In an era where oversharing is the norm and viral fame is often a primary pursuit, Innis Jenkins represents a fascinating anomaly. The son of Bosnian-American business magnate and philanthropist Sanela Diana Jenkins and former Barclays banking executive Roger Jenkins, Innis was born into a world of extreme privilege and relentless public scrutiny. Yet, unlike many children of celebrities and moguls, he has meticulously cultivated a life characterized by deliberate privacy and understated ambition. Despite his mother’s high-profile role on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and her vast business empire, Innis has chosen to remain largely out of the glaring spotlight, allowing his accomplishments and character to speak for themselves through the occasional glimpses shared by his proud family. This article delves into the life of Innis Jenkins, exploring his family background, educational pursuits, entrepreneurial ventures, and the values that shape his unique journey as a modern scion choosing a path of quiet purpose over public fanfare.
Family Ties: The Jenkins Dynasty
To understand Innis Jenkins, one must first appreciate the remarkable family from which he comes. He is the firstborn child of Sanela Diana Jenkins (née Ćatić), a woman whose life story is a testament to resilience and determination. Born in Sarajevo, then part of Yugoslavia, Sanela’s early life was marked by the brutal Bosnian War. She fled the besieged city on foot, eventually making her way to London as a refugee. Tragically, her younger brother, Irnis Ćatić, was killed by paramilitary forces during the conflict, a loss that would profoundly shape her future philanthropic endeavors . Despite arriving in England penniless, she worked odd jobs while studying, eventually earning an honors degree in Computer Science and Economics from City University, London. She became a successful entrepreneur, acquiring the luxury swimwear line Melissa Odabash and later founding Neuro Brands, a highly successful line of functional health beverages found in over 70,000 retailers across the United States .
Innis’s father, Roger Jenkins, was a towering figure in British finance, often described as one of the highest-paid bankers in the City of London during his tenure at Barclays. His parents married in 1999, and Innis was born around that time. The couple had a second child, a daughter named Eneya, before divorcing amicably in 2011 . Despite the divorce, Innis maintains a relationship with both parents. His mother later became engaged to musician Asher Monroe, with whom she has two young daughters, Eliyanah (born 2020) and Elodie Mae Book (born August 2023) . This makes Innis the oldest of four siblings, with a significant age gap between him and his youngest half-sisters.
Sanela Jenkins has often showcased her close bond with her eldest son on social media, referring to him as her “mini-me,” her “pride and joy,” and celebrating their relationship as being like “two peas in a pod” . She frequently posts tributes to him on his birthday and National Son’s Day, offering fans curated insights into their family dynamics, which appear to be filled with love and mutual admiration.
Early Life and Education: Forging His Own Path
Innis Jenkins was born on July 25, 1999 (though some sources suggest 2001, the majority and his mother’s consistent tributes point to 1999, making him 25 as of 2024) . He was raised in an environment that highly valued education, hard work, and philanthropy—core principles that were ingrained in him from a young age despite the family’s immense wealth .
He attended Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California, a prestigious private school known for its academic rigor and athletic programs. During his time there, Innis was an active member of the school’s soccer team, playing as a defender. Friends and teachers remembered him as a dedicated team player who successfully balanced the demands of sports with his academic responsibilities .
Following his graduation in 2018, Innis enrolled at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. He pursued studies in Business and Communications, strategically selecting courses that provided practical, real-world skills such as marketing fundamentals and project management. This pragmatic approach to his education highlighted a desire to apply knowledge directly rather than focus solely on theoretical concepts—a mindset that would later serve him well in his entrepreneurial pursuits . His educational path demonstrates a conscious effort to build a credible foundation for his career, independent of his family’s fame and fortune.
Career and Ventures: Entrepreneurship and Web3 Exploration
Unlike many reality TV adjacent figures who leverage their fame for influencer status, Innis Jenkins has charted a different course. He professionally identifies as an entrepreneur . His initial foray into the business world began during and after college, where he started working with small businesses, advising them on growth strategies using straightforward digital marketing techniques. His early projects were characterized by a focus on clear, actionable plans. For instance, he helped local retail shops develop effective social media campaigns tailored to their limited budgets. Clients appreciated his honest advice and his ability to demystify complex digital concepts into understandable terms .
A significant part of his professional identity is now linked to MetaForceX, a company exploring the potential of Web3 technology—a term encompassing the next evolution of the internet involving blockchain, decentralization, and token-based economics. MetaForceX aims to bridge the gap between these emerging technological trends and practical, real-world applications, such as secure digital contracts and community-driven projects .
While details about MetaForceX are still emerging, Innis’s role appears to involve finding ways to make Web3 tools accessible and useful for everyday users and businesses. He operates on the belief that technology should primarily serve to solve problems, not just exist as innovative jargon. This practical, user-focused approach has garnered interest from startups and tech enthusiasts alike . Some external commentary has skeptically viewed MetaForceX as a “bizarre tech adventure” potentially linked to NFTs and funded by his mother’s wealth . However, the initiative’s stated goal, according to its website, is to “do good in the world” with its launch partner, Neuro Brands (his mother’s company), to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation , a cause his family has long supported .
Beyond the tech world, Innis continues his hands-on work with small businesses. He offers coaching sessions where he teaches fundamentals like branding, customer outreach, and online sales. His methodology is described as a three-step process: listening to the client’s specific needs, creating a tailored plan, and implementing action. Testimonials from clients, such as a California bakery owner who credits Innis with doubling their Instagram followers in three months using low-cost strategies, praise his focus on delivering measurable results and his willingness to adapt strategies that aren’t working .
Personal Life: Love, Loss, and Private Pursuits
Innis Jenkins maintains a fiercely guarded private life, especially compared to the highly public personas of his mother and younger sister, Eneya, who has a strong social media presence. His own Instagram account (@innis_jenkins) is a testament to this discretion. He posts infrequently, focusing on quality over quantity, and has amassed over 16,000 followers despite his low output . His bio links to professional sites via Linktree, underscoring his preference for maintaining a semi-private personal life while still engaging in business building .
His most significant public relationship is with Ava Dash, the daughter of music mogul Damon Dash (co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records) and fashion designer Rachel Roy. The couple has been dating since late 2021 . Ava is a model signed to Elite Model Management, a former vegan lip gloss entrepreneur, and a co-author of a novel titled 96 Words for Love, which she wrote with her mother . Despite both coming from highly prominent families, Innis and Ava keep their relationship remarkably private. Their public appearances together are rare but notable, such as their attendance at the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Oscar Viewing Party in March 2022 . The only post on Innis’s Instagram grid, as of late 2023, is a single picture of the couple kissing from November 2021 .
Outside of work and his relationship, Innis’s passions include music and animals. His mother’s social media offers charming glimpses into these interests, showing him playing the guitar and lovingly interacting with the family’s pets. A particularly endearing video from 2017 shows him gleefully feeding and playing with monkeys, earning him the humorous title of “Monkey Whisperer” from his mother . He is also described as a doting older brother. Despite the significant age gap, he shares a close bond with his half-sisters, Eliyanah and Elodie. Heartwarming photos and videos captured by his mother show him reading to Eliyanah, playing with her, and the two expressing their love for each other, with Sanela Jenkins captioning one such clip, “My Happiness” .
Philanthropy: A Legacy of Giving Back
Philanthropy is a deeply ingrained value in the Jenkins family, and Innis is no exception. His mother’s extensive charitable work, born from the trauma of war and loss, has clearly influenced him. Sanela established the IrnisCatic Foundation in 2002 in memory of her murdered brother, which continues to fund medical facilities at the University of Sarajevo . She also founded the Sanela Diana Jenkins Human Rights Project at UCLA Law School and was honored by the Elton John AIDS Foundation for her activism .
Innis has participated in this family tradition of giving back. He accompanied his mother and girlfriend to the Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Viewing Party in 2022, a major fundraising event for HIV/AIDS research . Furthermore, his venture, MetaForceX, has publicly stated its intention to collaborate with Neuro Brands to raise money for the same foundation, indicating that his philanthropic efforts are being woven into his business ventures . Described as preferring “quiet support over flashy donations,” Innis often contributes behind the scenes, mirroring his overall approach to life: effective without seeking applause .
Public Perception: Navigating Privilege and Privacy
Innis Jenkins exists at the intersection of immense privilege and a conscious desire for normalcy. Public perception of him is inevitably filtered through the lens of his mother’s fame and wealth. His venture into Web3, a space often criticized for speculation and hype, has led to some cynical outside views that dismiss it as “bored rich kid nonsense” or a “front for NFTs” .
However, a closer look at his trajectory reveals a more nuanced picture. His methodical approach to education, his hands-on work with small businesses, and his low-key personal style suggest a young man attempting to carve out his own identity and build a legitimate career based on competence rather than connections. While his family’s resources undoubtedly provide a safety net and opportunities unavailable to most, he appears to be leveraging them for ventures that align with his interests in technology and practical problem-solving, as well as the family’s commitment to philanthropy.
The contrast between his mother’s very public persona on RHOBH and his own intensely private nature is stark. While the show offered brief glimpses into his life—such as a scene in season 12 where he was seen playing with his baby sister Eliyanah in his mother’s home —he has largely avoided becoming a character in the Bravo universe. This choice to remain on the periphery, despite the allure of reality TV fame, is perhaps the strongest statement of his character.
Conclusion: The Deliberate Journey of Innis Jenkins
Innis Jenkins’s story is still being written. He is a young man who, despite being born into a narrative of extreme trauma, resilience, and spectacular success, is patiently authoring his own chapter. He is not defined by the dramatic arc of his mother’s life, nor is he content to be merely a beneficiary of his family’s fortune. Instead, he appears to be a thoughtful individual navigating his path with a quiet determination.
His journey encompasses the roles of a devoted son and brother, a pragmatic entrepreneur exploring the frontiers of technology, a supportive partner, and a conscientious philanthropist. He represents a modern evolution of the celebrity offspring: one who understands the tools of the digital age but rejects the pressure to constantly perform within them. Innis Jenkins chooses to focus on real-world impact, family bonds, and personal growth away from the flashbulbs. In doing so, he has crafted a unique identity: a scion of privilege using his advantages not for mere leisure, but for purposeful, albeit private, exploration and contribution. His life, though only partially visible to the public, serves as a compelling study of how to build an authentic self in the shadow of a larger-than-life legacy
