Francesca Aiello gained fame for her relationship with Blake Griffin. Francesca is an American fashion entrepreneur and designer, renowned as the originator of Frankies Bikinis. As a teenager, she started her own swimwear firm and grew it from a little initiative in Malibu into an internationally known lifestyle brand. Aiello shifted from chief executive to chief creative officer in 2026 as Frankies Bikinis prepared for its next growth phase.
| Net Worth: | – |
|---|---|
| Real Name: | Francesca Aiello |
| Birth Date: | March 16, 1995 |
| Age (as of 2026): | 31 Years |
| Birth Place: | Malibu, California, USA |
| Height: | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Parents/Mother: | Mimi Aiello |
| Boyfriend: | Blake Griffin |
Early Life
Francesca Aiello was born on 16th March, 1995, in Malibu, California. As of September 2026, she is 31 years old. While growing up in her hometown, the beach culture had a big impact on her upbringing and later design work. During her childhood, she spent her days playing water polo, swimming, and surfing.
Aiello described Malibu as a location where “you wore your swimsuit every day as part of life.” When she was 14, she began designing her own personalized swimwear after not being able to locate styles that fit her own style. But her official schooling took a different turn when her firm began to receive recognition. Aiello began Frankies Bikinis when she was in high school.
As demand soared, she chose to finish her last semester of high school online. This enabled her to dedicate more time to building the company. Reliable public sources do not demonstrate a subsequent college degree, and assertions that a university education was obtained should be considered with caution.
Family
Mimi Aiello, Aiello’s mother, was a key part of both her childhood and her business career. Mimi pushed her daughter to pursue the bespoke bikini idea and became her company partner. The mother-daughter combo formally launched Frankies Bikinis from their Malibu home in 2012, when Francesca was just 17 years old.
Her mother has often been cited by Aiello as an essential mentor and role model. Their cooperation remained fundamental as the brand grew from swimwear to ready-to-wear, activewear, knits, accessories, and cosmetic goods.
Career
Francesca Aiello founded Frankies Bikinis in 2012 after crafting bespoke bikinis for herself and friends. After only a few months, Instagram has become a significant marketing channel. Friends donned her designs, posting pictures online and helping the young company acquire clients without typical fashion advertising.
A big breakthrough was when model Candice Swanepoel wore one of the brand’s bikinis and posted it publicly. In 2014, Aiello was the youngest designer to show a collection at Miami Swim Week. She was 19 at the time and the feat helped establish her as a serious young designer.
Celebrity clients and collaborations followed for Frankies Bikinis, with the likes of Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Naomi Osaka, Hailee Steinfeld and Pamela Anderson. The company kept growing beyond bikinis. Frankies Bikinis launched beauty items in 2020, and later collections included clothes and leisure products.
In March 2022, Victoria’s Secret bought a minority stake in Frankies Bikinis for $18 million. The investment offered the brand and its existing leadership extra resources to continue running the business. By 2025, the brand had grown into a wider lifestyle business, with collaborations with big names in fashion.
Paula Galperin was appointed CEO of Frankies Bikinis, beginning August 3, in 2026, with Francesca Aiello moving into the chief creative officer job. The shift will allow Aiello to focus more fully on product and creative direction.
Personal Life
Francesca Aiello’s most public relationship is with former NBA player Blake Griffin. The couple originally dated in 2018 before splitting. They reignited their romance in August 2023 and were engaged shortly after. The proposal was made around the 2024 holiday season, with Aiello showing off her engagement ring in January 2025.
Their romance has largely been quiet, however they have been seen together multiple times in 2026. They vacationed in Portofino in May and were seen in Italy again in September. Reports in early September suggested that their reunion in Italy may have been for a wedding party, although no formal wedding announcement had been made as of the time of writing.
Aiello’s lifestyle is still tied to Malibu, surfing, fashion, and beach culture. She’s also commented about her close relationship with her mother and continues to have a noticeable part in the creative direction of Frankie’s Bikinis.
Social Media
Francesca Aiello posts fashion, travel, lifestyle and Frankies Bikinis content on the Instagram @francescaaiello. Public Instagram tracking data put the account at about 492,000 followers in July 2026. Her account also allows for a direct connection with the brand, often showcasing new collections and partnerships.
Francesca Aiello Net Worth
The actual personal net worth of Francesca Aiello has never been officially revealed. Her main source of riches is her ownership and leadership stake in Frankie’s Bikinis. The company has created significant commercial value through direct-to-consumer sales, retail partnerships, collaborations, and product expansion.
Victoria’s Secret’s $18 million minority investment in 2022 is a documented signal of outside investment into the secretive company; however, the deal did not publicly disclose Aiello’s personal proceeds or the company’s full valuation.
