Michael Strahan's Four Children: Exploring Tanita, Michael Jr., Isabella, and Sophia
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- UPDATED MAY 18, 2024
by Tasha Mayberry
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Fans recognize Michael Strahan as a legendary NFL player and a charismatic television personality, but above all, he cherishes his role as a devoted father to his four children: Tanita, Michael Jr., Isabella, and Sophia. Strahan had his two older children, Tanita and Michael Jr., with his first wife, Wanda Hutchins, and later welcomed twins Isabella and Sophia with his second wife, Jean Muggli. While Strahan occasionally shares snapshots of his family life on social media, he maintains a relatively private family atmosphere.
Nonetheless, he has openly expressed his profound love for being a father. In 2016, Strahan shared with how he navigates his blended family dynamics. “My kids give me strength,” he stated. “I love being with the kids. To me, it’s all about family, now more than anything.” Despite Tanita and Michael Jr. growing up in a different household than Sophia and Isabella, Strahan noted that all four siblings have grown “very close” over the years. “You worry about how the kids will mix and blend, but brothers and sisters are brothers and sisters regardless of different mothers,” he mentioned. Strahan also conveyed to how his children remind him to enjoy life. “Sometimes life gets serious for us adults, but looking at my kids, it lets me know that you’re allowed to have fun—you’re allowed to have mindless fun. And you’re allowed to be yourself and act like no one is watching. I think that’s the most valuable lesson I’ve learned from them.
Tanita Strahan, 32
Tanita Strahan, the eldest, was born to Strahan and his first wife, Wanda Hutchins, on November 10, 1991, in Germany. After her parents divorced, she and her younger brother Michael Jr. moved to Germany with their mother. Tanita shared with in 2016 how growing up in Germany kept her grounded. “I’ve never been the type of person to be starstruck,” she explained. “Growing up in Germany, no one cared about stuff like that.” Tanita eventually moved back to the U.S. and attended high school in Houston.
She pursued a degree in design and visual communication from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, later moving back to Texas to study art. On her website, Tanita describes herself as an illustrator and visual artist, working with mediums like acrylic, watercolor, ink, graphic design, and photography. In a 2013 interview with New York Family, Strahan praised his daughter’s strong but quiet personality. “She’s kind of like me in that sense. She’s not the type to make everything about her when she walks into a room. She definitely has an opinion, she’s very smart, and she knows what she wants, which I love about her.” Tanita’s Instagram predominantly features her artwork, including paintings and process videos, as well as her cats and dogs.
Michael Strahan Jr., 29
Michael Anthony Strahan Jr., Strahan’s only son, was born on September 12, 1994. Like his sister Tanita, he was raised in Germany with his mother until he was 11, when he moved back to Houston. His deep connection to Germany is so significant that he has the country’s eagle tattooed on his arm. In 2016, he described his German language skills to”fluent but rusty.” Strahan discussed the challenges of parenting across continents with his ex-wife. “I think a lot of times when you split, assume that the mother is supposed to take responsibility for the kids,” he said. “But from day one, it was very important for me to be active, to be part of their life. I was constantly on planes and phones. And it’s very hard—of course, it’s hard with them being in Germany. But one thing I learned is, you make time for what you want to make time for.
After high school, Michael Jr. attended the University of Texas at San Antonio and later moved to New York. Strahan shared with New York Family in 2013 how Michael Jr. is particularly meticulous and humorous. “He’s funny. He just got his car about two weeks ago, and he washes it and takes care of it every day. He’s a very particular young man. He’s very smart too. He likes to say to me, ‘Dad, you’re smart, but you cannot challenge me in the fields of math and science.'” Michael Jr. maintains a private lifestyle; his Instagram page features only a few photos. In August 2018, he appeared on Good Morning America with his father, humorously referring to it as his “15 minutes of fame” on Instagram.
Isabella Strahan, 19
Isabella Strahan and her twin sister, Sophia, were born on October 28, 2004, to Strahan and his second wife, Jean Muggli. The twins have experienced a dynamic upbringing, splitting their time between North Carolina and North Dakota. Strahan recounted in 2016 some of their unique experiences: “The twins live a crazy life. One time they flew out to D.C. and interviewed the First Lady for GMA. Then the next day their mom was sending me a video of them riding horses and splashing around in a muddy corn field.” Describing Isabella’s personality, Strahan told New York Family that she is the calmer, more playful twin.
I’d say she’s more playful, very chill, never gets very upset or fired up. She’s very ‘it is what it is,'” he noted. Isabella attended high school in N.Y.C., where she engaged in volleyball and horse riding. She also excelled academically, earning recognition from the Brooklyn Public Library as a winner of a New York City History Day Award for a website she created about the last American slave ship. While still a high school student, Isabella launched her modeling career, making her runway debut at the Sherri Hill fashion show in April 2022, with Strahan supporting her from the sidelines and sharing photos of the event on Instagram.
Sophia Strahan, 19
Sophia, like her twin sister, was born to Strahan and Muggli on October 28, 2004. Strahan has emphasized the importance of making time for his daughters throughout their upbringing. “When you’re a single father with 4-month-old kids, and you gotta be with them all the time, it taught me that there’s nothing to be afraid of,” he told in 2016. “I can do it. I look back on that as one of the most fulfilling times of my life.
And I look at my kids now and it makes me happy because I know it paid off in my relationship with them.” Speaking to New York Family in 2013, Strahan described Sophia as inquisitive and curious. “She’s always asking questions, very curious,” he said. Describing both twins, he added: “They’re both very smart; they love to read all these things I never thought of reading when I was 7 or 8 years old. And they do it because they’re generally interested in it, which is amazing to me.” Sophia has also pursued equestrian sports, partially growing up on her mother’s property in Wilmington, North Carolina, as per The Carolinas Equestrian. Both twins have competed in horse shows along the East Coast, earning several blue ribbons.
Sophia also played volleyball during her high school years in N.Y.C. In 2022, she announced her higher education plans on Instagram, revealing her enrollment at Duke University as part of the class of 2027. In December 2022, Strahan opened up about his daughters growing up and starting the next chapter of their lives. “I cannot wait for them to go to [college], but it’s actually a bittersweet thing,” he told Yahoo. “The bitter part is, of course, I’m gonna miss my kids when they’re gone. But the sweet part is that they get a chance to grow and become adults.
Who Is Michael Strahan's Girlfriend? Meet Kayla Quick
Despite his high-profile career, Michael Strahan keeps his personal life under wraps. The former New York Giants defensive end has been in a relationship with Kayla Quick since 2015 but has remained relatively quiet about their partnership. Strahan has typically avoided discussing his romantic life in interviews, and Quick has made only a few public appearances alongside him. Shortly after they started dating, Strahan confided to in 2015 that he’s “happy” and concentrating on his career. The details of how Strahan and Quick initially met have not been publicly disclosed, maintaining their low-profile stance since May 2015.
