Raine Michaels is having a moment. Fresh off her Netflix debut on Calabasas Confidential, she's introducing viewers to who she really is beyond the famous last name. But long before the cameras started rolling, she was growing up in Scottsdale, where she spent her days biking through DC Ranch, hunting for scorpions with a black light, and learning life's biggest lessons from her parents.
As her dad, Bret Michaels, continues his legendary career, Raine is carving out one of her own, built on authenticity, kindness, and a passion for animal rescue. We caught up with the Arizona native to talk family, fame, and reality TV.
Most people know Bret Michaels the rock star. Who is Bret Michaels the dad?
He's incredibly supportive, always picks up the phone when I call, and somehow always finds time for the people he loves. What surprises people most is how much he genuinely cares about others. Whether it's family, friends, fans, or someone he's never met before, he has a huge heart.
Arizona has long been a special place for your family.
Arizona will always feel like home to me. It's where I spent some of the most formative years of my life, made lifelong friendships, and created so many memories with family and friends. Looking back, I feel incredibly lucky to have grown up there before moving to Calabasas for high school.
Do you have a favorite Arizona memory growing up?
Frying an egg on the sidewalk in the summer, going to the waterpark because it was too hot to be outside, having a 75-degree Christmas, watching haboobs roll in, and going scorpion hunting at night. We even had families of coyotes and javelinas living on our property. Looking back, it really was one of the coolest places to be a kid.
You seem remarkably grounded for someone who grew up around fame.
My parents always made sure my sister and I understood how fortunate we were, but also that nobody owes you anything. We were taught to work hard, be kind, and give back. A huge part of that also comes from volunteering and animal rescue.
What's a piece of advice your dad gave you that didn't make sense at the time but does now?
My parents always taught me to treat people the way I wanted to be treated. It sounds simple, but as I've gotten older, I've realized how important that advice really is. Some of the most meaningful relationships and opportunities in my life have come from being kind to people and treating everyone with respect, regardless of who they are or what they do.
Your dad is often open about his health battles. What did that teach you about resilience?
We always joke that my dad is like a cat with nine lives, and somehow he's still got a few left. He's faced some pretty scary health challenges, but he's never let them define him. Watching him continue to show up for his family, his work, and the people he loves has taught me a lot about resilience, perspective, and gratitude.
What's the most "dad" thing Bret Michaels does?
Trying to wake the entire family up at 6 a.m. to play pickleball. He's convinced everyone should be awake and active before sunrise, and somehow always has way more energy than the rest of us. I blame the coffee.
What's the best thing about being Bret Michaels' daughter?
Getting to learn from him. Obviously I've had opportunities because of who he is, and I'm grateful for that, but the greatest gift has been watching how he treats people, how hard he works, and how much he loves his family.
What made you say yes to Calabasas Confidential?
I had already experienced reality television as a kid, but this felt like an opportunity to show who I am as an adult. People are always going to have assumptions, so I liked the idea of giving viewers the chance to get to know the real me.
You describe yourself as the "voice of reason" on the show.
That's just who I am. I've always been the friend who tries to see both sides and help people work through things. But I wouldn't take advice from me all the time. I was also the one making FeetFinder jokes and dancing with random people whenever the opportunity presented itself.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
The work I've done in animal rescue. Whether it's fostering dogs, fundraising, networking animals into homes, or using my platform to raise awareness, that's the work that means the most to me. Modeling and television have given me incredible opportunities, but being able to use those opportunities to help animals is what I'm most proud of.
What's next for you?
I'd love to do more hosting and storytelling. I've always loved connecting with people and hearing their stories, whether that's in sports, entertainment, or animal rescue. My dream would be to build something that combines all of those passions in a meaningful way.
instagram.com/rainee_m
"A 75-degree Christmas, watching haboobs, going scorpion hunting... looking back, it really was one of the coolest places to be a kid."