JOSIE Canseco is a Victoria’s Secret model, reality TV star, daughter of a baseball legend, and self-taught.
THE 26 years made headlines earlier this year when she hit back at trolls who accused her of being a nepo baby.
His father, controversial MLB icon Jose Cansecoearned more than $40 million during his 17-year playing career, during which he won two World Series and was a six-time All-Star.
But the steroid-stained slugger blew all his earnings and filed for bankruptcy in 2012.
“Everyone claims I come from all this rich money because I’m a ‘Canseco’, do your research,” the 5ft 9in model posted on social media.
“My ‘family money’ was blown out by the time I was 6/7 with bankruptcy. I had to work hard not only to maintain my ‘family name’ but also to pay my bills because no one ‘paid for this shit’. not except me.
Learn more about Josie Canseco
Josie went on to add that while she “had the privilege of being born into a family that earned what they earned,” she “really experienced this shit that broke my ass the traditional way.”
Jose, who played for the Oakland A’s and New York Yankeeswas also arrested for domestic battery against Josie’s mother, Jessica, in 1998.
He pleaded no contest to the charge and was placed on probation for a year as part of a deal with prosecutors.
Jose and Jessica, a cosmetic tattoo artist, were married for only three years before accusations of infidelity and battery led to a divorce in 1999.
Josie says she was forced to pretend to be rich growing up to maintain the so-called facade.
“I love my dad and I’m proud of where I come from,” Josie told the New York Post.
“Growing up, there was a lot of pressure to live up to certain expectations and money, like I was rich and all that. It was a bit of a facade.
“I didn’t want people to know about the fight because it was beyond my control – for example, the bankruptcy or (on several occasions) his arrest.”
Josie grew up in Los Angeles and attended performing arts school.
She began modeling when she was a young teenager and signed with Next Models New York City at the age of 17.
Initially, she lived in small, cramped New York apartments with other models, sometimes earning only $100 a week.
“A lot of models say you’re not a real model unless you’ve lived in a model apartment with six or seven girls,” Josie said.
“(Inevitably) there are girls doing drugs, others cooking fish at 7 a.m., it stinks everywhere, and there are cigarettes.
“You have no privacy, which is difficult. But that’s how I had to start.”
Josie’s modeling career quickly took off as she worked with brands such as Sherri Hill, Frankies Bikinis, Nike, Juicy Couture and Alo Yoga.
She auditioned for the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and became PlayboyPlaymate of the Month June 2016 and walked in 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion show
Josie also became a reality TV star, starring with her mother on Hollywood Exes and The Mother/Daughter Experiment: Celebrity Edition.
She recently signed up for The Surreal Life!
Since stepping into the spotlight, Josie has linked to several high profile guys.
His first public relationship was with hip hop artist Mike Stud, which lasted from 2015 to 2019.
She then went out with Brody Jenner in 2019 and Logan Paul in 2020.
Josie has also become a successful social media influencer with 1.1 million followers on Instagram.
She said Maxim: “I’m grateful to my family in every way, but it’s not quite what it seems.”
