Most of us know Simone Biles as the incredible gymnast who changed the world of sports. But many people do not know much about her older sister, Ashley Biles Thomas. Her life took a very different path, and her story is filled with hard moments, deep struggles, and quiet strength.
In this article, we will explore who Ashley is, how her childhood shaped her future, why she grew up away from Simone, and what happened in her life over the years. We will look at her early family problems, her time in foster care, the split that separated the Biles siblings, and the many challenges she faced as she grew older.
This is the real story behind Simone Biles’ sister, told in a clear, simple, and honest way.
Ashley Biles Thomas Quick Bio
| Full Name | Ashley Biles Thomas |
| Birth Year | 1990 |
| Age (2026) | 36 years old |
| Birthplace | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 2 in |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American, Belizean |
| Religion | Christian |
| Mother | Shanon Biles |
| Father | Not known |
| Siblings | Simone, Adria, Tevin, Ron Jr., Adam |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Children | 1 daughter |
| Known For | Simone Biles’ sister |
| Legal Issues | Drug case, DUI, assault, probation violation |
| Private account | |
| Net Worth | Unknown |
| Current Home | Ohio, USA |
Who Is Ashley Biles Thomas?
Ashley Biles Thomas is the older sister of Simone Biles. She was born in 1990, seven years before Simone. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and became known to the public only because of her connection to the famous gymnast.
Even though they come from the same family, Ashley and Simone lived very different lives. Simone became a world star. Ashley lived a quieter life that was often shaped by childhood trauma, legal trouble, and personal challenges. Many people started searching for her name after stories about her past began to appear in the news.
Ashley is not a celebrity. She is a woman with her own story, her own pain, and her own path. And that path is very different from the one the world sees when it looks at Simone.
Early Life and Childhood Struggles
Ashley’s early years were not easy. Her mother, Shanon Biles, struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. Because of this, the home was often unsafe, unstable, and full of stress. When Ashley was just a young girl, she already had to deal with problems that no child should face.
There were days when food was not always available. There were moments when the children were left alone. There was chaos, fear, and a lot of confusion. Imagine being only seven years old and trying to understand why your mom is not able to take care of you. That was Ashley’s world.
These early struggles planted the roots of the challenges she would face later in life. When a child grows up in a place without safety, love, or structure, it changes the way they see the world. It shapes their choices, their fears, and their future.
Foster Care and Family Separation
When Ashley was around seven, child services stepped in. Someone reported that the children were not safe. So the state removed Ashley and her siblings from their home and placed them into foster care.
At first, all the siblings stayed together. They lived under the same roof, shared the same fear, and held on to each other for comfort. But foster care can be unsettling. New faces, new rules, new places. For a child, it feels like the ground is always moving.
Later, things changed even more. The family was split. Different relatives stepped forward to adopt the children, and the siblings were separated. This moment changed everything for Ashley.
It is hard enough to lose your home. It is even harder to lose your siblings too.
Why the Biles Siblings Were Split Into Two Homes
In 2003, a major decision shaped the future of all four siblings. Simone and her younger sister, Adria, were adopted by their grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles. They moved to Texas and started a new life full of structure, care, and support.
But Ashley and her brother Tevin did not go with them. Instead, they stayed in Ohio and were adopted by their aunt, Harriet. Reports say that Ashley and Tevin actually chose to stay in Ohio because it felt more familiar to them.
This split created two very different worlds under the same family name. Simone and Adria grew up in a home filled with stability, routines, and love. Ashley and Tevin grew up in a home with far fewer resources and far more challenges.
This one choice — this one moment — changed the direction of Ashley’s entire life.
Growing Up Away From Simone Biles
Growing up far from Simone meant growing up in a different universe. While Simone trained in a bright gym full of coaches, mats, and support, Ashley lived a quiet life in Ohio where she had to navigate her own struggles.
They were sisters by blood, but they did not share the same daily life. They did not go to the same school. They did not have the same routine. They did not face the same opportunities.
Imagine knowing your sister is rising to become the greatest gymnast in the world, while you are trying to survive each day in a completely different world. That can create distance. Not because of lack of love, but because life pulled them into different directions.
This physical and emotional distance shaped the relationship they have today.
Ashley Biles Thomas as Simone Biles’ Sister
Many people wonder if Ashley and Simone are close today. Truthfully, not much is known. There are no public photos of them together. They do not tag each other online. They do not speak about each other in interviews.
But in April 2021, Ashley posted something rare and beautiful on Facebook. She shared a picture of Simone and wrote, “Ma sister is fire. She is the real G.O.A.T.” That short message showed pride, love, and support.
Even if they do not appear together in public, that one message says a lot. It shows that Ashley, in her own quiet way, still cheers for Simone. It shows that no matter how far life pulled them apart, there is still a sisterly bond.
But the truth is also clear: their lives are very different. And that difference is a big part of their story.
Becoming a Young Mother
Before Ashley faced her legal struggles, she became a young mother. In 2016, her mother shared that Ashley had a daughter who was seven years old at the time. That means her daughter is a teenager today.
Being a single mom is never easy, especially when life is already full of stress and challenges. Ashley has never shared details about her daughter’s father, and she keeps her child away from the public world.
Motherhood changed Ashley’s life in many ways. It gave her someone to care for, someone to protect, and someone to fight for. Even during her hardest moments, her daughter remained a part of her story, a part she guards quietly and carefully.
Ashley Biles Thomas’ Legal Problems
This is the part of Ashley’s story that many people heard about in the news. Her legal troubles began in 2014, and they followed her for many years.
For Ashley, these legal problems became a cycle. One case would end, but another would begin. The story includes drug charges, probation violations, and even assault cases. These mistakes, mixed with her difficult past, made her life harder and harder.
When people compare her life to Simone’s, they often forget one thing: Ashley never had the structure, support, or stability that Simone had. Her early childhood trauma followed her into adulthood, and her choices reflected that pain.
The 2014–2015 Drug Case
Ashley’s first major legal trouble began in 2014. She was pulled over during a traffic stop in Ohio. The stop led to a serious discovery. Police found strong pain pills in the car, including oxycodone and oxymorphone. Because of this, Ashley was charged with drug possession and drug trafficking.
In 2015, she went to court and pleaded guilty to one count of drug trafficking. The judge sentenced her to 90 days in jail. But she only spent a short time behind bars before being released. After that, she was placed on four years of probation. This marked the beginning of a long and difficult period in her life.
This case became one of the moments that shaped how people saw Ashley Biles Thomas. But for Ashley, it was more than a headline. It was a sign that her childhood pain and her adult choices were starting to collide in a serious way.
The 2019 Assault Case and More Trouble
Just when things seemed like they might get better, Ashley found herself in trouble again. In 2019, she was involved in an assault case. She was accused of attacking someone in April of that year. A few months later, she pleaded guilty.
The court fined her $1,000 and gave her probation again. Around the same time, she also faced a charge for illegal drug paraphernalia, but that charge was later dismissed. Her mother helped her post bond, which showed that even through the pain, family was still trying to support her.
These events made life even harder for Ashley. They added stress to her already complicated story. And they showed how one mistake can lead to another when someone is struggling with old wounds.
The 2021 Arrest That Made Headlines
The biggest shock came in 2021. It happened at a time when the world was watching Simone prepare for the Tokyo Olympics. Just weeks before Simone competed, Ashley was arrested again.
She faced many charges:
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DUI (driving under the influence)
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Driving with a suspended license
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Leaving the scene of an accident
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Failure to yield
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Violating her probation
Police issued a warrant after an incident on June 4, and she was arrested on July 6.
This arrest made headlines because of the timing. While Simone was becoming a symbol of strength, focus, and talent, her sister Ashley Biles Thomas was sitting in jail. It showed how two people from the same family can live two completely different stories at the same time.
Ashley’s arrest was not just a legal issue. It was a reminder that her life had been shaped by pain, trauma, and a long list of hard moments that kept repeating.
Ashley’s Brother Tevin and More Family Drama
Ashley was not the only one in the family facing serious legal problems. Her brother, Tevin Biles-Thomas, was charged in 2019 in a case involving three deaths at a New Year’s Eve party in 2018.
The news shocked the entire country. For years, the case went on. But in 2021, Tevin was found not guilty due to lack of evidence. He was released, and the family shared their relief online.
Ashley even posted about it, saying her family had “been through a lot.” And that was true. The Biles siblings had faced more struggles than most people ever see.
This moment showed how heavy the family story was. While Simone was winning medals, the rest of the family was fighting battles that were painful and deep.
Where Is Ashley Biles Thomas Today?
Today, Ashley Biles Thomas lives a quiet life in Ohio. She stays away from the public eye and rarely posts on social media. Her Instagram is private, and she does not speak publicly about her past.
There is no record of her having a job or a public career. She seems to live a simple and private life, far away from interviews and attention. For someone who has gone through so much, peace and privacy may be the things she needs most.
Ashley is still a mother, which is likely the most important part of her life now. She focuses on her daughter and stays close to a small circle of family members.
Even though she is known online because of her legal issues, Ashley is still a human being trying to move forward in her own way.
Is Ashley Close to Simone Biles Now?
This is one of the most asked questions. Are Ashley and Simone close today? The truth is, we do not know for sure. They do not appear together in public. They do not tag each other online. And they do not talk about each other in interviews.
But one thing stands out. In 2021, Ashley wrote a message on Facebook calling Simone “the real G.O.A.T.” That simple post showed love, pride, and support. It also showed that even if they are not physically close, the bond is still there in some way.
Growing up in different homes created a natural distance between them. Their lives took different paths. Their daily worlds do not match. But family is still family, even when life pulls people apart.
Maybe they talk privately. Maybe they do not. But what we know for sure is this: Ashley has shown love for her sister, and Simone has never spoken against her siblings. That silence can sometimes mean respect, privacy, or even protection.
Final Thoughts
The story of Ashley Biles Thomas, Simone Biles’ sister, is not a simple one. It is not a story of fame, medals, or victory. It is a story of survival. A story of a child who grew up in a broken home. A story of a young girl who faced fear, foster care, and separation. A story of a woman who made mistakes but kept moving forward.
Ashley’s life shows how childhood trauma can follow people into adulthood. It also shows how two siblings can grow up in the same family but end up in two very different worlds.
Simone became the strongest gymnast on Earth. Ashley became someone fighting quiet battles that no camera ever shows.
But both are part of the same family. Both carry the same roots. Both lived through the same early pain. And both shaped the story of the Biles family in their own way.
Ashley’s journey is hard, messy, and real. It reminds us that behind every famous name, there are other stories — stories that deserve to be understood, not judged.
(FAQs)
How old is Ashley Biles Thomas?
Ashley was born in 1990, so she is 36 years old in 2026. Her exact birthday is not known.
Does Ashley Biles Thomas have Instagram?
She does. But her Instagram is private, and she almost never posts anything.
How tall is Ashley Biles Thomas?
Ashley is about 5 feet 2 inches tall.
What is Ashley Biles Thomas’ net worth?
No one knows her net worth. She does not have a public job, so her income is unknown.
Has Ashley Biles Thomas been in jail?
Ashley has been arrested several times for things like DUI, assault, and drug charges. She spent short time in jail in the past.
Who are Ashley Biles Thomas’ parents?
Her mother is Shanon Biles. Her father has never been revealed.
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