Kellie Chauvin is an American real estate agent and former beauty pageant titleholder. The public knows her as the ex-wife of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. His conviction for the murder of George Floyd placed her personal life under intense national focus. Her story includes refugee roots, professional work, marriage, divorce, and later legal consequences.
Early Life and Background
Kellie Chauvin was born in Laos in 1974. Her family fled the country during the regional conflict. They spent time in a refugee camp before relocation to the United States. The family later settled in Wisconsin.
She grew up within the Hmong American community. Her background reflects the experience of many Southeast Asian refugee families who rebuilt their lives in America. She later spoke publicly about cultural identity and community service.
Family Life & Education
Kellie pursued higher education after resettlement. She earned an associate’s degree in radiology. She later worked at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Her career later shifted toward business and self-employment. She became a licensed real estate agent. She worked with RE/MAX Results in Minnesota. She also operated a photography business under the name KC Images. These roles provided independent income and professional recognition.
46-year-old Kellie has kept details about her immediate family private. Public records and media reports confirm limited information about her parents and siblings. She was born to Hmong parents in Laos. Her family fled the country during the regional conflict. They lived in a refugee camp before relocation to the United States. The family later settled in Wisconsin.
Her parents focused on stability and resettlement after arrival in America. They raised their children within Hmong cultural traditions. Community connection played an important role in her upbringing. Public sources do not confirm the names of her parents. Records also do not identify siblings by name. Kellie rarely discussed family members in interviews or public profiles.
She has spoken about Hmong identity and refugee history in earlier pageant-related coverage. That background shaped her views on service and community support.
Professional Life
Kellie Chauvin began her professional path in the medical field after resettlement in the United States. She pursued formal education and earned an associate degree in radiology. She later worked at Hennepin County Medical Center. Her role involved patient care, support, and clinical duties. Her time in healthcare provided stable employment and an early professional structure.
Her medical work also shaped later events in her life. She met Derek Chauvin during this period. Their paths crossed when he brought detainees to the medical center for evaluation. She later shifted her career focus toward independent work. She obtained a real estate license in Minnesota. She joined RE/MAX Results as a Realtor. Her work involved residential property sales and client representation. Real estate became her primary source of income. Court records later confirmed financial independence through this role.
She also developed a parallel business interest in photography. She operated a photography business under the name KC Images. The business generated income over multiple years. Authorities later cited that income in tax filings related to the couple. Photography remained part of her professional identity during her marriage.
Pageant Work and Community Efforts
Her public profile expanded in 2018 through pageant participation. She entered the Mrs. Minnesota competition. She later won the title in 2019. The role brought media attention and public appearances. She used the platform to support community causes. Her efforts included support for law enforcement families, military members, animal rescue groups, and nonprofit organizations that assist Hmong women who have recently arrived in the United States.
Her professional standing continued after separation from Derek Chauvin. Court filings during the divorce confirmed continued work as a Realtor. She did not request spousal support due to her income. That detail appeared in official divorce documents.
Her career faced legal consequences in 2020. Prosecutors charged her in a tax fraud case related to unfiled returns and underreported income. The case referenced earnings from real estate and photography. She later entered a guilty plea to felony counts. A court imposed a short jail sentence, probation, and financial restitution in 2023.
After sentencing, she returned to private life. Public reporting indicates continued professional activity outside media focus. She avoided public appearances and interviews. Her recent roles remain tied to real estate and private work rather than public-facing projects.
Her career reflects multiple transitions. Healthcare came first. Business ownership followed. Public recognition arrived later. Legal accountability marked a final chapter. Her professional life now continues away from national attention.
Marriage to Derek Chauvin
Kellie met Derek Chauvin during her time at the medical center. Their professional paths crossed during police medical evaluations. The relationship later became personal.
The couple married in June 2010. The marriage lasted almost ten years. They had no children together. Kellie had two children from a prior marriage. Derek served as a stepfather during the marriage. The couple owned homes in Oakdale, Minnesota, and Windermere, Florida.
Divorce After George Floyd’s Death
George Floyd died on May 25, 2020. The death sparked global protests and criminal proceedings against Derek Chauvin. Kellie Chauvin separated from her husband on May 28, 2020. She filed for divorce one day before prosecutors announced formal charges. Court filings described an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. The documents stated the relationship could not continue.
She requested a legal change of her last name. Court records listed her former surnames as Thao and Xiong. The filing did not specify which name she planned to use after the divorce. She also requested full rights to the couple’s homes in Oakdale, Minnesota, and Windermere, Florida. She asked the court to divide vehicles and bank accounts fairly. She declined spousal support. Court filings confirmed she earned independent income as a Realtor. A judge finalized the divorce in February 2021.
Public Statement Through Legal Counsel
Kellie made no direct public appearances after the filing. Her legal team issued a statement on her behalf. The statement expressed devastation over George Floyd’s death. It conveyed sympathy toward Floyd’s family and others affected by the tragedy. The statement marked her only public response during that period.
Tax Fraud Case and Criminal Sentence
Prosecutors charged Kellie Chauvin and Derek Chauvin with tax-related felonies in July 2020. Authorities alleged failure to file state tax returns across several years. Investigators also alleged that underreported income was tied to business and off-duty police work. Kellie later entered a guilty plea to felony counts related to the case. The court accepted the plea agreement.
A judge sentenced her in May 2023. The sentence included twenty days in jail. The court also imposed three years of probation. Restitution totaled nearly thirty-eight thousand dollars.
Life After Legal Proceedings
Kellie Chauvin maintained a low public profile after sentencing. She continued professional work outside public attention. Media coverage declined after the resolution of the tax case. Her identity remains tied to a major chapter in modern American history. Her life also reflects broader themes of immigration, independence, and public consequence.
Chauvin occupies a complex place in public memory. Her biography intersects with one of the most significant criminal cases of the twenty-first century. Her personal life became visible during a moment of national reckoning. Her story stands apart from the crime itself. It reflects how private lives can face permanent exposure after public events beyond personal control.
FAQs
What is Kellie Chauvin’s background?
Kellie Chauvin, also known as Kellie May Xiong Chauvin, was born in Laos and later immigrated to the United States as a refugee with her family. She grew up in Wisconsin and built a professional career in the healthcare field as a radiology technician. She also gained public attention after participating in local beauty pageants, including Mrs. Minnesota America.
Did Kellie Chauvin have any children?
Kellie Chauvin does not have any children with Derek Chauvin. Public records indicate that she has children from a previous relationship. She has consistently asked for privacy regarding her family and personal life.
Is Kellie Chauvin still married?
No. Kellie Chauvin is no longer married to Derek Chauvin. She filed for divorce shortly after his arrest in May 2020. The divorce was finalized in 2021, formally ending their marriage.
What is Kellie Chauvin doing now?
Kellie Chauvin has remained largely out of public view since her divorce. Limited public records show that she has dealt with personal legal matters unrelated to her former husband. She does not maintain a public media presence, and details about her current professional or personal life are not widely reported.
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Sadia Parveen is a content writer contributing biography, lifestyle, and celebrity-related articles. She focuses on presenting information in a clear and engaging manner based on publicly available sources. Her work is written for general informational and entertainment purposes and aims to provide readers with accessible insights into public figures and lifestyle topics.
