Eva Marcille’s Kids: All About Marley Rae, Michael Jr. and Maverick

The former Real Housewives of Atlanta star has a daughter and two sons

Eva Marcille is the proud mom of three children.

Marcille welcomed daughter Marley Rae with her ex, Kevin McCall, a year before their split in 2015. The former America’s Next Top Model star shares sons Michael Jr. and Maverick with ex-husband, lawyer Michael Sterling, whom she married in 2018 before filing for divorce in 2023.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta alumna is focused on being a present parent in various ways. Marcille made the decision to leave the Bravo reality television show after two seasons in 2020. Speaking on The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Marcille thought her “time [was] up” with the show and she wanted to fully dedicate herself to her family.

“I have a 6-year-old daughter and two young boys still in diapers,” she explained. “They are 24 hours a day and there is a lot of work to be done. I decided to spend my time and energy focusing on my kids and my community. And not so much reality show business."

She has also cited them as her biggest inspiration and motivation in her life and career. During a 2022 appearance on The Carlos Watson Show, Marcille said her “largest purpose and biggest purpose” came from her kids.

“They have the ability to affect change in this world — good, bad and indifferent — and it’s all about what I do,” she said. “Making money isn’t the goal; being famous isn’t the goal. Being great is the goal — in everything I do."

The Undressing Room podcast co-host continued, "From the food I make to the time I spend with my kids, the lessons that I teach them, it’s about making them better. And there’s something in that that fulfills me.”

Here’s everything to know about Eva Marcille’s three children.

Marley Rae Sterling, 9

Marcille welcomed her first child, daughter Marley Rae Sterling, with her ex McCall, on Jan. 31, 2014.

The former reality TV star told PEOPLE in 2017 that Bob Marley was the inspiration behind her daughter’s name, explaining, “It’s a way to keep his name and his spirit alive and bring it into our family.”

During a 2023 appearance on the Keep it Positive, Sweetie podcast, Marcille reflected on how she felt after she became pregnant with her daughter, explaining that, at the time, she wanted a son.

“When I got pregnant, I wanted a boy because I'm so rough ... and God gave me Marley,” she said. “God knew exactly what he was doing. He knew what he was doing with me. He knew what Marley would do for me, and He knew how Marley would change the world.”

Marcille described Marley as a “kind little girl,” adding, “That's all I want for her. I want for my children to be kind."

After Marcille married Sterling and the couple welcomed sons Michael Jr. and Maverick, she revealed in a season 12 episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta that she wanted her daughter to share the same last name as her sons.

Marcille explained that Marley didn’t know that Sterling wasn’t her biological father, as he had held a paternal role in her life since she was 15 months old. With Marcille having full custody of Marley, Sterling filed for a legal name change.

For activities, Marley plays basketball on the boys’ team. Marcille called her daughter her “MVP” and “sunshine,” telling her followers on Instagram that her daughter was “dominating” on the court. She shared more action shots of her on the court to kick off the season, writing that she “couldn’t be more proud.”

At a young age, Marley has shown her penchant for fashion, using it for "personal and self-expression.”

Marcille told BravoTV.com in 2022, "I let her do her thing and enjoy fashion in the way in which I think it was meant to be enjoyed. Which is, whatever works for you, however you feel. And it should make you feel good at the end of the day.”

As for whether Marcille will let her daughter follow in her modeling footsteps, she shared with Kindred by Parents that she would be wary about it but Marley has other interests she supports.

“I put her in an acting performing arts camp this year, and she really arrived in the performing arts school,” The Young and the Restless star explained. “She loves being on screen, she loves embodying a character. And so if she decided that's what she wants to do, I would let her do it.”

Michael Todd Sterling Jr., 5

Marcille and Sterling welcomed their first child together, Michael Todd Sterling Jr., on April 13, 2018.

The All the Queen's Men actress revealed exclusively to PEOPLE in 2017 that she was expecting her second child and first with her then-boyfriend, Sterling. After she found out she was having her first son, Marcille said she was “beyond elated to be having a boy.”

Though Marcille nearly gave her eldest son her grandfather's moniker, Major, he was ultimately named after his father and given the nickname Mikey by his sister.

“We have a junior, which is kind of terrifying to me because Michael is the most ambitious person I’ve ever met,” she said. “So for our son to now have to live up to his dad, it lets me know that there is a great promise on his life, but it’s also terrifying because he has so much to live up to.”

Marcille affectionately refers to Michael as her “twin” on Instagram, which includes his sense of style. In 2021, she told PEOPLE he was drawn to hats like she was.

“Just last week the nanny took them to the zoo and he's like, 'I need my hat. I need my hat.' He's trying to wear it to school," she said. "I'm like, 'Sweetheart. ... You can't wear a fedora to preschool.’ ”

Michael also has similar interests to his older sister, including the sports they play. He’s on a basketball team, with his mom posting plenty of photos and videos of her son "balling" out on the court.

Maverick Leonard, 4

Marcille and Sterling welcomed their second child, son Maverick Leonard Sterling, on Sept. 27, 2019.

The couple exclusively announced the pregnancy news to PEOPLE in May of that same year, joking in the statement, “Looks like little Michael Jr. is going from the baby to the middle child, and Marley will be the boss of them all!”

Marcille first revealed the sex of her youngest child to Extra at the 2019 BET Awards, and just weeks before Maverick was born, she shared his name on Instagram the morning of her baby shower.

Maverick is also athletic, but unlike his siblings, he prefers soccer to basketball.

In addition to his love of sports, his mom shared a hilarious story on social media about his passion for candy — specifically, Red Vines. She told the tale accompanied by a photo of her son asleep in bed surrounded by several boxes of licorice.

“I heard a noise last night while I was in the basement. To my surprise this was the noise I heard,” she wrote on Instagram. “Maverick sneaking into the movie theater raiding the concession stand and taking all of the red vines.”

Maverick has also enjoyed several family vacations with his parents and siblings, including multiple trips to Florida. In the summer of 2022, the group enjoyed the fireworks at Disney, and the following year, they went to Universal Studios and even met up with Princess Peach.

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