Ashley Darby

Ashley Darby was raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, by her single mother, Sheila Matthews. She is the oldest child in her family and has two younger half-siblings, musician and entrepreneur Zach Smith and Jessica. During her teenage years and while attending the University of Maryland, she worked multiple jobs, including bartending, to help support her family.

Darby was married to Australian restaurateur Michael Darby from 2014 until their divorce in 2025. They have two sons, Dean Michael Darby, born in July 2019, and Dylan Matthew Darby, born in March 2021. After Dean's birth, Darby spoke publicly about experiencing postpartum depression and postpartum blues.

While bartending, Darby was scouted for the Miss District of Columbia pageant. She won the title in 2011 and represented the District of Columbia at the Miss America 2012 competition.

Darby joined The Real Housewives of Potomac when the series premiered in January 2016. She was one of the show's original six main cast members and became the youngest housewife in the history of The Real Housewives franchise at age 27. Her early storylines included her plans to have a child and her efforts to operate Oz, an Australian-themed restaurant in Arlington, Virginia, with Michael Darby. The restaurant closed in June 2019 after operating for nearly four years.

In 2018, Darby released the single Coffee and Love, which was produced by her brother Zach Smith. She is also a certified yoga instructor and has described her interests as including hospitality, philanthropy and holistic health.

In 2025, Darby appeared in the first season of Bravo's Love Hotel alongside The Real Housewives of Potomac cast member Gizelle Bryant, The Real Housewives of Orange County cast member Shannon Storms Beador and The Real Housewives of New York City cast member Luann de Lesseps.