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Iyanna Hayes' Backstory

Iyanna Hayes grew up learning that nothing in life came easy on the South Side of Chicago. Before she was even old enough to understand the world around her, chaos already surrounded her family. Their father was never really around, consumed by addiction and the streets, never truly present long enough to be called a real father. Their mother tried in the beginning—she loved her kids deeply—but fentanyl slowly took hold of her until one overdose changed everything forever.

After their mother’s death, Iyanna became more than just an older sister to the twins, Malik and Malayah. She looked out for them. Even though they were all close in age, the three siblings shared an unbreakable bond built through pain, struggle, and survival. They leaned on each other through every eviction notice, every empty refrigerator, every night filled with police sirens outside their windows. The streets of Chicago were cold and unforgiving, but the Hayes siblings learned quickly how to fend for themselves and keep each other safe.

Iyanna carried the weight of responsibility heavily, but she never let her siblings see her break. She tried to make sure Malik stayed focused and out of trouble as much as possible, even though he loved the streets regardless. While also encouraging Malayah to stay soft-hearted despite the environment they grew up in. No matter how rough life became, the three of them moved as one.

Eventually, the state stepped in after realizing the kids had been surviving on their own far too long. That’s when they were sent to live with Auntie Tasha and Uncle B, alongside a house full of cousins who treated each other more like siblings than relatives. The household was loud, chaotic, and sometimes dysfunctional, but it was filled with love. Auntie Tasha kept structure in the home while Uncle B carried old-school street wisdom that everybody respected. Then there was Auntie Tatianna and Uncle Lou, always around for family cookouts, arguments, celebrations, or whenever somebody needed help. No matter what happened, the family stuck together.

Living under one roof with so many personalities made Iyanna tougher but also gave her a sense of belonging she had never truly felt before. Her cousins became her day ones—people she could laugh with, fight with, cry with, and trust no matter what.

Iyanna herself was a complicated soul. She loved sitting alone with a good book just as much as she loved staying out late with loud music, flashing lights, and dangerous company. Horror movies were her comfort; she could sit through the creepiest films without flinching. But she also loved the adrenaline of the streets—the chaos, the drama, the feeling that anything could happen at any moment. Trouble always seemed to find her, whether she wanted it to or not.

Still, beneath the partying and reckless energy was a young woman determined to make something of herself. During the day, Iyanna worked as a medical assistant at the state hospital, seeing firsthand how addiction, violence, and poverty destroyed families just like hers. The job matured her quickly and reminded her why she needed to keep pushing forward. College was right around the corner, and despite everything she had been through, she planned to attend as a freshman and build a future bigger than the streets she came from.

Even with all the chaos surrounding the Hayes family, one thing remained true: they loved hard. Arguments happened, fights broke out, and drama followed them everywhere, but when outsiders came around, the family stood united. Through grief, survival, loyalty, and struggle, the Hayes family became known for one thing above all else.. Always protecting their own.