Personal life of Ava Zinn

This article is part of a series about Ava Zinn
Career Zinn-verse Personal life Criticism 9/27 Deaths of mother and brother Friend realignment Move to Fort Wayne Web sites Filmography Discography Awards and honors Aeverine Zinn Productions INNewsCenter Amanda & Elisa Queen of the Willis Hoosier Anchorwoman! Vote for the Girls American Britain Australian Vape Back! with Ava Zinn Ava Zinn's Retail Nightmares The Souzas Caprice & Ella Breaking Boiling Point Caprice & Ella: The Movie Quillsville Cold Case

Ava Zinn has had numerous serious relationships of varying length and intensity over her life, none of which overlapped since January 4, 1993 (her 10th birthday). As of August 2023, she has eight children (two living) by five women, adopted six step-children, and five grandchildren as of September 2023.

Zinn's first and fifth relationship was with Fort Wayne socialite Amanda "Mandy" Davidson in January 1993, having met Davidson in 1987. The first stint with Davidson lasted until December 1997. The relationship produced two children: Samantha (b. 1993 d. 2020) and Thomas (b. 1997 d. 2006). Fifteen years later, in 2012, Zinn and Davidson rekindled the relationship and Zinn later adopted Davidson's then-daughter Kylee (later Kalvin Zinn b. 2000 d. 2020). On December 3, 2015, Ava Zinn filed to legally adopt Davidson's daughter, Kylee Donovan (now transgendered son Kalvin Zinn), from Davidson's previous marriage to Juan Donovan. The adoption was finalized on January 4, 2016 and Kylee's name was changed to Kylee Zinn upon the adoption being finalized.

Zinn's second and seventh relationship was with Muncie, Indiana photographer Elisa Everman in December 1997. The first stint with Everman lasted until August 2000 when Elisa attended IPFW (now Purdue University Fort Wayne) and Zinn declined Everman's offer to relocate to Fort Wayne at the time. Zinn herself would later relocate to Fort Wayne in 2018 during the second stint. That relationship produced two twins of children: Tiffani (b. 1999 d. 2021) and Sheryl (d. 1999 d. 2009).

Zinn's third relationship and first marriage was with Angie Nieves (later Angie Willis) from January 2001 until Angie's death in June 2010. The relationship is currently Zinn's longest relationship having lasted nine years. The marriage produced only one child: Tabitha (b. 2003 d. 2018). Zinn did not remarry until September 22, 2023 yet in July 2013, Ava filed to legally adopt Angie's daughter, Ashli Willis (b. 1998 d. 2020), with the adoption being final in January 2014.

Zinn's ninth relationship and second marriage is currently with Breeanna Sorensen since September 2022. This marriage produced two children: Lyssa and Sierra (b. 2023).

Other relationships included Christy Johnson, Kymberly Alvaraz, and Marti McDaniel.

Zinn has suffered some minor physical and major mental and psychological health problems as well as other incidents. Around 1994, she had suffered from child abuse that went unreported. Greater health and personal problems began in 1995 after she was falsely accused of theft. After a visit to her doctor in Hartford City, Indiana, she was sent to see a neurologist and a psychologist in 1986, the latter of whom told Zinn's mother she had Autism (the autism diagnosis has since been improved to Asperger's a year prior to her gender transition in 2003). Greater mental and psychological health problems began in 1991 after Zinn lost a jump rope contest and beat up some girl that resulted in her expulsion from J.C. Knight Elementary School in 1991. After an 18 month stint to a group home/psychiatric institution in New Albany ending on December 25, 1992; she recovered and went back to school. In 2019, Zinn was diagnosed with prediabetes and was unofficially diagnosed/upgraded to Type II diabetes on February 24, 2023.

On December 4, 2009, Zinn experienced a mild heart attack, but returned to work as scheduled in January 2010. Zinn experienced a second yet minor heart attack with small blood clots in her lungs and legs and a second major back spasm on April 15, 2023, but was able to return to work the following week.

Zinn has had several back injuries dating back to her sophomore year of high school beginning in 1999. In 2009, Zinn suffered an on-the-back injury after lifting a 50 pound bag of bird seed. Four more occurred in March 2017, January 2018, October 2021, November 2022, and April 2023. The latter three injuies required the use of a cane with the latter two being servere.

On August 20, 2020, Zinn escaped major injury after being run off the road while behind the wheel of her bicycle while biking from Waynedale on Decatur Road. The bike went off an embankment, and came to rest against a sidewalk in a ditch. Zinn was not cited for the accident and began attending IvyTech Fort Wayne five days later.

In August 2022, Zinn revealed that during the summer she has had 15 near-heart attacks from June 2022 until April 15, 2023. As of August 2022, Zinn does smoke almost two packs of cigarettes per day, and she could be even seen smoking on some episodes of Vote for the Girls and Caprice & Ella. Though Zinn states she smoked two and a half packs of cigarettes on January 19, 2018 and three packs of cigarettes a day for two days in July 2022.

Relationships

With Elisa Everman (1997-2000 and 2018)

Kyberly Alvaraz's sucessor was named on February 14, 2018 as Elisa Everman began a relationship with Zinn after an 18 year hiatus. Elisa cited Ava's move to Fort Wayne and Tiffani graduating from high school as well as the Holly Everman's death a year earlier was the reason Ava and Elisa got back together. The relationship ended in July 2018 after Everman was arrested for bank robbery in Muncie, Indiana.

Relationship with Kymberly Alvaraz (2014-17)

On November 20, 2014, Dan Alvaraz filed for an at-fault divorce in Noblesville, Indiana, citing adultery by his wife, Kym Christian and naming Zinn and fellow transwoman Kristina Chow as co-respondents. News of the divorce filing became public during Kym Christian's trial of, when it was first widely reported that Kym Christian and Zinn were involved in a lesbian relationship prior to Kym Christian fatally shooting Khayla Chow.

Zinn announced on November 28, 2014, that she is involved in a relationship with Vote for the Girls USA moderator [[|Kymberly Alvaraz|Kym Christian]] effective January 4, 2015. This confirmed speculation that Kym Christian's infidelity and her 20 year marriage to Dan Alvaraz came to an end. As a result, Christian (at age 47 and 15 years Zinn's senior) becomes the eldest significant other of Zinn (surpassing Angela Willis) and had four new step children, Christian's daughters Stephani, Haley, Benita, and Denise.

On December 19, 2014 news of the relationship became public, in a Twitter post by Kymberly Alvaraz that she and Zinn were expecting a baby. The child will be Zinn's sixth, but the fifth for Alvaraz, who has four daughters with Dan Alvaraz. Zinn subsequently confirmed that Alvaraz is pregnant and Zinn, as a woman, is the biological father of Zinn's child and on March 28, 2015 Alvaraz gave birth to a boy named Kenneth "Baby Kenny". Kenneth died on July 17, 2018.

On May 31, 2017, Ava Zinn announced she ended her relationship with Alvaraz on July 4, 2017. Zinn cited Alvaraz's domestic violence incident and her recent confessions as the prime reason for the relationship ending in legal action.

With Marti McDaniel (2020)

Zinn began a relationship with Marti McDaniel in March 2020 but the relationship ended after two months.

With Breeanna Sorensen (2022-present)

On September 23, 2022, Zinn quietly began a relationship with Breeanna Sorensen. Sorensen, who is 15 months Zinn's junior, became the seventh signifcant other and became the youngest woman Zinn was ever with--a record that was set by Amanda Davidson. Two months later, on November 21, 2022 news of the relationship became public, in a YouTube post by Zinn that she and Sorensen were expecting a baby. The child will be Sorensen's first, but the seventh for Zinn, who has two children with Amanda Davidson (Samantha and Thomas, both deceased), two children with Elisa Everman (Tiffani and Sheryl, both deceased), one child with Angie Nieves (Tabitha, deceased), and one child with Kymberly Alvaraz (Kenneth, deceased).

Health and personal incidents

2014 Vegetarian Wager

After losing a friendly wager on who would make the finals of American Idol's 13th season, Zinn went on a vegetarian diet (or meat boycott) from March 1, 2014 until December 17, 2014 following the conclusion of the thirteenth season of Hell's Kitchen as La Tasha McCutchen was announced the winner, effectively ending the meat strike 17 days early. Zinn states the final meat product she consumed was a pork steak on February 28, 2014. The vegetarian diet became permanent on January 4, 2015.

March 2015 Arrest

On March 12, 2015 while rehearsing for a Vote for the Girls episode, just three hours before the start of the American Idol 14 Top 12 Result, while in negotiation to find a way to keep Vote for the Girls in production during a remodel of the Vote for the Girls set resulting in Zinn (and Alvaraz in addition to the VFTG staff) being displaced, and was not willing to have production interrupted, defending her moderator's contract. Zinn, irate, stressed that under the terms of Zinn's contract--as per Vote for the Girls moderator rules--have be promptly present on the performance (and/or results) night from 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. Central) to its conclusion and record the site's presentation of the results show(s) night both at the home location of Aeverine Zinn Holdings, and cannot be interrupted, delayed, or joined in progress for any reason. Zinn insisted that she wanted to do a temporary transfer of the networks d, resulting in no interruptions. Upon hearing this, Zinn said “I want this done the way I want to handle this with and ZERO INTERRUPTIONS!”, and during the comment, pounded three times saying, “ZERO INTERRUPTIONS!” and got into the official’s face as the available resolutions Zinn was offered did not meet Zinn’s standards and swearing at the official. Zinn was ejected and was initially given a one-show suspension and a year probation from NoSirGifts. Zinn served a one episode suspension for Vote for the Girls USA and UK from March 12-23 and March 21, respectively.

Then upon seeing her pick of Sarina-Joi Crowe was not saved, Zinn was shown allegedly hitting VFTG moderator Rhonda Rhodes under the chin to get her to make eye contact. Although Zinn didn't comment on the incident afterwards and has not yet done so, Rhodes, her wife (Tricia), and NoSirGifts President and CEO Jack Steele insisted that Zinn did nothing wrong and that she merely lifted Rhodes' chin and told her, "Hold your head up and don't worry about mistakes. Just vote for our picks." Rhodes commented, "She was trying to teach me and I had my head down so she raised my chin up. She was telling me to go out there and don't be afraid to make mistakes. She said I was being too hard on myself after Shi Scott and Lovey James were eliminated." Rhodes later died on March 14, 2015.

2010 and 2015 Sexual Assaults

On June 10, 2010, Zinn was admitted to Methodist Hospital after being sexually assaulted by a black man in Indianapolis. She was released on June 11, 2010. Zinn returned to the production of Vote for the Girls as scheduled the following July.

Zinn suffered a second sexual assault on the afternoon of April 22, 2015 by a black woman that had unprotected sexual intercourse without Zinn's consent. However, she returned to the Vote for the Girls set the same night filming of the American Idol Top 6 Result, and the moderator panel questioned Zinn's mental state at the time.

In May 2017, Zinn announced on her YouTube channel she had been sexually assaulted fifteen years earlier.

September 2016 Burger King Incident

On September 2, 2016, a clip of Zinn delivering news about an accident she witnessed while walking on the north west side of Marion, Indiana thirty minutes earlier on her personal Facebook profile. In the video, a Burger King customer honked directly at Zinn, to which she later admitted to almost swearing yet posted #ThugLife on her YouTube channel. The incident received praise from viewers and fans, who praised Zinn's unexpected and deadpan delivery.

2016-17 Mental State Concern, Ulcers and Domestic Violence incident

From November 2014 until May 2018, viewers in the United States and United Kingdom began noticing that Zinn's voice sounded uncharacteristically gravelly and unhealthy during Vote for the Girls shows.

Zinn's poor mental health also prevented her from completely covering the death and funeral of Christina Grimmie and a previously scheduled episode that was scheduled to be aired at the start of 2017. On May 31, 2017, Zinn informed viewers through a Facebook Live message that she had been bullied and cyber-bullied and became a bully herself with post traumatic stress disorder, and was starting treatment the following week.

During an interview with Karly Jameson on The Karly Jameson Show on January 4, 2017, Kymberly Alvaraz and Holly Everman revealed to Jameson that Zinn had hosted Vote for the Girls while she was visibly depressed for the last two years. Sophia Williams also expressed her concern as she felt "Zinn didn't properly announce the winning moderator upon Laurie's victory and the episodes had been recently shoddy at best" but Williams did indicate Zinn did properly congratulate her and her then-girlfriend (now transgendered wife) as the winning moderator of the 11th season of The Voice. Everman recalled during rehearsals for "The Voice 11 Semi-Final Result", Zinn wore a winter hat and wore the same exact outfit when DaNica Shirey was eliminated approximately two years earlier after Zinn's girlfriend was acquitted for fatally shooting Khayla Chow and never saw Zinn wear a skirt or dress in public from her April 22, 2015 sexual assault until a week after Zinn began vaping in March 2017.

In a Facebook post by Alvaraz on January 18, 2017 and by Zinn a day earlier, it was revealed that Zinn was diagnosed with a stomach ulcer and was starting treatment the following Monday. Zinn stated the ulcer was attained she was involved in a "classic case of workplace violence" after Zinn learned something was done without her knowledge or consent.

On January 19, 2017, Zinn was involved in a domestic violence incident with Alvaraz after Alvaraz chocked Zinn over a $650 dental bill. Zinn arrested Alvaraz at Zinn's apartment in Marion, Indiana after Zinn gouged Alvaraz's eye. Alvaraz was escorted by Zinn's 18-year-old adopted daughter, Ashli, to the Marion Police headquarters at approximately 3:30 p.m. Thursday, January 19, 2017, and Alvaraz was charged with second-degree strangulation, second-degree battery, second-degree threatening and disorderly conduct for allegedly choking her girlfriend, Ava Zinn. On January 20, 2017, Alvaraz pleaded no contest to threatening and breach of peace charges.

October 2017 Incidents

On October 2, 2017, Zinn suffered a bite wound on her left wrist by Pink Team East and fellow I-69er moderator Maribel Mort upon seeing local contestant Addison Agen (Zinn picked Agen due to strict moderator rules) did not get a four chair turn during the blind auditions of season 13 of The Voice on October 2, 2017, Mort shoved Pink Team North moderator Andrea Coolranch onto the floor after Coolranch reportedly pulling Mort's hair-tie and repeatedly throughout the episode, Pink Team South moderators Karla Hansen, Breeanna Sorensen and Jenna Monroe, and Zinn's fellow Purple Team moderators Thia Tola and Jenny Riva all lost their tempers as Mort pulled off Coolranch's necklace and Riva ripping off Tola's pants. Riva and Mort respectively then threw Tola's pants and Coolranch's necklace onto the notorious Cat Pound fan section of Ava Zinn and Alexandra Moffitt audience and were promptly thrown to the ground by Sorensnen. Riva and Mort then proceeded to strike Tola and Hansen, respectively, on the back of their heads before being pulled away by Purple Team North Moderators Rachael Passalt and Kendra Ray.

On October 10, 2017, Zinn suffered a minor shulder injury after Red Team West Villain Kye Sanchez punched Red Team South Villain Clark Jones after Jones took offense to a comment made by Zinn's fellow Purple Team moderator Devin Martin as the audition of a villain's audition on The Voice and an argument between Martin, Bria Savage, Purple Team South Moderators Tim Doogan and Ben Donbar. Zinn fell to the floor in the incident.

A week later, on October 16, 2017, Zinn was stabbed by Pink Team West moderator Sally Brock during a bench-clearing brawl on the set of Vote for the Girls USA. Brock was tackled by security officers, identified as Hank Cash and George Williamston, on the set and was arrested. Fellow moderators Nadia Lorenzo, Marla McClinton, and Andrea Coolranch also suffered injuries with Zinn suffering stab wounds to the neck and forearms (narrowly missing Zinn's respective cervical (neck) and brachial arteries by millimeters). Zinn's fellow Purple Team colleagues Peta-Alyce Kaizer and Ben Donbar died from similar wounds Zinn suffered from as Kaizer and Donbar had extensive blood loss through a severed brachial arteries .

Brock and her brother Kent Morgan were arrested by security guards on the VFTG set. Police said both Brock and Morgan had confessed.

Morgan and Brock were both charged with two counts of felony first-degree murder and four counts of aggravated assault. If convicted, both Brock and Morgan, they could be sentenced to life imprisonment.

2022-23 Overall health scare

Throughout the summer of 2022, observers noticed Zinn appearing uncharacteristically appearing and her voice sounding gravely ill, particularly during taping for the fourth season of Caprice & Ella.

Zinn's poor overall health also prevented her from completing production of "Breaking Boiling Point", which was eventually completed on November 3, 2022.

On November 1, 2022, Zinn sustained a major back injury and ankle sprain following the aforementioned move in "Breaking Boilling Point." The back spasam was confirmed on December 12, 2022 and ankle sprain was determiend to be caused by type 2 diabetes and unofficially diagnosed on February 23, 2023–hours following an incident at her home that eventually led to Zinn suffering a second heart attack on April 15, 2023.