That calm presence didn’t come out of nowhere. It was shaped by years of balancing responsibility, public curiosity, and the quiet determination to build something of her own. Many first heard her name because of her connection to NBA star Jayson Tatum. But if you stay long enough to understand her story, you realize that connection is only the beginning, not the whole picture.
Early Life and Family in St. Louis
Toriah Nicole Lachell was born in February 2000 in St. Louis, Missouri, a city known for its tight-knit neighborhoods and strong sense of community. By all accounts, she grew up in a household that valued stability and encouragement. Her mother, Julie Gibbs, played a central role in raising her, while her stepfather, John Gibbs, helped provide structure and support during her formative years.
Life in St. Louis wasn’t glamorous, but it was grounded. She attended local schools, including McCluer North High School before transferring to Chaminade College Preparatory School. Those years shaped her personality in ways that still show up today. She wasn’t someone chasing the spotlight in school hallways. Instead, she leaned into sports, friendships, and the steady rhythm of everyday teenage life.
Athletics became a defining part of her early years. She played both soccer and softball at a competitive level, committing to practices, games, and team responsibilities. Anyone who has spent time in youth sports knows how much discipline it requires. You show up early, you stay late, and you learn how to work with others even when things don’t go your way. Those lessons stayed with her long after high school ended.
High School Years and a Life-Changing Relationship
It was during those school years that Toriah met Jayson Tatum. He was already gaining attention as a standout basketball player, someone whose talent hinted at a future far beyond St. Louis. Their relationship began like many teenage romances do, built on shared classes, mutual friends, and the simple closeness that comes from growing up in the same environment.
Not many people know this, but their relationship developed during a time when both were still figuring out who they wanted to become. There were no guarantees, no clear roadmap, and certainly no expectation that their lives would soon draw public interest. They were just two teenagers navigating school, sports, and young love.
That changed in December 2017. Toriah gave birth to their son, Jayson Christopher Tatum Jr., widely known as “Deuce.” She was only 17 years old. At the same time, Tatum was entering the NBA draft, preparing for a career that would soon place him on one of basketball’s biggest stages.
Becoming a mother at that age forces a kind of maturity that can’t be rushed. While many of her peers were still focused on college plans and social life, Toriah stepped into parenthood. It wasn’t a theoretical responsibility. It was real, immediate, and demanding. According to people close to her, she embraced it with a seriousness that surprised even those who knew her well.
Navigating Early Motherhood and Public Attention
Early motherhood comes with challenges that don’t make headlines. Sleepless nights, financial pressure, and the emotional weight of raising a child while still growing up yourself can overwhelm even the most prepared parents. For Toriah, those challenges were paired with something else: public curiosity.
As Jayson Tatum’s NBA career took off, fans and media began asking about his personal life. That inevitably brought attention to Toriah. But here’s the thing — she didn’t respond by stepping into the spotlight. She moved in the opposite direction, choosing privacy over exposure.
Their romantic relationship didn’t continue long-term, but they remained connected through their son. Co-parenting became the foundation of their relationship. Tatum has often spoken about the importance of Deuce in his life, and fans have seen the child courtside at NBA games, sitting next to his father during interviews and celebrations. Behind those moments is a quieter story of shared responsibility.
By all accounts, Toriah has handled co-parenting with a level of maturity that doesn’t always get acknowledged. She hasn’t used her connection to create drama or headlines. Instead, she’s focused on raising her son and building a life that stands on its own.
Finding Direction Through Cosmetology
After Deuce was born, Toriah made a decision that would shape her future in a different way. She enrolled in cosmetology school in Boston, Massachusetts, where she relocated to build her career. It wasn’t a random choice. She had developed an interest in hair styling, particularly in working with textured and curly hair.
Cosmetology school is not an easy shortcut to success. It requires long hours of training, technical precision, and a willingness to learn through constant practice. She studied specialized techniques like DevaCurl and Rezo cutting, both of which focus on shaping curls in a way that respects their natural pattern rather than forcing them into straight styles.
Graduating in 2018 marked the beginning of her professional journey. But a certificate alone doesn’t build a career. She spent time refining her skills, working with clients, and learning how to translate technique into real-world results. Anyone who has ever trusted a stylist with their hair knows how personal that experience can be. Trust isn’t given lightly, and she earned it one client at a time.
Building The Curl Bar Boston
Here’s where her story takes a turn from survival to creation. Toriah didn’t just want to work in a salon. She wanted to build one that reflected her vision. That vision became The Curl Bar Boston, a space dedicated to natural hair care and curl-specific styling.
The salon isn’t built around trends or flashy branding. It’s built around understanding. Many people with curly hair have spent years struggling to find stylists who truly know how to handle their texture. Toriah positioned herself as someone who could bridge that gap. She focused on education, teaching clients how to care for their hair between appointments rather than just styling it and sending them out the door.
Clients began to notice the difference. Word spread through referrals, social media posts, and before-and-after transformations that spoke for themselves. Her Instagram accounts became a portfolio of real work, not staged perfection. That authenticity helped her build a loyal client base in Boston’s competitive beauty scene.
Running a business comes with its own set of challenges. Managing appointments, handling finances, maintaining customer relationships, and keeping up with industry trends require constant attention. Yet she managed to grow her salon while raising a child, a balance that many entrepreneurs struggle to maintain even without family responsibilities.
Financial Growth and Net Worth
Success in the beauty industry doesn’t always come with immediate financial rewards. It builds slowly, through consistent work and client retention. Over time, Toriah’s efforts translated into financial stability. Estimates place her net worth between $1 million and $2 million as of 2026.
That figure reflects more than salon income. It includes brand growth, potential partnerships, and the long-term value of a business that continues to expand. She didn’t inherit wealth or rely on shortcuts. Her income is tied directly to her skill, reputation, and the trust she’s built with clients.
What’s surprising is how she’s managed to grow financially while keeping a relatively low public profile. Many in her position might have leaned into influencer culture, turning personal life into content. She has taken a different route, focusing on her craft rather than chasing visibility.
Personal Life and Co-Parenting
Toriah has kept her personal life private in a way that feels intentional. There are no public relationships dominating headlines, no ongoing narratives about dating or celebrity connections. Instead, she has centered her life around her son and her work.
Her relationship with Jayson Tatum today is defined by co-parenting. They share responsibility for Deuce, ensuring he has a stable upbringing despite the demands of an NBA schedule. Fans often see Tatum with his son, but Toriah’s role behind the scenes remains equally important.
Anyone who has spoken about her describes a strong sense of independence. She isn’t defined by her past relationship, even though it brought her initial attention. She has built a life that reflects her own priorities, and that choice has shaped how people view her today.
Lesser-Known Details About Her Life
There are parts of Toriah’s story that don’t always make it into quick summaries. For one, she developed her interest in hair care at a young age, experimenting with styles on friends and family long before she pursued it professionally. That early curiosity turned into a career once she realized how much demand existed for specialized curl care.
Another detail worth knowing is how disciplined her daily routine is. Running a salon while raising a child requires careful time management. Friends say she plans her days around both client schedules and her son’s needs, rarely leaving things to chance.
There’s also her connection to Boston itself. Moving from St. Louis to a new city could have been overwhelming, especially with a young child. Instead, she adapted quickly, building a network and establishing her business in a place where she had no long-standing roots.
Finally, she has shown a strong commitment to privacy. In an era where personal life often becomes public content, she has drawn clear boundaries. That decision has helped her maintain a sense of normalcy, both for herself and for her son.
What She’s Doing Now
As of 2026, Toriah continues to run The Curl Bar Boston, expanding her client base and refining her services. She remains active on social media, though her content stays focused on hair care rather than personal exposure. That balance has allowed her to grow professionally without sacrificing privacy.
Her son, Deuce, has become a familiar face to NBA fans, often appearing alongside his father. Behind those moments is a steady routine shaped by both parents. Toriah’s role in his upbringing remains central, even if it isn’t always visible to the public.
Looking ahead, there are signs that her business may continue to grow. Whether through additional locations, training programs, or product lines, she has built a foundation that can support expansion. The truth is, she’s still early in her journey, and the next chapter hasn’t been fully written yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Toriah Lachell?
Toriah Lachell is an American hairstylist and entrepreneur from St. Louis, Missouri. She is best known as the founder of The Curl Bar Boston and as the mother of Jayson Tatum’s son. Over time, she has built her own identity through her work in the beauty industry rather than relying on public attention tied to her past relationship.
How did Toriah Lachell become famous?
Her initial public recognition came from her relationship with NBA player Jayson Tatum during their high school years. The birth of their son in 2017 brought further attention as Tatum entered the NBA. However, her reputation today is largely connected to her work as a hairstylist and business owner.
What does Toriah Lachell do for a living?
She works as a professional hairstylist specializing in curly and textured hair. She is also the owner of The Curl Bar Boston, a salon focused on natural hair care and education. Her business has grown steadily through client referrals and social media presence.
Is Toriah Lachell married?
As of 2026, she is not publicly known to be married. She has kept her personal relationships private, choosing to focus on her career and her role as a mother. Her public life remains centered on her work rather than her dating status.
How much is Toriah Lachell worth?
Her estimated net worth falls between $1 million and $2 million. This figure comes from her salon business, professional services, and growing brand presence. Estimates vary, but her financial progress reflects consistent effort over several years.
Conclusion
There’s a temptation to define people by the moment they first entered public view. For Toriah Lachell, that moment came early and under circumstances she didn’t control. But her story didn’t stop there, and it didn’t follow a predictable script either.
What stands out is how she responded. She chose work over attention, skill over shortcuts, and privacy over constant visibility. Those choices don’t always make headlines, but they build something more durable. They create a life that isn’t dependent on anyone else’s success.
Her journey also speaks to a broader truth about identity. You can be known for one chapter of your life and still write the next one on your own terms. That’s what she has done, quietly and consistently.
As her business grows and her son continues to thrive, the next phase of her story is still unfolding. And if her past is any indication, it will be shaped not by noise, but by steady, deliberate progress that speaks for itself.
