In June, the Project Runway host talked about being biracial and residing in a "predominantly white neighborhood." She told E!'s Daily Pop!, "There was some diversity, but certainly not many Black children, and even fewer biracial kids." 

She added, "I have a Black mother who is a very proud Black woman. A gospel singing Black woman, we grew up in the Black church. And my dad is the hippie, freestyle, guitar playing, rock music loving white man."

Elaine continued, “They agreed before we were born that we were going to be raised as Black kids because that is how America will treat us and see us. And so while we are obviously very proud of where we come from and all of our heritage, it was important for them that we centered Blackness and celebrated Black culture in our household because they knew what we would be up against in the world."

Due to the open conversation in Elaine's family, she told the outlet that she felt "very equipped with the ability to call things as I see them and stand up for myself." She also credited her mom as being a "Black mother role model" and saving the co-host from having an identity crisis.