Metta World Peace's wife, Maya Sandiford Artest, has sparked public interest due to her intriguing personal life, professional accomplishments, and family background.
Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, is a retired professional basketball player who gained fame for his exceptional skills and contributions to the National Basketball Association (NBA).
While he enjoyed a successful career in the world of sports, it seems evident that his most cherished accomplishment is his marriage to his remarkable wife, Maya.
Metta World Peace and Maya Sandiford Artest attend the Mercedes-Benz Academy Awards Viewing Party at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on February 9, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Maya Is a Model with a Diverse Background
Maya is a familiar face in the world of fashion, working as a model under Select Model Management. She grew up between Tokyo, Japan, and the small island of Courtenay in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Maya's background is a fascinating blend of Asian and Caribbean roots—her mother, Michelle Sandiford, comes from Trinidadian heritage, while her father, Hirata Fuminori, is Japanese.
While her mother is quite open about her life, her father prefers a more private existence. Maya appears to use her mother's surname than her father's last name, but despite that, her love for her parents has never changed.
In one recent Instagram post dedicated to Hirata, Maya affectionately described him as "the GOAT," a slang that means the greatest of all time. She also affirmed her love for her mom, whom she noted during Mother's Day in 2021 as "the legend." She also added:
"You've always put Shay and I first and that doesn't go unnoticed. You lead by example, and I admire your strength, perseverance, and ability to truly enjoy life! I only hope I can be half the mother you are some day. 'I owe all that I am or ever hope to be to you!'"
Shay Sandiford is Maya's brother, who is a model under One, a modeling agency in New York. In addition to his modeling career, Shay is a skateboarder who competes actively in skating events worldwide.
In 2019, Metta began referring to her as his "wifey" twice— first at a Coachella event in April that year and in an intimate moment in July.
Maya Has Ventured into Acting
Acting is another skill Maya is proud of besides modeling. A neophyte in the acting world, she has appeared in a few television shows, such as "Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas," with a talented cast including Tyler Hynes.
Maya also had an uncredited appearance in the action film Paradise City, together with a star-studded cast that includes Bruce Willis, Blake Jenner, and John Travolta.
Metta World Peace and Maya Sandiford Artest attend the Apple TV+ original series "See" season 3 Los Angeles premiere at DGA Theater Complex on August 23, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Inside Maya's Relationship with Her Husband
The exact date of Maya and Metta's marriage remains uncertain, but Metta dropped subtle hints about their relationship in 2018 through an X post in relation to the reality CBS television show "Big Brother."
In a 2020 interview on "Danny Green x Inside the Green Room," Metta disclosed that he is married and has adopted Maya's last name. Consequently, they now share two surnames, noting that he is now known as Metta Sandiford Artest.
In 2021, it appears that Maya and her husband went through a tough time in their marriage. They were reportedly sued over a car accident in Westwood involving a man named Alessandro Dakdouk. Fortunately, by 2022, Dakdouk had dropped the case.
Metta World Peace and Maya Sandiford Artest arrive on the red carpet at the 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023, in Hollywood. | Source: Getty Images
A year after the case's dismissal, it seems that Maya and her husband's lives have returned to normal. They have been attending many events, such as the 2023 ESPYS Awards in Hollywood and the season three premiere of the "See" series in Los Angeles.
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