Kendra Shaw is a fashion entrepreneur and the wife of NBA power forward Julius Randle. A Kentucky native raised by a single mother, Kendra built her own career and fashion brand, Kalore, well before and throughout her marriage to Julius.
The two have been together since 2013, married since 2017, and now have three children, while Kendra has continued growing her business through the family’s multiple relocations tied to Julius’s NBA career.
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Kendra Shaw Biography
She was born on July 6, 1996, in Lexington, Kentucky. Her zodiac sign is Cancer. Kendra Shaw grew up in Whitley County in southern Kentucky, attending Boston Elementary School before her family relocated to Lexington during her fifth grade year after her mother received a job promotion.
Kendra was raised primarily by her single mother alongside a younger brother and sister. She has spoken warmly about how her small town upbringing shaped her values, crediting the community with teaching her the kindness that has stayed with her throughout her life.
She attended the University of Kentucky from 2014 to 2018, earning a degree in fashion merchandising and design.
She has also cited her grandparents, Joanne and Jay Jones, as key early influences who instilled in her an entrepreneurial spirit and encouraged her to pursue her ambitions.
Her grandfather passed away in January 2025, a loss Kendra shared publicly with her followers.
Husband
Kendra Shaw and Julius Randle met in 2013 at the University of Kentucky, where Kendra was a student and Julius was a standout on the men’s basketball team.
They first crossed paths at Kendra’s 20th birthday party, when a mutual friend brought Julius along.
Kendra has recalled being struck by his manners, which she said were unusual for the average college guy at the time, because he wished her a happy birthday and thanked her for inviting him to the party.
The two did not talk much that first night, but they kept catching each other’s eye, and Julius asked her to dinner shortly afterward. Kendra has said she had never dated a basketball player before, but his genuine and sincere personality quickly made her feel comfortable.
The following year, Julius was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, and Kendra moved to California with him as their relationship became more serious.
In June 2016, Julius surprised Kendra with a trip to Santorini, Greece, telling her only to pack for warm weather. During dinner on a balcony overlooking the water, with a violinist playing, Julius proposed at sunset.
Kendra later wrote on Instagram that it was the best night of her life.
Wedding
Julius Randle and Kendra Shaw married on August 3, 2017, at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, California, in an open air ceremony overlooking the ocean.
Their then seven month old son, Kyden, was pulled down the aisle in a flower decorated wagon by a flower girl, a moment both parents have described as giving them a sense of completion as a family.
The reception featured a Southern inspired menu reflecting the couple’s roots, including chicken and waffles, along with speeches from Julius’s Lakers teammates.
In a detail that speaks to the foundation of their relationship, former Lakers teammate Nick Young later revealed that he and Jordan Clarkson attempted to take julius randle to a strip club before the wedding. Julius declined the invitation, a small but telling reflection of his commitment to Kendra despite the typical locker room pressure.
The couple now have three children together. Their first son, Kyden, was born in December 2016, before their wedding.
Their second son, Jayce Carter, was born in October 2021. Their daughter, Romi Joelle, was born in April 2025, completing their family. Julius’s NBA career has taken the family through several cities over the years, including Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, and Minnesota.
Kendra has spoken candidly about the challenges of these transitions, including a particularly difficult period adjusting to life in a New York City condominium with two young children.
Most recently, the family relocated to Minnesota following Julius’s trade to the Timberwolves, a move Kendra has described as initially shocking, even though the family was ready to leave New York behind.
Career
Kendra Shaw is the founder and CEO of Kalore, a women’s clothing brand she launched in 2019 and operates from New York City with an all female team.
The brand focuses on designs intended to help women feel confident and empowered, and Kendra has spoken candidly about the difficulty of launching the business because it meant returning to work and spending time away from her children at a point when she did not need to work for financial reasons.
Kalore’s website describes Kendra as a small town girl from Kentucky who was raised by a single mother and is now living a life she once only dreamed of.
Beyond running Kalore, she has built a substantial social media following, sharing her fashion work, family life, and the realities of balancing a business with raising three children as the wife of an NBA player.