Most people first encountered Toriah Lachell’s name through Jayson Tatum β the Boston Celtics star who mentioned her, briefly and honestly, during a nationally broadcast interview in 2022. But Toriah’s story doesn’t begin or end with that mention. It begins in St. Louis, moves through cosmetology school, and lands firmly in Boston, where she runs her own curly-hair salon and raises her son. This article covers what is publicly known about her life β and is clear about what isn’t.
Quick Bio: Toriah Lachell at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Toriah Lachell Mimms |
| Date of Birth | February 2000 (exact date disputed across sources; February 21 is most commonly cited) |
| Age | 25β26 years old (as of 2025β2026) |
| Birthplace | St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Profession | Cosmetologist, Curl Specialist, Salon Owner |
| Parents | Julie Gibbs (mother), John Gibbs (stepfather) |
| Known For | Owner of The Curl Bar Boston; mother of Jayson “Deuce” Tatum Jr. |
| Son | Jayson “Deuce” Christopher Tatum Jr. (born December 6, 2017) |
| Salon | The Curl Bar Boston (opened 2021) |
| Cosmetology Training | Enrolled 2017, graduated 2018 |
| Certifications | DevaCurl, Rezo Cut, Cut It Kinky (per public sources and salon listings) |
| Estimated Net Worth | Widely cited as ~$2 million, though this figure is unverified |
| @hairbytoriahlachell / @thecurlbarboston |
Who Is Toriah Lachell?
Toriah Lachell is an American cosmetologist, certified curl specialist, and entrepreneur based in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the founder and owner of The Curl Bar Boston, a salon that focuses exclusively on natural curls and textured hair. She is also the mother of Jayson “Deuce” Tatum Jr., the son of NBA star Jayson Tatum.
She first entered the public eye because of her connection to Tatum, but her professional identity today is built around her own work. Her salon, her certifications, and her role as a mother have all been publicly documented. She is not a celebrity in the traditional sense β she doesn’t seek press coverage, rarely gives interviews, and keeps most of her personal life offline. What the public knows about her comes primarily through Jayson Tatum’s own interviews, her salon’s online presence, and her Instagram pages.
Early Life: Growing Up in St. Louis
Toriah Lachell was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, in February 2000. Most public sources cite February 21 as her birthdate, though at least one source lists February 6 β the exact date has not been confirmed by Toriah herself publicly. Her mother is Julie Gibbs, and her stepfather is John Gibbs. Multiple sources note that John Gibbs played an active role in her upbringing. Her biological father and any siblings have not been mentioned in any confirmed public record.
She spent her childhood and teenage years in St. Louis, where she attended McCluer North High School. During high school, she was an active athlete β school sports records and a 2013β2014 McCluer North roster confirm she played varsity soccer (listed at position 9) and was on the softball team. On her Instagram bio, she described her varsity days as “GOAT,” a detail widely reported in accurate sports and entertainment sources.
Her interest in beauty and hair is something she has spoken about in the context of her salon work. On The Curl Bar Boston’s website, she notes that her passion for natural hair began with her own journey β she grew up wearing relaxers and later learned to embrace and care for her natural curls. This personal background, not just professional training, is the foundation of her career.
Education
High School
Toriah attended McCluer North High School in Ferguson, Missouri. Jayson Tatum attended the separate Chaminade College Preparatory School, also in the St. Louis area. They were not classmates at the same school, though they were part of overlapping social circles in St. Louis during their teenage years and began dating during this period.
Cosmetology School
After Deuce was born in December 2017, Toriah enrolled in a cosmetology school in Boston. Multiple credible sources, including Heavy.com, note that she enrolled approximately two weeks after giving birth β a detail that several outlets have reported. She graduated with her cosmetology diploma in 2018. The specific school has not been named in any verified public source.
She went on to pursue specialized certifications in curl care, including:
- DevaCurl certification (curl-specific cutting and styling method)
- Rezo Cut certification (a curl-based cutting technique)
- Cut It Kinky (a curl education program; listed on her Famous Birthdays profile and other sources)
- Curl Conqueror (referenced by some sources, though less consistently documented than the above three)
These credentials are verifiable through her salon’s own website and multiple secondary listings. They are not generic β each represents a specific, paid, structured training program within the natural hair care industry.
Toriah Lachell and Jayson Tatum: Their Relationship
How They Met
Toriah Lachell and Jayson Tatum met as teenagers in the St. Louis area. While they attended different high schools β she was at McCluer North, he was at Chaminade β they moved in overlapping social circles. A 2015 Sports Illustrated article is one of the earliest public records of their relationship: it mentions Toriah by name, describing her showing off her prom dress while Tatum, already a top national basketball prospect as a junior in high school, walked her to her car.
Their relationship was that of a typical teenage couple navigating the unusual pressure of one partner already being nationally recruited.
Pregnancy and the NBA Draft
In early 2017, while Jayson Tatum was finishing his freshman season at Duke University and preparing for the NBA Draft, Toriah informed him she was pregnant. Tatum later described this moment publicly in an October 2022 interview on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, a verified and widely covered source. He said he was “terrified” and admitted: “I was selfish at first, honestly. I was more worried about getting drafted than I was about being a dad.” He said he told no one β not teammates, not coaches β initially out of fear that it would affect his draft position. He was eventually selected third overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Tatum later told then-Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, who he described as “real supportive.” And when Deuce was born, Tatum described his mindset shifting: “When he came out and I held him for the first time, instantly my whole perspective changed… nothing else matters but taking care of him.”
These quotes come from Bleacher Report’s coverage of the Bensinger interview and have been reported by ESPN, the Boston Globe, and NBC Sports.
The Breakup
It is publicly known that Tatum and Toriah split sometime after Deuce was born in December 2017. The exact timing and specific reasons for the breakup have never been confirmed by either party. Some gossip sources have cited rumors about infidelity during the period around the pregnancy, but these claims are unverified and neither Toriah nor Jayson has publicly addressed them. This article does not present those rumors as fact.
What is clear, from multiple credible sources including The SportsRush and Sportskeeda, is that they were no longer together in the years following Deuce’s birth, and that both have moved on while maintaining an active co-parenting relationship.
Jayson “Deuce” Tatum Jr.
Jayson Christopher Tatum Jr. β universally known as “Deuce,” a nickname meaning “second” β was born on December 6, 2017. Tatum announced the birth publicly in January 2018.
Deuce has become one of the more recognizable children in the NBA world. He appears regularly courtside at Boston Celtics games and has been present at several press conferences. His father has spoken publicly and warmly about him on multiple occasions, including in his Bensinger interview and in comments to the Boston Globe.
Toriah’s relationship with Deuce is visible on her social media β she has shared videos of his hair, moments from their daily life, and glimpses of their bond. She has not, however, made him the center of her public persona or used his visibility to promote her business.
Both parents are described in public reporting as active co-parents who prioritize Deuce’s stability. Tatum is also documented to be paying child support, per poptvculture.com’s reporting, though the specific terms of any arrangement are private.
Career in the Beauty Industry
The Origin of Her Interest in Natural Hair
Toriah’s interest in curly hair care came from personal experience, not just professional training. On The Curl Bar Boston’s official website, she describes growing up wearing relaxers and later going through the process of learning to care for her natural curls. This personal journey β familiar to many Black women β gave her both an emotional connection to her work and practical knowledge before she ever set foot in a classroom.
Cosmetology Training
She enrolled in a Boston cosmetology school in 2017 β reportedly about two weeks after giving birth β and earned her diploma in 2018. That timeline, verified through multiple sources including Heavy.com and SportsBreif, reflects an unusual level of focus during an extremely demanding personal period.
After graduating, she built her specialization in textured and curly hair through the certification programs listed above. A 2021 podcast episode described her publicly as “a Boston-based certified curl stylist and the owner of The Curl Bar Boston,” consistent with her professional profile.
The Curl Bar Boston
The Curl Bar Boston is Toriah’s primary professional venture. It opened in 2021, according to RareMagazine and multiple other sources consistent with this timeline. The salon is located in the Boston area and focuses exclusively on natural curls and textured hair.
What the Salon Offers
Services documented through the salon’s own website and secondary coverage include:
- Curl cutting using the Rezo Cut method
- DevaCurl styling and treatment services
- Personalized curl consultations and hair education
- The Curl Bar Curl Course β an online educational program for at-home curl care
- Step-by-step curl routine guidance for clients of varying textures
The salon’s identity is built around education as much as styling. Toriah has consistently emphasized helping clients understand and manage their own curls independently β not just servicing them in the chair.
Reputation and Client Base
Public coverage of the salon describes a growing loyal client base and positive reputation within Boston’s natural hair community. Client transformations shared on her Instagram pages (@hairbytoriahlachell and @thecurlbarboston) have contributed to her visibility. A 2021 podcast appearance was one of the earliest third-party references to her as a curl specialist and business owner in Boston, independent of any NBA connection.
Net Worth: What Is and Isn’t Known
Nearly every article about Toriah Lachell cites a net worth of approximately $2 million. This figure circulates widely across celebrity biography sites but has no verified source β no financial disclosure, no business valuation, no credible third-party estimate backs it up.
What can be reasonably stated:
- She owns and operates a specialized salon in a major U.S. city
- She has developed and sells online educational curl courses
- She has been active on social media with a following that supports professional visibility
- She may have brand partnerships, though none are specifically named in any verified source
The $2 million figure should be understood as an estimate that has been recycled across unverified sites, not a confirmed figure. This article includes it only as context for what others have reported, not as a verified fact.
Personal Life
Parenting and Motherhood
Toriah became a mother at 17 years old (she was born in February 2000; Deuce was born in December 2017). That fact alone underlines the reality of her story: she was a teenager when she navigated pregnancy, the public drama of her son’s father being drafted into the NBA, and the first months of motherhood β all at the same time.
She enrolled in cosmetology school within weeks of giving birth and built a business while raising a young child. That’s not narrative embellishment β it’s documented timeline.
Her motherhood is one of the more visible parts of her social media presence. She occasionally shares videos of Deuce, including clips of her styling his hair, which her followers have responded to warmly.
Relationship Status
As of the most recent publicly available information, Toriah Lachell is not in a publicly confirmed relationship. She has not spoken about her romantic life and keeps it entirely private. No confirmed relationship has been documented by any credible source. Dating rumors exist online but have not been substantiated. This article does not report speculation as fact.
Privacy
One of the most consistent things reported about Toriah across multiple independent sources is that she actively values her privacy. A Boston-area community member quoted by The SportsRush described her as: “She doesn’t want to be part of the Tatum/Celtics limelight… mad nice and normal.” That account, while informal, is consistent with everything else publicly known about how she presents herself.
What Is Publicly Known About Toriah Lachell β And What Isn’t
This section separates confirmed information from what remains unclear or unverified.
What is publicly documented:
- She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in February 2000
- Her mother is Julie Gibbs; her stepfather is John Gibbs
- She attended McCluer North High School and played varsity soccer and softball
- She and Jayson Tatum were in a relationship during their teenage years in St. Louis (confirmed by a 2015 Sports Illustrated article and Tatum’s own 2022 public interview)
- She became pregnant in early 2017 while Tatum was at Duke University
- Deuce was born on December 6, 2017
- She enrolled in cosmetology school in Boston shortly after Deuce’s birth and graduated in 2018
- She holds DevaCurl, Rezo Cut, and Cut It Kinky certifications (per her salon website and public bios)
- She opened The Curl Bar Boston in 2021
- She and Tatum are active co-parents; she maintains her privacy and does not seek media attention
What is uncertain or unverified:
- Her exact date of birth (February 21 is most commonly cited, but February 6 and February 20 also appear across sources β none confirmed by Toriah directly)
- Her net worth ($2 million is widely repeated but has no documented source)
- The specific reasons for her breakup with Tatum (no confirmed account from either party)
- Any current romantic relationship (she has not publicly discussed this)
- Specific salon revenue or income figures (none have been documented)
- Whether she attended any university (some sources mistakenly suggest Duke University attendance, which was Tatum’s enrollment, not hers)
Lesser-Known Facts
- A 2015 Sports Illustrated article is one of the earliest documented public mentions of Toriah by name, describing her attending Tatum’s high school event and showing off her prom dress while he was already a top national recruiting prospect.
- She enrolled in cosmetology school approximately two weeks after giving birth to Deuce, a timeline first reported by Heavy.com.
- She uses two separate Instagram accounts for her professional work: @hairbytoriahlachell for her personal styling portfolio and @thecurlbarboston for the salon brand.
- Her salon’s origin story, per The Curl Bar Boston’s own website, is rooted in her personal experience with natural hair β she wore relaxers as a child and later went through her own curl journey before training professionally.
- She played position 9 on the McCluer North soccer roster in 2013, according to school sports records cited by SportsBreif.
- She is referred to professionally as Toriah Mimms in some contexts β Mimms being her legal surname, with Lachell as her middle name used as her professional identity.
- Cut It Kinky, one of her curl education certifications, is an educational program specifically designed around cutting and styling kinky and coily textures β a more specialized focus than many curl certifications.
Conclusion
Toriah Lachell’s story is notable because it’s genuinely her own. She entered public life as a footnote in someone else’s career story β mentioned briefly in a high school newspaper writeup, then again when Jayson Tatum chose to talk about his son’s birth on national television. She didn’t ask for either moment.
What she built in between and after those moments β a cosmetology diploma, three professional certifications, a specialized salon in a major city, and a curriculum for clients to care for their curls at home β that was entirely deliberate. She remains private, consistent, and focused. For someone who has been written about almost entirely through the lens of her connection to an NBA star, she has managed to establish a professional identity that stands on its own terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is Toriah Lachell?
She is a Boston-based cosmetologist, certified curl specialist, and owner of The Curl Bar Boston, best known publicly as the mother of Jayson Tatum’s son, Deuce.
Q2: How old is Toriah Lachell?
She was born in February 2000, making her 25β26 years old as of 2025β2026; the most commonly cited date is February 21, though it has not been confirmed by her directly.
Q3: What is the Curl Bar Boston?
It is a specialized curly-hair salon in Boston that Toriah founded in 2021, offering cutting, styling, curl consultations, and online curl education courses.
Q4: Is Toriah Lachell still connected to Jayson Tatum?
They are not in a romantic relationship; they separated after the birth of their son in 2017 and now maintain an active co-parenting relationship focused on Deuce.
Q5: What is Toriah Lachell’s net worth?
Various sites estimate approximately $2 million, but this figure is unverified and has no documented source β it should be treated as an informal estimate, not a confirmed figure.
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