Michael Jordan was headed to Atlanta on December 7, 1992, as the Chicago Bulls chased their third championship title. Just hours before boarding his flight, his former wife Juanita gave birth to their third child, and first daughter, a 9-pound-8-ounce Jasmine Mickael Jordan. Fast forward to 2023, Jasmine performs her duties as a basketball field rep for women’s sports marketing at Jordan Brand. Time and tides may have changed, but one can’t say the same for a mother’s love. Jasmine turned 31 today, and Mama Vanoy makes a nostalgic return to celebrate her baby girl’s birthday.
The 1993 June edition of Ebony magazine featured ‘Celebrity Baby Boom’. Juanita and Jasmine were one of the four mother-and-child duos shown on the cover of the magazine. Juanita shared the image of the two on her Instagram. Vanoy wrote, “Wishing a very happy birthday to the youngest member of The Three Tops, my daughter, Jasmine, @mickijae 🎉“
Jasmine is the youngest of the three born to Michael Jordan and Juanita after having two sons, Marcus and Jeffrey. Talking to the Chicago Times shortly after her birth, MJ admitted that he had hoped for a girl anyway. He had then said, “I’m very proud. I have three beautiful kids. Those are my trophies. The most important thing to me now is family.”
In a 2020 interview with Andscape, just a month after the 10-part docuseries, The Last Dance, was aired on Netflix, Jasmine was asked what were her birthdays like during her childhood. Two scenarios emerged. If MJ was around on her birthdays and it was a game day still, they most likely “went to the game, with my family, my cousins, my aunts. We celebrated in that way.” Other times, presents and a duly call would await her. She recalled, “He’d be like, ‘Did you get my gift, boo?’”
Jasmine has had the love and support of both her parents. But unlike her two brothers who are following the same suit as their father, Jasmine adapted her role in MJ’s legacy in a different role.
Jasmine Jordan understands the business but believes MJ’s Air Jordan needs a “spin”
Although she is the youngest of the three, Jasmine also shares a similar interest in basketball with her father. Upholding her father’s legacy and working as a field representative for the Jordan Brand, she has used her talents to work with athletes, particularly the WNBA, including Chicago Sky point guard Dana Evans.
While studying sports management at Syracuse University, Jasmine Jordan worked with the Charlotte Hornets and earned herself some NBA experience. “We’re still authentic, but we’ve got to evolve. Our buyers are getting younger and younger. They don’t see Michael Jordan play, they didn’t see him play. So now what piece of that legacy is going to get told, and that’s the spin I like because I can connect and relate to that.”
While the Jordan 1s and 11s has remained her favorites, Jasmine is trying to find her own lane in the business. From an attitude that professes “If you won’t let me rock my sneakers, then I don’t need to be there,” she is pretty much there already!
