What Really Happened to Maia Campbell? The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of a 90s Icon

The Breakdown: After disappearing from the spotlight, fans are curious about what 90s star Maia Campbell has been up to.

A young Maia Campbell became America’s sweetheart when she portrayed Tiffany Warren in the NBC-produced sitcom In the House.

The series, which also starred LL Cool J, Debbie Allen, Jeffery Wood, Kim Wayans, and Alfonso Ribeiro, initially followed struggling ex-NFL player Marion Hill, who rents out a portion of his home to a single mother named Jackie and her two children.

Maia, who acted as the teenage daughter of Debbie’s character, instantly gained the label of a fan favorite with her quick-witted sass and runway-model appearance.

Maia was born in Takoma Park, Md., and raised in Los Angeles. She’s the offspring of the late, famous authors Bebe Moore Campbell and Tiko Campbell, who was also an architect. Maia’s Hollywood introduction reportedly came in 1993 in the iconic film Poetic Justice and an episode of ABC’s Thea.

She would go on to obtain roles in various classic shows and movies, including 1994’s short-lived comedy South Central, In the House (1995-1999), Sister, Sister (1998), Trippin’ (1999), and Seventeen Again (2000), among others. The Twenty-four/Seven host further attained popularity as a music-video girl, featuring in LL Cool J’s “Ain’t Nobody” (1996) and Tyrese Gibson’s “Sweet Lady” and “Lately” (1999), to name a few.

Unfortunately, the promising Black actress’s life underwent several twists and turns. Maia’s public (and private) hardships sparked concern for many fans and even friends who’d viewed the talented entertainer in her prime.

Maia was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1998. According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Bipolar disorders are mental health conditions characterized by periodic, intense emotional states affecting a person's mood, energy, and ability to function.”

There are three main types of this disease: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder. As cited by the Mayo Clinic, bipolar disorder is a lifelong disorder that is treated by a combination of medicines and psychotherapy, and the method is dependent upon the sufferer's progression.

The year of her diagnosis, Maia married Elias Guitierrez, with whom she welcomed a baby girl, Elisha, in 2000, but divorced in 2002. Sadly, the trouper later lost custody of the youngster.

In 2006, Maia’s then-estranged mother, Bebe, passed away from brain cancer. This was the beginning of her heartbreaking spiral. An erratic video of her circulated on YouTube in 2009, where Maia looked to be heavily under the influence inside a vehicle.

Her stepfather, Ellis Gordon, shared in a statement with ESSENCE, “We have been struggling with Maia in her illness for quite some time. We continue to hold fast to our faith and hope that someday she will realize that healing will begin when she decides to reach out and accept the help and treatment that have been offered to her.”

Maia was arrested for theft and sent to a mental health facility in 2010. She sought guidance from life coach Iyanla Vanzant in 2012. During their sit-down, she opened up about dealing with trauma, sickness, reconnecting with her baby girl, Elisha, and mom grief. Iyanla told an in-denial, teary-eyed Maia, “Until you can say to me, ‘Iyanla, I did drugs, I ran the streets, I threw my dreams away–until you can say that, Maia, it’ll always be about them, and you will always be powerless.”

Sadly, after attempting to recover and dropping her tell-all Celeb Kids, alongside friend Rhoda Pruitt, Maia relapsed again. The same year of her episode of Iyanla: Fix My Life aired, Maia’s father, Tiko, died. In 2015, she was taken into police custody for “causing a drunken scene” at a Georgia Waffle House location, TMZ disclosed. A month before, she (allegedly) had a blow-up at a Burger King, resulting in her cursing a random family out and accusing them of stealing her wallet.

Despite documenting her rehabilitation in BET’s 2016 reality series From the Bottom Up, a recording of Maia (captured missing a tooth and barely clothed) begging for drugs at an Atlanta gas station went viral in 2017. This got the attention of her former co-star, LL, who took to Twitter (now X) to offer a helping hand, but the star refused.

She was arrested in an illegal street racing bust in 2020.

In April 2025, Maia (officially) resurfaced on social media, celebrating the 30-year anniversary of In the House’s premiere, and went on to share updated images of herself. Longtime supporters of Maia flooded the comments in elation about her return.

In an Instagram reel, Maia gushed, “Thanks for checking in and wondering if I’m okay. I’m doing great!” She expanded: “Everybody keeps asking me what I want to do with my career, and honestly, I can say that I really want to get in touch with Tyler Perry and have him produce my mother’s book, 72 Hour Hold.”

Bebe’s New York Times bestselling novel was released in 2005. The book (seemingly) chronicled her journey with Maia, as it told the tale of a mother’s fight to save her 18-year-old daughter who’s battling a severe case of bipolar disorder.

It’s great to see that Maia is still pushing, even through the painful misfortunes. We love a resilient queen!