We recently had the privilege of hosting an exclusive Instagram Live interview with Mariah Antetokounmpo to raise awareness and funds for the Milwaukee Diaper Mission—a cause she holds close to her heart.
Mariah, mother of three and wife of NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, has been deeply involved in supporting families in need, using her platform to make a meaningful impact.
During the interview, Mariah shared her personal journey with the Milwaukee Diaper Mission, how she and Giannis first became involved, and the importance of providing basic necessities for children. Along the way, she also gave us a glimpse into her family life and how she balances the demands of motherhood, marriage, and philanthropy.
Exclusive Interview with Mariah Antetokounmpo
Why Mariah Supports the Milwaukee Diaper Mission
Q: So Mariah, tell us why you’re involved with the Milwaukee Diaper Mission. What inspired you to support this cause?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“I think the biggest reason is becoming a mom and realizing how expensive basic needs for kids are. It just didn’t sit well with me that some families had to choose between putting food on the table or buying diapers. That really pushed me to get involved and use my platform to help in any way possible. Giannis and I decided that, instead of a traditional baby shower for our second-born Maverick, we would start the first diaper drive—Maverick’s Diaper Drive—and it’s just grown from there.”
Surprise Proposal and Their Dream Wedding
Q: Congratulations on getting married! How has married life been so far?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“Thank you! It’s been really good. We’re in that ‘honeymoon phase,’ for sure. Everything has been amazing. Before the basketball season started, we got to spend a lot of time together, which was nice. Honestly, it doesn’t feel that different, but we’re both really happy and just kind of glowing.”
Q: A lot of our readers wanted to know—how did Giannis propose?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“It was a complete shock. It was on Mother’s Day last year. Sorry, he’s commenting, thinks he’s funny. We hadn’t gone on a trip just the two of us in a while, and I was pregnant with our youngest. So we went to Hawaii. I didn’t know he had already asked my parents and my sister had been planning it. I thought the person taking pictures was just photographing the scenery, but when I saw the flowers, I knew what was happening. He did a really great job.”
Q: How was the wedding planning? Was it a joint effort?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“Giannis was actually way more involved than I thought he’d be, especially when it came to picking out food and other details. During the season, I handled most of the decisions because he’s so focused on basketball, but in the summer, when it was time to finalize everything, he wanted to know it all. He’s really creative, so it was a fun process for both of us.”
Q: What was your favorite part of the wedding?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“There are two moments. The actual ceremony was amazing. I don’t even remember the crowd—I was just focused on being up there with him. It was such a beautiful, special moment. Another favorite was our welcome party. It started raining at the end, but no one cared. Everyone kept dancing, and it was just perfect.”
Family Life With Giannis
Q: What’s a typical day like in your household?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“It’s crazy! We have three kids now, and two of them are in school. A typical day involves getting the boys ready for school, dropping them off, then spending time with our youngest. I try to get the kids to nap, but our oldest doesn’t nap anymore, which is hard! In the afternoons, we’re busy with sports or activities, and we spend a lot of time outside when the weather’s nice. It’s non-stop—either feeding someone, driving somewhere, or keeping them entertained.”
Q: You’re so calm! Is that your natural personality?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“I try to be! I like to stay in the moment, especially with my kids being so young. I don’t want to miss any of these moments. At the end of the day, when Giannis is home, we just like to unwind. He’s actually waiting for me right now to watch Netflix!”
Q: Speaking of Netflix, people are asking—what are you guys watching right now?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“Babe, what are we watching on Netflix? He thinks this is funny because I fall asleep 90% of the time! Right now, we’re watching this show called Chaos about the Greek gods. It’s pretty good, but a little inappropriate sometimes. Giannis loves documentaries, so when I fall asleep, he’ll just keep watching those.”
Q: How do you balance work, family, and self-care?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“Honestly, I’m not great at it. Most of my focus is on the kids, but I try to prioritize working out because I really enjoy it. After the kids go to bed, I make time for myself—scrolling through TikTok or just relaxing. During the season, it’s harder to balance everything because Giannis is so busy, but we always make time for each other when we can.”
Q: Do you still play volleyball?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“Yes, I do! I play in an adult league here in Milwaukee whenever I can. It’s usually in the evenings, so I’ll put the kids to bed or get help with that, and then I go play for an hour. It’s so much fun—almost more fun as an adult because there’s no pressure!”
Q: Are your kids bilingual?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“Yes! Giannis speaks to them in Greek, and I speak to them in English. We started this a little later with our oldest, but now he’s fully responsive to Greek, and our younger ones are picking it up too.”
Q: What’s your favorite thing about raising your kids in Milwaukee?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“I love that it’s a little slower here. I can take the kids to the park or their activities, and it just feels normal. I don’t feel overwhelmed, and people respect our privacy. Even when people recognize Giannis, they respect that we’re with our kids and give us space.
I love the different seasons. I actually really enjoy the fall—the pumpkin patches, the apple orchards. I didn’t really experience that until we had the kids.
The snow, though… I wasn’t born in the snow! I was born in California, so snow wasn’t something I grew up with. But my kids love the snow. They were born here, so it’s their normal. I suck it up sometimes and go outside with them, but if another adult wants to supervise, I’m more than happy to stay inside!“
Q: What do you and Giannis do for date nights?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“During the season, not so much. They play like every other night, and basketball is very important, so he’s usually locked in. But when we do, we mainly go to dinner. Sometimes we’ll go after games if the kids don’t come. But honestly, a lot of our date nights are at home—we order in, watch TV. We’ve been doing more family things during the offseason, trying to get the kids out with him, just enjoying being a dad. We like to keep it simple.”
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in Milwaukee?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“Right now, I’d say The Edison. I went there a lot last season with friends and with Giannis. The food is great, and the portions are big. I also love Avli—it has a great view and atmosphere.”
Q: What is something you still want to achieve as a woman or a mother?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“As a mom, I just want my kids to grow into great humans. Giannis and I want them to be good people more than anything. Professionally, I want to keep giving back and expanding my philanthropy efforts. I want to make a bigger difference in the community and help more people.”
Q: What’s your favorite way to unwind when you finally get some alone time?
Mariah Antetokounmpo:
“Honestly, it’s just scrolling TikTok. I know it’s bad, but it helps me decompress. I was on the bad side of TikTok during my last pregnancy—lots of toxic stuff—so I stopped for a while. But now I’m on the good side, and it’s fun. I’m learning new things and getting inspiration, which has been really relaxing.”
Mariah Antetokounmpo’s heartfelt involvement with the Milwaukee Diaper Mission and her insights on family, marriage, and philanthropy offer a unique glimpse into the life of a woman dedicated to making a difference.
If you’d like to join Mariah in supporting the Milwaukee Diaper Mission, you can contribute to the fundraiser by donating here or bringing diapers to a local diaper drop site. Every contribution helps provide essential supplies to families in need. And if you missed the live interview, you can watch the full Instagram Live for more behind-the-scenes stories from Mariah’s life.
Looking for more ways to engage with your community? Check out 5 Tips for Your Next Bucks Game with Kids to make the most of your family outings, or explore 10 Ideas for Community Service Around Milwaukee for ways to give back locally.
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.