Who is Sumner Stroh? Meet the 23-year-old Instagram model who said she had a year-long affair with Adam Levine of Maroon 5
- 23-year-old Only Fans and Instagram model Sumner Stroh said she had an affair with Adam Levine.
- In screenshots, Levine appears to tell the model he's considering naming his third child "Sumner."
Sumner Stroh, a 23-year 0ld influencer and Instagram model, went viral this week when she posted a TikTok saying she had a year-long affair with Maroon 5 musician Adam Levine.
The video, viewed 21 million times, was posted five days after Behati Prinsloo, Victoria's Secret model and Levine's wife of 8 years, announced the pregnancy of their third child. (Levine and Prinsloo share daughters Gio Grace, 4, and Dusty Rose, 5, together).
In it, Stroh said she "was having an affair with a man who is married to a Victoria's Secret model," and said she felt "manipulated, adding: "At the time, you know, I was young, I was naive, and, I mean, quite frankly I feel exploited. I wasn't in the scene like I am now. So I was definitely very easily manipulated."
Stroh said Levine came back into her life months after they'd ended the affair with a June 1 Instagram DM that said he was considering naming his third child "Sumner." A representative for Stroh previously shared a screen recording of the messages with Insider, verifying they were sent from Levine's account to Stroh's.
"Ok serious question. I'm having another baby and if it's w boy I really wanna name it Sumner. You ok with that? DEAD serious," the message from "The Voice" judge read.
She told viewers she "knows the stereotypes" about Instagram models and said she initially planned to handle the matter privately but shared screenshots "recklessly" with friends. One then attempted to sell the story to a tabloid, prompting Stroh to go public.
Summer Stroh's Texas roots
According to her Facebook page, Stroh was born in Houston but went to high school in New Braunfels, Texas. The 23-year-old graduated from high school early and studied advertising at the University of Texas at Austin. Stroh used to run a small YouTube channel where she primarily filmed clothing hauls, beauty tutorials, and travel content, but these days she primarily posts content to Instagram (427K followers), TikTok (448K), and Only Fans (40K likes).
While a student, she worked as a media manager at online dating app Bumble and an influencer for fast-fashion brand Boohoo. She currently works as a marketing manager of an accessories company with her sister, Baylen Stroh.
According to the company's "about us" page, Strung by Stroh was inspired by "Baylen's love of making jewelry with her grandmother and little sister every summer growing up." Stroh is also signed to the Verge Agency talent management company.
In a 2020 YouTube video, the sisters said that they're very close but have "high highs and low lows" in their relationship. In the same video, Stroh talked about trying to quit vaping by using Nicorette, calling her habit "so ratchet."
In September 2021, Stroh posted a reel from Maroon 5's Del Valle, Texas, tour date, showing herself just feet from the stage.
Levine denied accusations but acknowledged he 'crossed the line'
Levine denied the affair with Stroh in a statement provided to TMZ and his Instagram story on September 20, though he said he "crossed the line."
"I used poor judgment in speaking with anyone other than my wife in ANY kind of flirtatious manner. I did not have an affair, nevertheless, I crossed the line during a regrettable period of my life," he said in the statement. "In certain instances it became inappropriate. I have addressed that and taken proactive steps to remedy this with my family."
"My wife and my family is all I care about in this world," Levine added. "To be this naive and stupid enough to risk the only thing that truly matters to me was the greatest mistake I could ever make. I will never make it again. I take full responsibility. We will get through it and we will get through it together."
Sumner responded to comments in another TikTok
In a follow-up video, Stroh responded to a comment suggesting she was portraying herself as a victim and said she was "embarrassed" and "disgusted" with herself, telling viewers she believed the couple had separated but were keeping the news quiet "to avoid the negative press."
"I only came forward because I wanted to kill whatever story the tabloid had," she said, adding that she was "under the impression" that Levine and Prinsloo's marriage had ended. "I believed that they were keeping it quiet to avoid the negative press," she said. "I just assumed with celebrities of that caliber that that's just how it was. That's why I feel exploited — because he knew I believed everything he said." Stroh said she ended things upon realizing the two weren't separated.
"In retrospect, I wish I would've questioned things more" Stroh continued. "I wish I wasn't so naive, but, you know, being naive is not an excuse for what I did and the role I played in this."
A representative for Stroh previously told Insider, "The affair took place from summer of 2021 until recently," but declined to provide further comment.
A representative for Levine did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.