Anna Shay's 4th Husband Was from a Different Class – Facts about Her Personal Life

Reality star Anna Shay was married to an American husband who she welcomed a son. However, before that chapter in her life began, she had previously exchanged vows thrice.

Anna Shay, who passed away on June 5, 2023, at 62 due to a stroke, captivated fans with her lavish lifestyle, bejeweled fashion, and wise words in "Bling Empire," a Netflix reality series starring wealthy Asians and Asian-Americans in Los Angeles.

Although she gave viewers a glimpse of her luxurious lifestyle in the reality show, she was an eccentric socialite, and billionaire heiress, who had been married and divorced four times.

Anna Shay's Ex-husbands Have Diverse Identities

Anna was born in Japan to her father, Edwin Shay, an American industrialist and billionaire who founded the defense company Pacific Architects and Engineers, and her mother, Ai Oizumi Shay, was of Japanese-Russian descent.

While much of her life, including her influential family background, has been widely known, little is known about her past marriages. However, in an April 2022 interview with The Times, Anna opened up about it and her parents' role.

While her parents shared a strong bond and were deeply devoted to each other, Anna found replicating their relationship dynamics in her marriages challenging. She said:

"When you put your parents on such a high pedestal, it is hard. My father was my hero so, without consciously saying, 'You are not measuring up to my father,' one day it's like 'Oh my God, I believe it's time for divorce.'"

Anna Shay had four husbands, all of whom she divorced on good terms. While she preferred to keep their identities private, she did disclose some of their names.

Anna Shay's first husband was a British man named Connor, whom she met in high school. She secretly tied the knot with him because he needed a green card.

However, her father found out about her secret marriage and immediately resolved the matter privately, but that did not stop her from marrying again. Anna Shay's second husband was a member of the American Navy, and their relationship was quite complicated.

She met him in Bangkok through some Navy friends. However, the group encountered legal trouble while loading crates onto the ship, leading to their arrest. Fortunately, Anna found them a lawyer.

At the time, Anna also viewed marrying one of her Navy friends as a solution, and she did it. She even visited her spouse in jail on several occasions.

While Anna embraced the role of a protective mother to her son, it was because of Kenny she had not pursued any new relationships.

But Anna's parents eventually discovered her second marriage, but she told them it was due to an "emergency circumstance." Her mother insisted on a divorce and even gave Anna $10,000 to give to her second husband.

Anna followed her mother's instructions, and after completing the necessary paperwork, she handed over the money to her spouse and wished him well.

Anna Shay's third husband was a man from Ireland. She met her Irish husband as she emerged from the entrance of a hotel in New York. He happened to be passing by in a horse and carriage. Although Anna and her Irish husband eventually divorced after three years, she considered their union her first marriage and loved him.

Anna Shay's fourth husband was Ken Kemp, an American. However, their marriage lasted only five years. She claimed their split was because he could not deal with the traffic in Los Angeles.

She also expressed, "But I also think it must be hard for a man to marry a woman from a different class. My parents never put that pressure on him, but he put the pressure on himself."

One of Anna Shay's Husbands Shares an Only Son with Her

Anna Shay and her husband, Ken, shared a son named Kenny Kemp. Kenny is her only child who has now developed a deep passion for collecting eccentric glass art.

While Anna embraced the role of a protective mother to her son, it was because of Kenny she had not pursued any new relationships. She admitted she gave her son the "power of veto" when it came to potential boyfriends, allowing him to play a role in her romantic decisions.

In a Mixed Asian Media interview in June 2022, Anna shared her love for Italy. Whenever she visits the country, she playfully mentions how she has come close to getting married and humorously refers to this idea as "her problem."

Anna Shay, a Breakout Star in 'Bling Empire'

Anna emerged as a breakout star in the 2021 series "Bling Empire." She shared the spotlight with prominent figures such as Kane Lim, Christine Chiu, Kim Lee, Jaime Xie, and other Asian-American socialites from Los Angeles.

In a statement sent to Variety, Kim expressed shock upon learning about Anna's passing. Despite their issues, as shown in the series, Kim mentioned that she and Anna had a "great connection" in real life.

Anna imparted many words of wisdom to Kim, which she will always cherish. Throughout the series, Anna's vibrant personality shone through in various dramatic moments alongside her co-stars.

Kevin Kreider, another cast member, also paid tribute to the late star on Instagram by sharing a video montage of their time on the show, which has often been compared to the real-life version of "Crazy Rich Asians."

It offered an entertaining portrayal reminiscent of "Crazy Rich Asians," which featured a talented all-Asian cast, including Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, and Ken Jeong.