Toriah Lachell: The Woman Who Chose Her Craft Over the Celebrity Spotlight
Most people first heard her name because of someone else.
A basketball player. A packed Boston arena. A little boy running across the court making everyone smile.
But Toriah Lachell was building something of her own the entire time — quietly, steadily, completely on her terms.
She is a curl specialist. A business owner. A mother who packed her bags at eight months pregnant and moved to a city she barely knew. A 26-year-old who has already figured out something that takes most people decades to learn: that a calm, purposeful life beats a loud, famous one every single time.
This is her full story. From St. Louis to Somerville. From a high school love to a $2 million business built with her own hands.
Quick Bio Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Toriah Lachell Mimms |
| Date of Birth | February 20/21, 2000 |
| Age (April 2026) | 26 years old |
| Birthplace | St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
| Current City | Somerville, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American / Mixed (biracial) |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces / Aquarius (birth date slightly disputed) |
| Religion | Christian |
| Mother | Julie Gibbs |
| Stepfather | John Gibbs |
| Biological Father | Not publicly disclosed |
| High School | McCluer North High School, Florissant, Missouri |
| Education | Cosmetology School, Boston (graduated 2018) |
| Certifications | DevaCurl Certified, Cut It Kinky Alumna, Rezo Cut Certified |
| Son | Jayson “Deuce” Christopher Tatum Jr. (born December 6, 2017) |
| Ex-Partner | Jayson Tatum (NBA, Boston Celtics) |
| Business | The Curl Bar Boston — Somerville, Massachusetts |
| Net Worth (2026) | Estimated ~$2 million |
| Instagram (personal) | @toriahlachell |
| Instagram (hair work) | @hairbytoriahlachell |
| Instagram (salon) | @thecurlbarboston |
| TikTok | @toriahlachell |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Weight | ~130 lbs (59 kg) |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Eye Colour | Dark brown |
| Relationship Status | Single |
Growing Up in St. Louis: A Girl Who Was Never Just One Thing
Toriah was born in St. Louis, Missouri — a city with soul, history, and some of the most passionate sports fans in America.
She grew up in a household held together by her mother Julie Gibbs and stepfather John Gibbs. Her biological father was not part of her life, and she has chosen to keep that chapter entirely private. That choice says a lot about her. She does not use pain as content. She simply moves forward.
Her stepfather became the father figure she needed. She has spoken warmly about that bond — the stability and love he brought to the house. He is one of the reasons she grew up grounded.
As a little girl, Toriah was not a sit-at-home kind of kid. She was physical. Competitive. Someone who wanted to be in the thick of things rather than watching from the side.
She attended McCluer North High School in Florissant, a suburb just north of St. Louis. There, she played varsity soccer throughout all four years. She also played softball — two seasons on junior varsity and two on varsity. These were not casual interests. She committed to both with the same work ethic she would later bring to everything else.
She has described herself as someone who was “not a girly girl” growing up. Music mattered to her. Movement mattered. Tupac Shakur sits in her top five favourite rappers — a detail that gives you a sense of the sharp, soulful taste she carried even as a teenager.
The Hair Journey: It Started With Her Own Mirror
Before Toriah ever touched another person’s curls, she had to make peace with her own.
Growing up, she used relaxers — chemical treatments that straighten naturally curly or coily hair. Most girls around her did the same. Nobody in her life was teaching her how to work with her natural texture. She simply did not know another way.
Then in middle and high school, something shifted.
She started watching YouTube tutorials. Natural hair content was growing online during that period, and Toriah absorbed all of it. She began experimenting on herself — washing, conditioning, diffusing, defining curls she had never let live before.
She started doing her friends’ hair. Then their friends asked her. Word moved the way it always does when someone genuinely has a gift — without any advertising, just one satisfied head of hair at a time.
The Instagram posts followed. People saw her work. They started asking for appointments in person. They asked for online advice. The demand was already building before she had a single formal qualification.
Becoming a Mother at 17: The Year Everything Changed
In early 2017, Toriah found out she was pregnant.
She was seventeen years old. Jayson Tatum was nineteen. His NBA Draft was months away. Neither of them had planned for this, and neither of them had a roadmap for what came next.
This is the part of the story that could have broken her. It did not.
She made a decision that most teenagers would not have the clarity to make. When she was eight months pregnant, she packed her life into bags and moved from St. Louis to Boston — a city she did not grow up in, with no family waiting for her there.
She moved so her son could be close to his father. So Deuce could grow up knowing both his parents. So that the distance between St. Louis and Boston would not become a wound in a child who had not yet been born.
Think about the kind of person that decision reveals. Heavily pregnant. Nineteen years away from home. Moving toward the unknown because it was the right thing for someone who had not yet arrived.
Jayson “Deuce” Christopher Tatum Jr. was born on December 6, 2017. He weighed in healthy. His mother, two weeks postpartum, enrolled in cosmetology school.
Two weeks.
That tells you everything you need to know about Toriah Lachell.
High School Sweethearts: The Toriah and Jayson Story
Toriah and Jayson Tatum grew up in the same city but attended different schools.
She was at McCluer North. He was at Chaminade College Preparatory School — an all-boys Catholic school known for producing elite athletes. They crossed paths the way teenagers in the same city always do: through mutual friends, shared spaces, and the natural gravity of two people who like each other.
They started dating around 2014 or 2015, when both were in high school. In 2015, a Sports Illustrated feature mentioned Toriah by name — she was photographed in her prom dress, referenced as part of Jayson’s world. The cameras were already finding him before the NBA ever called his name.
Their relationship carried on as Jayson’s profile exploded. He went to Duke University. He was selected third overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. His life accelerated at a speed that most teenagers cannot prepare for.
There were rumours during this period — whispers about other people, about the pressures of a long-distance situation while one person was becoming famous and the other was finishing high school. None of these were confirmed. What is confirmed is simple: by the time Deuce arrived, the romantic relationship was ending.
They were young. Life was enormous. And they chose to put their son first rather than fight over the rubble of something that had run its course.
The Breakup: Clean, Quiet, and Respectful
They separated shortly after Deuce was born, in late 2017 or early 2018.
There was no public drama. No social media war. No long interviews about who did what to whom.
Toriah went silent. Jayson focused on his rookie NBA season. And both of them, separately and together, began the work of raising a child they clearly both adore.
Since the split, Jayson has been linked publicly to British singer Ella Mai from around 2020 onwards. Toriah has been linked to no one. She has said nothing publicly about her love life since the relationship ended.
That silence is its own statement. She does not owe the internet a single detail.
Cosmetology School: Building the Foundation
In 2017, just weeks after giving birth, Toriah enrolled in a cosmetology programme in Boston.
She graduated in 2018 — earning her licence while managing a newborn, a new city, and the particular exhaustion that comes with both.
She did not stop at the basic licence. She pushed further.
She trained at Cut It Kinky — a programme focused specifically on natural, textured, and coily hair. She became a DevaCurl Certified Stylist, a qualification that requires extensive knowledge of curly hair structure and care. She also earned a Rezo Cut Certification — a cutting technique specifically designed for curly hair that is performed while the hair is dry, preserving the natural curl pattern rather than distorting it.
Three separate certifications. Each one building toward a very specific area of expertise.
She was not trying to be a general salon. She was becoming the specialist that curly-haired people in Boston had been looking for.
The Curl Bar Boston: Her Business, Her Way
The Curl Bar Boston is located in Somerville, Massachusetts — a neighbourhood just outside central Boston with a creative, independent energy that suits the business perfectly.
Toriah opened it because she wanted three things: to be her own boss, to build something with her name on it, and to control her own time so she could also be present for Deuce.
Those are clean, honest reasons. And the salon reflects them.
The Curl Bar specialises in natural curls — every texture, every type, every length. Services include curl cuts using the Rezo method, styling, wash-and-go sets, and curl definition treatments. The approach is personal. Clients are taught about their own hair during appointments, not just styled and sent home.
Toriah also created The Curl Bar Curl Course: Case Study — an educational programme that teaches people how to manage and style their own curls at home. This extended her impact beyond Boston and beyond the salon chair. Someone in another state, another country, could now learn from her.
The business model is smart. Income comes from multiple streams:
- In-salon services — premium pricing for specialist curl work
- The online curl course — digital education product with no geographic limits
- Social media partnerships — collaborations with hair care brands aligned to her expertise
- Long-term client relationships — repeat business from a loyal client base
The Deuce Factor: Co-Parenting Done Right
If there is a chapter of this story that deserves real applause, it is this one.
Jayson “Deuce” Tatum Jr. became one of the most recognised children in the NBA without choosing any of it. He sits courtside at Celtics games in tiny jerseys. He dances in locker rooms. He has a TikTok presence that many adults would envy. Fans know his expressions better than those of some professional players.
Toriah made this possible. She moved to Boston. She kept things calm. She gave her son access to both his parents without turning their separation into a public spectacle.
Deuce goes to games with his dad. He goes home to his mum in Somerville. He grows up knowing he is loved in two households — and neither household is burning the other one down for entertainment.
That stability is not an accident. It is the direct result of two people choosing their child over their grievances. And Toriah’s contribution to that arrangement has been enormous.
Net Worth: $2 Million Built Entirely Herself
Here is where the numbers matter — and where the honesty matters more.
Some sites have thrown out figures like $15 million or even claimed figures matching full NBA salaries. These are not credible. They are SEO fiction.
The realistic, consistently cited estimate from reputable sources places Toriah Lachell’s net worth at approximately $2 million as of 2026.
Every dollar of it came from her. Not from child support payments. Not from Jayson Tatum’s contract. Not from celebrity connections.
From a cosmetology licence earned two weeks after giving birth. From three specialist certifications. From a salon she opened in Somerville and runs every day. From an online course she built from her own knowledge. From years of showing up and doing the work.
The comparison is worth making. Jayson Tatum’s NBA contract runs into hundreds of millions. His net worth dwarfs hers by a wide margin. But Toriah was never in that race. She built something that is entirely, completely hers.
At 26, $2 million is not a footnote. It is a foundation.
Physical Appearance and Personal Style
Toriah stands at 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) and weighs approximately 130 pounds (59 kg).
She is tall. Confident. The kind of physical presence that photographs well without trying. Her body measurements — 35-28-38 inches — give her a strong, balanced silhouette.
Her natural hair is dark and full — a living portfolio of the work she does every day. She presents herself consistently and elegantly, without ever appearing to be performing for an audience.
Her style is not about brand names or trends. It is about a woman who genuinely knows what she likes and wears it.
Personality, Hobbies, and What She Loves
Toriah is, by every available account, someone who has chosen peace over noise.
She describes her simple pleasures without embarrassment. Chocolate cake makes her happy. Music does too — and not just background sound. She is a genuine listener, the kind who knows why Tupac matters. She enjoys being at home. Being present.
She is not performing a version of herself for internet approval. What you see on her professional accounts — focused, educational, skilled — is who she actually is.
She played varsity soccer and competitive softball through high school. That athletic background shows in her work ethic. Athletes understand discipline in a way that casual people often do not. You show up even when you do not feel like it. You run the drill again. You do not quit when the first attempt fails.
That is Toriah Lachell, translated from a sports field into a salon.
Social Media: Professional, Purposeful, Quiet
Toriah keeps three Instagram accounts:
- @toriahlachell — personal, very small and private
- @hairbytoriahlachell — her individual hairstyling work, hair transformations
- @thecurlbarboston — the salon’s official page, bookings, updates
She also maintains a TikTok at @toriahlachell, with a modest but growing following.
Her content is almost entirely professional. Hair before-and-afters. Curl education videos. Salon updates. Booking reminders. She does not post about her personal life, her son’s face, or anything connected to Jayson Tatum.
This is rare. Most people in her position — even accidentally adjacent to celebrity — would leverage every connection for followers. Toriah has built her audience through skill, not association.
Charity and Community Work
Toriah does not publicise formal charity work or hold fundraising events.
What she does do — quietly and consistently — is contribute to the natural hair community in a way that is genuinely educational rather than commercial. Her online courses and educational Instagram content give people tools to care for their own hair without spending money in a salon.
For many Black women and women with natural or coily hair, finding someone who understands their texture has historically been difficult. Toriah’s work fills that gap with expertise and warmth. That matters. Education that empowers people is a form of community investment, whether or not it comes with a charity label.
Controversies and Misconceptions
There are almost no real controversies in Toriah Lachell’s story.
The only significant misconception is the persistent rumour that she received large financial settlements from Jayson Tatum or that her net worth reflects his wealth. It does not. Her money is her own.
A second misconception: some sources call her Jayson Tatum’s wife. They were never married. They dated in high school, had a child together, and separated. They co-parent. That is the entire romantic story.
Her birth date is also disputed across sources — some say February 6, others say February 20 or 21, and one site suggests a different year entirely. The most consistently cited date across multiple recent and credible sources is February 20 or 21, 2000.
There is no scandal. No arrest. No public meltdown. Just a young woman who refuses to feed the machine that would love to make her famous for the wrong reasons.
What She Is Doing Right Now: April 2026
Toriah Lachell is 26 years old, living in Somerville, Boston.
She runs The Curl Bar Boston every day. She raises Deuce, who is now 8 years old and becoming more recognisable at every Celtics game he attends. She maintains her online courses. She builds her client base. She stays off the gossip pages.
Her future plans, shared across multiple interviews, are straightforward and ambitious in equal measure:
- Expand The Curl Bar Boston — potentially additional locations or a larger team
- Develop more online curl education content — reaching clients beyond Boston
- Potentially launch her own hair care product line — shampoos, conditioners, curl creams
These are not Instagram dreams. They are the next logical steps for a young entrepreneur who already has the expertise, the audience, and the business infrastructure to support them.
Legacy and Impact
Toriah Lachell does not have a Wikipedia page. She does not have millions of followers. She is not on any “30 Under 30” list — at least not yet.
What she has is a business she built from nothing. A son she is raising with love and quiet strength. A professional reputation in the natural hair community that grows entirely through skill and word of mouth.
She became famous because a basketball player loved her. She stayed relevant because she decided to be excellent at something that had nothing to do with him.
In a world that constantly rewards noise, fame, and connection to powerful names, Toriah chose a different path. She chose the craft. She chose the salon. She chose the early mornings learning another curl technique when it would have been easier to coast on someone else’s spotlight.
That is the legacy — quiet, real, and still being written.
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Final Words
Toriah Lachell moved to a strange city, eight months pregnant, with a future she could not fully picture.
She gave birth. She started cosmetology school two weeks later. She built a salon. She earned three specialist certifications. She co-parented without drama. She reached a net worth of $2 million before age 27.
She did all of it while remaining almost entirely private. No reality show. No tell-all interview. No capitalising on the famous name that Google still searches alongside hers.
She just worked.
That is the whole story. And somehow, it is more impressive than most of the louder ones.
FAQ
1. Who is Toriah Lachell?
She is an American hairstylist, curly hair specialist, and entrepreneur. She owns The Curl Bar Boston in Somerville, Massachusetts, and is widely known as the mother of Jayson Tatum’s son, Deuce.
2. How old is Toriah Lachell in 2026?
She was born on February 20 or 21, 2000. She is 26 years old as of April 2026.
3. Is Toriah Lachell married to Jayson Tatum?
No. They were never married. They dated during high school, had a child together in 2017, and separated shortly after. They co-parent their son Deuce peacefully.
4. Who is Deuce Tatum?
His full name is Jayson Christopher Tatum Jr., born December 6, 2017. He is the son of Toriah Lachell and NBA star Jayson Tatum. He is widely recognised for his courtside appearances at Boston Celtics games.
5. What is The Curl Bar Boston?
It is Toriah’s curly hair salon based in Somerville, Massachusetts. It specialises in natural curl care, Rezo cuts, wash-and-go styling, and curl education. She also runs an online curl course through the business.
6. What certifications does Toriah Lachell have?
She holds three professional certifications: DevaCurl Certified Stylist, Cut It Kinky Alumna, and Rezo Cut Certified. Each specialises in natural and curly hair care techniques.
7. What is Toriah Lachell’s net worth in 2026?
Her estimated net worth is approximately $2 million, built entirely through her salon, online educational courses, brand partnerships, and a loyal client base. It does not reflect Jayson Tatum’s earnings.
8. Is Toriah Lachell dating anyone in 2026?
No. She has not been publicly linked to anyone since her breakup with Jayson Tatum. She keeps her personal life entirely private and does not share relationship details online.
9. Where does Toriah Lachell live now?
She lives in Somerville, Boston, Massachusetts — the same neighbourhood where her salon is based. She moved there in 2017 while pregnant so her son could be close to his father.
10. Did Toriah Lachell play sports in high school?
Yes. She played varsity soccer all four years at McCluer North High School in Florissant, Missouri. She also played softball for four years — two on junior varsity and two on varsity.
11. What are Toriah Lachell’s social media accounts?
She maintains three Instagram accounts: @toriahlachell (personal), @hairbytoriahlachell (her hairstyling work), and @thecurlbarboston (the salon). She also has a TikTok at @toriahlachell. All content is predominantly professional.
12. What are Toriah’s plans for the future?
She has discussed expanding The Curl Bar Boston, developing more online curl education content, and potentially launching her own line of natural hair care products. Her focus remains on building her business and raising her son.
13. What is Toriah Lachell’s ethnicity?
She is of African-American / biracial heritage. She grew up in St. Louis and has kept her full family background private beyond what she has chosen to share publicly.
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