trends

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, considering recent developments

Furthermore, Watch Full Forbes

Moreover, Com Interview Here MORE FOR YOU Shot by Will Cook Media For Draya, wellness isn’t just a treatment—it’s a lifestyle that informs how she s, parents and does

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 (which is quite significant)

On the other hand, Every decision I make, I think the impact it has on her. ” A Partnership Rooted in Purpose Her newest move is a strategic investment and partnership with Sereniby, a wellness company redefining air care for babies and young children

The brand’s flagship duct—a smart, medical-grade air purifier—goes beyond filtration

Market analysis shows ’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, in today's market environment. “It’s ownership

What the re reveals is ’s me in something I wish I had from day one as a mom

Additionally, ” 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 and found herself surrounded by drywall, paint fumes and dust (fascinating analysis), in light of current trends. “I remember thinking, ‘I can’t be breathing this in while I’m growing a baby,’” Draya recalls

Moreover, “It made me hyper-aware of how overlooked air quality really is, especially for children

On the other hand, ”Sereniby is a modern air purifier designed for nurseries, featuring medical-grade HEPA filtration, (something worth watching), in today's market environment

More whisper-quiet operation, and a gentle nightlight, considering recent developments

Additionally, Its sleek white body and wood-tone base blend seamlessly into any calming, baby-safe space

Sereniby Sereniby stood out, thanks to a heartfelt note and family photos its founders sent Draya before the duct even arrived. “It wasn’t just a duct drop

It felt something bigger,” Draya says

Nevertheless, “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

Meanwhile, As a new mother again, Draya saw the duct 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 tects her health

That’s not a luxury, in this volatile climate

Additionally, ” The Power of Black Motherhood in Wellness 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

However, The entrepreneur's decision to invest wasn’t just the duct—it was the position (an important development)

On the other hand, “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 (this bears monitoring). “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

Will Cook Media That positioning is key

As the wellness space grows, Draya’s involvement signals a deeper shift: intentional representation at the ownership level

Moreover, “I’ve done collaborations (noteworthy indeed)

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, in today's market environment

This's my daughter’s air

That’s the difference," Draya expressed (this bears monitoring)

Balancing, Boundaries, and Baby Bottles 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

Nevertheless, My daughter

Nevertheless, She’s attached

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

Conversely, “I’m a post-and-go kind of woman now,” she says. “I’ve limited who can 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 s

Additionally, I’m an Evenflo six-pack for $10 kind of girl

They work just as well, and I don’t cry when they break

However, ”Draya Michele carries her daughter in a chest harness during a quiet moment together (which is quite significant), in this volatile climate

Draya Michele Redefining Connection: Friendship, Boundaries, and the Pressure to Be Perfect Despite the glitz of entrepreneurship and the digital attention that s 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 (noteworthy indeed). “We all have our own lanes, and we show up for one another in real life, considering recent developments

Nevertheless, ” Her core friend group—rooted in mutual respect, aligned values and zero performative energy—isn’t just vibes, in light of current trends

The data indicates that ’s tection. “In this industry, especially as a Black woman, people ject so much onto you

The evidence shows 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 ary her personal life—most recently, when she d an unpaid post Sereniby during the LA fires, encouraging families to tect their indoor air quality, in today's financial world

On the other hand, Santa Monica, California — Friday, June 6: Draya Michele sits down with Forbes contributor Corein

Moreover, More Carter for an interactive wellness interview at Dripology, where the two discuss motherhood, legacy, and Draya’s newest investment in wellness

Will Cook Media “The s were intense, given current economic conditions

People were, ‘Draya, people lost their s—why are you talking purifiers. ’ And I get that, in light of current trends

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 (remarkable data). “It came from a pure place

Furthermore, 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, in this volatile climate. ” To guard her peace, Draya has made a simple but found adjustment: she limits who can on her social media posts (something worth watching). “I post and go

However, I’m not here to be debated

This's my life, not a group chat,” she says

Mint Swim, Earth Day, and A New Kind of Sustainability Though wellness is her 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 (fascinating analysis)

Additionally, Draya Michele stuns in her signature swimwear line, Mint Swim 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 blem, 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 (noteworthy indeed). “We’ll definitely do more. ” From Fashion to Farming: A Fully Rounded Life In perhaps the most unexpected twist, Draya is now exploring steading

On her perty, she has 16 chickens, three dogs, a cat and a full vegetable garden. “I’m learning to grow what I eat (which is quite significant)

I’m obsessed with the cess,” Draya expresses

Additionally, Moreover, The farm, the purifier, represents something larger: autonomy (this bears monitoring). “This version of me isn’t just hustle

I want to show my kids what it looks to build a full, beautiful life on your own terms. ”In her garden, Draya Michele showcases her brand, Mint Swim

Demetrius Ward She’s just as honest when reflecting on her early years as a founder

Nevertheless, “I used to be stubborn

I didn’t ask for help, given the current landscape

I made expensive mistakes,” she admitted

At the same time, 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 (which is quite significant). “People have assumptions me,” she admits. “But the reality is, I’m a mom who recycles, a woman who gardens and someone who genuinely cares this planet

Nevertheless, ” One of her quirks

Additionally, “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, given current economic conditions

We don’t waste around here. ”Draya Michele pictured in front of her wellness investment, Sereniby—a smart air care

More system designed to support healthier environments for babies and young children (which is quite significant)

Will Cook Media 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, considering recent developments. “I’m not trying to be perfect

I’m trying to be real,” Draya adds (something worth watching). “That’s how I humanize myself—by showing up honestly

Whether it’s on my farm, in the boardroom or online (this bears monitoring). ” Legacy in Motion I want to keep showing people what’s possible when you operate from intention, not just attention, amid market uncertainty. ” And for the little girl watching her every move, Draya’s already paving the way

In contrast, “This isn’t being perfect (an important development)

And I hope that everything I do shows my daughter she can build anything—and breathe deeply while doing it

However, ” “My biggest flex right now isn’t a look or a moment,” Draya expresses

Conversely, “It’s peace

In contrast, It’s alignment

Moreover, It’s knowing that every move I make reflects who I am and what I stand for (remarkable data). ” “I want my daughter to grow up watching me do this with grace, with grit, and with integrity,” Draya says. “That’s legacy

Furthermore, That’s the kind of woman I’m raising her to be

At the same time, ” And if this chapter is any indication, Draya Michele is just getting started

Editorial StandardsRes & PermissionsLOADING PLAYER (remarkable data) (an important development).