Introduction
Chad Ochocinco’s only wife was Evelyn Lozada, an American reality TV personality and entrepreneur born Evelyn Alexandra Lozada on December 10, 1975, in New York City. Chad Ochocinco, born Chad Javon Johnson, is a retired NFL wide receiver famous for his flashy touchdown celebrations and larger-than-life personality during his years with the Cincinnati Bengals and other teams.
The Chad Ochocinco wife search that brings most people here usually leads to Evelyn Lozada, since she is the only woman he has legally married — though the marriage lasted only weeks. This article breaks down who Evelyn Lozada is, how she and Chad Ochocinco met, why their marriage ended so quickly, and what both of them have been up to since. It also clears up Chad Ochocinco’s current relationship status, since he is not married today.
Who Is Evelyn Lozada?
Evelyn Alexandra Lozada was born on December 10, 1975, in Brooklyn and raised in the Bronx to her mother, Sylvia Ferrer, and her father, Nengo Lozada. She grew up alongside an older sister and was raised primarily by her mother. Lozada is of Puerto Rican descent, and her upbringing in the Bronx shaped the outspoken, no-nonsense personality that later made her a reality TV standout.
Before entering the spotlight, Lozada worked as a secretary for an entertainment attorney and later relocated to Miami, where she co-owned an upscale shoe boutique called Dulce. Detailed information about her formal education isn’t publicly documented, but her career path shows she built her professional foundation through hands-on work in the entertainment and fashion industries rather than through a traditional degree track.
She first gained public attention as the fiancée of NBA star Antoine Walker, a relationship that eventually opened the door to reality television. That early exposure to the world of professional athletes and public life set the stage for the fame — and the Chad Ochocinco wife headlines — that would follow a few years later.
Evelyn Lozada’s Career & Professional Life
Lozada’s relationship with Antoine Walker eventually led to her starring role on VH1’s “Basketball Wives” in 2010, the show that made her a household name. She has been one of the show’s main cast members since it began, and her sharp tongue and candid takes on relationships quickly made her a fan favorite.
Beyond television, Lozada built a genuine business portfolio. She launched a hair care line called “Sweeter Than A” and opened salons under the same name, and she also authored a memoir about her life. She later added an apparel line to her ventures and has continued appearing on TV projects, including the Peacock dating series Queens Court. Estimates of her net worth vary by source and year, but most place it in the range of roughly $3 million to $4 million, built primarily from her reality TV career, business ventures, and endorsements.
How Did Chad Ochocinco and Evelyn Lozada Meet?
Before Evelyn was linked to Chad Ochocinco, she had been engaged to NBA player Antoine Walker. That relationship ended, and not long after, Chad — then an outspoken NFL wide receiver known for his social media presence — began publicly expressing interest in her. The two connected on Twitter, and their romance moved fast: they went public in 2010 and were engaged within about four months of dating.
Even after getting engaged so quickly, the couple wasn’t in a rush to the altar. Around the time of their engagement, they said they wanted to enjoy time with their children before their wedding day. Chad was open about his reasoning for committing so fast, telling the press he felt he knew everything he needed to know about her. Their courtship played out largely in public, fueled by both of their large social media followings and the tabloid attention that came with dating a reality star and an NFL personality at the same time.
Marriage & Wedding Details
Chad and Evelyn were married on July 4, 2012, in an evening ceremony held at a tucked-away island location in Miami. Chad live-tweeted much of his own wedding to his followers, sharing updates throughout the night. The wedding was filmed for their VH1 reality show about the couple’s life together, and Chad briefly changed his last name back from Ochocinco to Johnson, saying it was so Evelyn could carry a more conventional last name as his wife.
The marriage, however, was short-lived. Just over a month later, Chad was arrested after allegedly head-butting Evelyn, and the couple divorced soon afterward. What was meant to be a highly publicized love story turned into one of the shortest celebrity marriages of the era, lasting roughly six weeks from the wedding day to the split.
Family Life After the Marriage
Chad and Evelyn never had children together, and their marriage ended before they built a shared family life. Evelyn already had a daughter, Shaniece Hairston, from a relationship that predated her time with Chad. After the divorce, Evelyn later had a relationship with MLB player Carl Crawford from 2013 to 2017, with whom she shares a son, Carl Leo Crawford. Lozada and Crawford were engaged and expecting a second child together in 2015, but she suffered a miscarriage days after announcing the pregnancy, and the couple later called off their engagement.
Chad, for his part, later had a long relationship with “Selling Tampa” star Sharelle Rosado. The pair welcomed a daughter, Serenity, in January 2022 and got engaged in January 2023, but Rosado announced their split in October 2024, and the engagement did not lead to marriage. As of now, Chad Ochocinco is not married and has no current wife.
Evelyn Lozada on Social Media
Evelyn remains active online, with close to 4 million followers on Instagram, where she shares updates on her businesses, family life, and TV appearances. Her content mixes lifestyle posts, promotion for her apparel and beauty ventures, and glimpses into life with her son and daughter. After appearing on Peacock’s dating series Queens Court, Lozada became engaged to fellow contestant LaVon Lewis, marking a new chapter in her public life well over a decade after her brief marriage to Chad Ochocinco.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Evelyn Alexandra Lozada |
| Date of Birth | December 10, 1975 |
| Nationality | American (Puerto Rican descent) |
| Profession | TV personality, entrepreneur, author |
| Married to | Chad Johnson (Ochocinco) — ex-husband |
| Marriage Year | 2012 (divorced same year) |
| Children | 2 (Shaniece Hairston, Carl Leo Crawford) |
| Net Worth | Approx. $3–4 million (estimated) |
FAQ Section
Q: What is Chad Ochocinco’s wife’s name?
A: Chad Ochocinco has no current wife. His only marriage was to Evelyn Lozada in 2012, and the two divorced the same year.
Q: How old is Evelyn Lozada?
A: Evelyn Lozada was born on December 10, 1975, in Brooklyn, New York.
Q: What does Evelyn Lozada do for a living?
A: She’s best known as a cast member on VH1’s “Basketball Wives” and also runs beauty and apparel businesses as an entrepreneur and author.
Q: When did Chad Ochocinco and Evelyn Lozada get married?
A: They married on July 4, 2012, in Miami, and divorced within weeks after Chad was arrested for an alleged domestic violence incident.
Q: How many kids do Chad Ochocinco and Evelyn Lozada have?
A: None together. Evelyn has two children from other relationships, and Chad has children from relationships after their marriage.
Conclusion
Evelyn Lozada remains the only woman Chad Ochocinco has ever married, even though their relationship as husband and wife lasted just a matter of weeks in 2012. Since then, both have moved on — Evelyn built a lasting media and business career and later got engaged again, while Chad had a long relationship and engagement with Sharelle Rosado that also ended before marriage. So while people searching “Chad Ochocinco wife” are usually looking for Evelyn Lozada, the more accurate answer today is that Chad Ochocinco doesn’t currently have a wife at all.
