Nina Drama is an American content creator, UFC media personality, and model whose real name is Nina Marie Daniele — and the man fans refer to as her husband is Jhanelle Castillo, her long-term partner of over 15 years. The two are not legally married, but their relationship is one of the most enduring in the social media and combat sports entertainment space. For anyone landing here after a quick search, that is the short answer. The longer one is worth reading.
Who Is Nina Drama?
Nina Marie Daniele was born on December 27, 1988, in New York City, making her 38 years old as of 2026. She is an American national who built her public profile through a combination of modeling work and, later, a distinctive style of interviewing UFC fighters that made her a household name in combat sports media circles.
Her Instagram account, @ninamariedaniele, has grown to over 4 million followers, with a similarly active presence on TikTok. Nina Drama’s content sits at an unusual crossroads — part sports media, part personality-driven entertainment — and that blend has made her one of the more recognizable non-athlete figures associated with the UFC.
Before the fame, Nina was working in the New York creative and modeling scene. That is also where she met the man who would become her long-term partner.
Is Nina Drama Married?
No — Nina Drama has never been married. The widespread use of the word “husband” in searches and social media comments is a reflection of how long and committed her relationship with Jhanelle Castillo appears to be, not a legal status.
In practice, Nina has addressed the marriage question with characteristic humor. She has jokingly said in interviews that Jhanelle would need to pay off his college loans before any wedding talk becomes serious. That kind of answer is very on-brand for her, and it signals something real: this is a couple unbothered by external timelines or public pressure.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Legally Married? | No |
| Partner’s Name | Jhanelle Castillo |
| Relationship Start | June 11, 2010 |
| Years Together (as of 2026) | 16 years |
| Children | None confirmed |
| Current Location | Los Angeles, California |
| @ninamariedaniele | |
| TikTok | @ninadrama |
| YouTube | @NinaDrama |
Who Is Jhanelle Castillo?
Jhanelle Castillo is Nina Drama’s long-term partner and a professional in his own right — working as a model, creative director, and photographer within the fashion and advertising industries. He was born on June 7, 1985, in San Diego, California, which makes him 41 years old as of 2026. His zodiac sign is Gemini, for those who follow such things.
Castillo’s entry into professional modeling came through an unlikely moment — he was recognized through a Cosmopolitan Magazine “50 Hottest Bachelors” contest, which opened doors to brand work with companies like Skechers, Hudson Jeans, and Cole Haan. Those are not minor names in the fashion world, and his career has been built steadily since.
Beyond modeling, Jhanelle works as a creative director, and his Instagram account @jhanellecastillo offers a window into both his professional output and his personal life with Nina. His following sits at around 35,700 — considerably smaller than Nina’s, which reflects his deliberate choice to maintain a lower public profile despite being connected to someone with millions of followers.
One thing worth noting: Jhanelle has publicly clarified that he is not Nina’s cameraman. That rumor circulated online for some time, and he addressed it directly. He is a creative professional in his own lane, not an extension of Nina’s brand.
How Did They Meet?
Nina Drama and Jhanelle Castillo began dating on June 11, 2010, in New York City, where both were involved in the modeling and creative industries at the time. Their relationship predates Nina’s rise to social media prominence by several years — which matters, because it means Jhanelle knew Nina long before the UFC interviews, the viral moments, and the millions of followers.
That foundation is worth acknowledging. Relationships that form before someone’s public profile explodes tend to carry different weight than those built in the middle of fame. In this case, there is over a decade of shared history that exists entirely outside the content Nina posts online.
In 2018, the couple relocated from New York City to Los Angeles, California, a move that aligned with Nina’s pivot toward content creation and sports media, and with Jhanelle’s continued work in fashion and creative direction on the West Coast.
What About the Sean Strickland Rumors?
No discussion of Nina Drama’s personal life is complete without addressing the persistent speculation about her and UFC middleweight fighter Sean Strickland. The two have a well-documented, highly visible working relationship — Nina interviews Strickland regularly, they joke around openly, and the physical proximity and playful dynamic has fueled ongoing online gossip.
There is no verified evidence of any romantic involvement between Nina Drama and Sean Strickland. Strickland himself has addressed the rumors directly and publicly, describing Nina as being like a little sister to him and stating that the idea of a romantic connection feels uncomfortable to him. Nina, for her part, has remained consistent in public — her relationship with Jhanelle Castillo is her relationship, and the Strickland speculation appears to be a product of how her content is consumed rather than anything grounded in fact.
Do They Have Children?
Nina Drama and Jhanelle Castillo do not have any children. Neither has spoken publicly about family planning, and that remains a private matter. There is no verified information suggesting children are part of their current or near-future picture.
What Is Nina Drama’s Net Worth?
Nina Drama’s net worth has not been confirmed through any verified public financial disclosure. Figures circulating online vary widely and should be treated with caution, as they are typically estimates rather than documented facts. What is known is that Nina earns income through content creation, brand partnerships, modeling, and her media work connected to the UFC — all of which suggest a comfortable income, though no specific figure can be responsibly cited here.
Jhanelle Castillo’s net worth is similarly unverified in any public record.
Where Are They Now?
As of 2025, Nina Drama and Jhanelle Castillo are based in Los Angeles, California, where both continue their respective careers. Nina remains active across Instagram and TikTok, consistently producing content tied to UFC events and fighters. Jhanelle continues his work in modeling and creative direction, maintaining a quieter but visible presence on his own Instagram.
Their relationship, now in its sixteenth year, appears stable and ongoing. Unlike many high-profile couples who document every milestone publicly, Nina and Jhanelle have found a balance — sharing enough to satisfy curiosity without making their private life a content strategy.
Whether marriage is eventually on the table is something only the two of them know. What is clear is that Jhanelle Castillo has been the constant in Nina Drama’s personal life throughout her entire ascent in the public eye — and that, with or without a legal title, is the relationship people are actually looking for when they type “Nina Drama husband” into a search bar.