Erica Jasmin Mena Samuels, popularly Erica Mena, is a reality star and model renowned for her appearances on VH1's show Love & Hip Hop: New York.

Her career began as a model when she appeared in various hip-hop music videos for artists such as Chris Brown, Fabolous, Akon, and Fat Joe. Mena has also starred in Kourtney and Kim Take Miami and VH1's Scared Famous.

Mena has also written two autobiographies: Chronicles of a Confirmed Bachelorette and Underneath It All. Her books cover her childhood, love life, and experiences of single motherhood.

Filed for Divorce from Husband Safaree Samuels

The reality star took her wedding vows with rapper and television presenter Safaree Samuels on October 7, 2019. They had an intimate wedding at the Legacy Castle in New Jersey.

Their wedding was held after they got enaged on December 24, 2018, and more importantly, after announcing their first child together on October 1, 2019.

On February 2, 2020, Mena and her then-husband eventually welcomed their daughter Safire Majesty Samuels. Just over a year after that [on May 4, 2021], the 33-year-old model announced that she and Samuels were expecting their second child together.

But the announcement was soon followed up by another confirmation that Mena filed for divorce from the rapper in Georgia's Fayette County Superior Court on May 21.

According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Mena stated that her marriage to Samuel was "irretrievably broken" with "no hope of reconciliation."

She reportedly asked for joint legal custody and final decision-making authority, requesting physical custody of their first child on a temporary and permanent basis, "with the parties having parenting time as determined in the minor children's best interests."

As per TMZ's reports, Mena has also asked Samuels to pay her legal fees, child support, and for the sole use of their home in Georgia.

Shares a Son with Her Former Partner Raul Conde

Mena's first known boyfriend, rapper Raul Conde, ended up becoming her first baby’s father. She was 18 years old when she gave birth to their son King Conde on March 1, 2007.

But Conde turned out to be a bad influence as both a boyfriend and a baby father. Due to that, she broke up with him and decided to raise the baby all by herself.

Relating to her own experience of how a lousy father's presence affects a child, she was protective of her son and kept him away from her baby father.

In 2011, Mena and Conde were even involved in a fight, where Mena attacked the Terror Squad member outside of My Studio. But the pair reportedly made amends for the sake of their son in 2014 and been on good terms since then.

Her Dating History

Apart from Samuels and Conde, Mena has also been in relationships with a few other men. One of her relationships was with American rapper Shad Gregory Moss aka Bow Wow.

The couple first started dating when Mena was a guest host on 106 & Park in early 2014. For the next few months, they were seen together but did little to confirm that they were official entirely.

During the red carpet at the 2014 BET Hip-Hop Awards that fall, when an interviewer tried to confirm if she was dating the rapper, Mena revealed her engagement instead.

By March 2015, Bow Wow shared photos of Mena in a wedding dress on the internet. But in September 2015, she had a heartbreaking miscarriage. 

Following that, the two decided to split in late 2015.

Mena then found love in NBA star Kevin Durant’s adopted brother, Cliff Dixon. They started dating in early 2018. But four months later, they split on bad terms.

Sadly, Dixon passed away in March 2019 after being shot in Atlanta. He was celebrating his birthday when a gunman opened fire in front of the club.

After that, Mena briefly dated music executive Rich Dollaz, but their relationship didn't last long.

Openly Bi

The best-selling author came out of the closet as bi in 2015.

During an interview with Rolling Out magazine in January that year, Mena opened up about her orientation, explaining that she wasn’t a lesbian because she was attracted towards both genders.

"People have misconceptions about everyone I’ve dated. Last year, it’s like 'oh, all of sudden, she’s gay.' No, I’ve been [bi]," she stated. "In the past, I’ve been very open and affectionate towards females. It’s definitely no secret."

Speaking of dating females, Mena reportedly had dated her Love & Hip Hop: New York co-star Cyn Santana in 2014, as per Atlanta Black Star.

Her Origin Story

Born on November 8, 1987, Mena was raised in Bronx, New York, by her parents and an elder sister. Her parents are of Puerto Rican and Dominican ethnicity.

Her father was a drug dealer who gave her family a hard time. Her mother was imprisoned because her father forced her to peddle drugs. It was during her time in prison she gave birth to Erica.

She was also abused by her father until her mother was released from jail. By that time, Mena was already five years old.

Her elder sister ran the house in the absence of her mother and father. However, the model couldn’t save herself from the deep traumas, which profoundly impacted her behaviors.