Who Is Sophia Strahan, GMA Host Michael Strahan’s Daughter?
Sophia Strahan is the 18-year-old daughter of Good Morning America host Michael Strahan
Being the child of a celebrity, in this case, one of the more famous football players to play the game, is never an easy task. There is constant scrutiny wherever they go, they are always in the spotlight, and their every move can be a make-it-or-break-it ordeal. It becomes twice as important when you are a twin. Sophia Strahan, daughter of ex-New York Giants defensive end and Good Morning America host Michael Strahan, and twin sister to Isabella has all these things to consider as she begins to navigate life with all eyes upon her.
SOPHIA STRAHAN IS 18 YEARS OLD
Sophia Strahan was born on October 28, 2004. The 18-year-old spent much of her very young life bouncing back and forth between New York, North Dakota, and North Carolina. Sophia and her sister Isabella spent a lot of time in North Carolina on a farm their mother purchased when they were babies. It was here that Sophia fell in love with horses (she has three) and learned to ride.
SOPHIA STRAHAN IS FIVE-FEET, FIVE INCHES (5’5″) TALL
By looking at Sophia Strahan, you’d immediately think she was much taller than her 5’5” frame. Her father Michael, being the former football player he is, stands at a healthy 6’5” so it wouldn’t be out of the question for Sophia and her twin Isabella to eventually get close to the 6′ mark. Neither twin has an issue showing off those long gams, as they are trying to make their mark on social media.
SOPHIA STRAHAN HAS A SISTER, ISABELLA, AND OTHER SIBLINGS
Before there was Sophia and Isabella Strahan, there was Tanita and Michael Jr. Tanita and Michael Jr. were born to Michael Strahan and his first wife, Wanda Hutchins. There is a 12-year age gap between the twins and Tanita (29) and a nine-year age gap between the twins and Michael Jr. (26).
Although the age gap and the fact that they have different mothers, Michael made sure his children spent as much time together as possible. He says they are very close and for that he is proud.
“You worry how the kids will mix and blend, but brothers and sisters are brothers and sisters regardless of different mothers,” Strahan told PEOPLE in a 2016 interview. When Strahan split with his first wife, they were living in Germany and that is where she, Tanita, and Michael Jr. remained.
“I think a lot of times when you split, people assume that the mother is supposed to take responsibility for the kids. But from day one, it was very important for me to be active, to be a part of their life,” explained Strahan. “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.”
It was pretty much the same for Sophia Strahan and Isabella. According to Michael in that 2016 interview, “The twins live a crazy life. One time they flew out to D.C. and interviewed the First Lady for GMA,” says Strahan. “Then the next day their mom was sending me a video of them riding horses and splashing around in a muddy cornfield.”
Michael made sure neither split from his exes would interfere with his relationship with his kids. “My kids give me strength,” said Strahan. “I love being with the kids. To me, it’s all about family, now more than anything.” This was especially important to his relationship with Sophia and Isabella.
“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 added. “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.”
SHE LOVES RIDING HORSES
Sophia Strahan has taken her love for horses to the next level. Having been raised around them, Sophia Strahan has tuned into a skilled equestrian. Throughout her young life, she has been part of numerous horse-riding competitions and has shown she knows her way around an event having won a few. In June 2019, Sophia Strahan participated in Adult Amateur Individual Championship, an event that was held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center. With her horse named Zeus, she took the silver medal and spoke about her ride via Celebcritics: “I tried this really tight turn, and that was kind of making me nervous, but it worked out, and then at the last jump, I pretended that there were 10 jumps left since I always mess up the last jump. But it actually turned out – it was good!”
Sophia Strahan doesn’t keep her hobbies centered only around horses. She also is an avid beach volleyball player and loves to play tennis as well. She has definitely picked up her father’s sports gene.
HER MOTHER IS JEAN MUGGLI
Sophia and Isabella Strahan’s mother is Jean Muggli. She and Michael Strahan met at a Manhattan spa when Michael was still playing in the NFL. The pair married in 1999 and five years later Sophia and Isabella graced their lives. Unfortunately, Michael and Jean’s relationship began to sour and in 2006 they divorced.
Things didn’t get any better between Michael and Jean and the divorce became acrimonious. In the end, Muggli was awarded $15 million in the settlement along with $18,000 a month in child support. For Jean, though, troubles would soon find her.
Jean was arrested last summer in Manhattan for allegedly harassing her ex-girlfriend. Before Jean was taken under arrest, the break-up between her and Marianne Ayer was not a pleasant one. Ayer had to get an order of protection against Muggli for accusations of grand larceny, disorderly conduct, harassment, and forcible touching. When Muggli appeared at Ayer’s home, she broke that order of protection. Ayer also claims that Muggli threatened her with a plastic gun and kicked her German Shepherd.
SOPHIA STRAHAN IS ON INSTAGRAM
Although only 18, Sophia Strahan is starting to build a social media presence. She is active on Instagram and loves to share vacation pictures with her sister and her father.
Despite the issues, her parents have had and despite the news that her mother has made, Sophia Strahan also posted a loving Happy Mother’s Day wish to Jean with a series of pictures of her mom and sister when they were very young.
