Prior to serving in the legislature, Manlove worked in the accounting industry, public and private sector. She also served as an intelligence analyst for the Missouri National Guard. She was recognized in 2013 with the Army Achievement Medal for outstanding service as an intelligence analyst.

Manlove is dedicated to addressing the critical issues that are creating crises in her district. She is focused on the criminal justice system, and has placed a priority focus on the education of young people in the urban core with an eye on the school funding formula and job development.

Bland Manlove attended St. James United Methodist Church as a child and is a member of the National Black Caucus of State Legislatures and the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women.

Ashley attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., and Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, where she received an Associate in Liberal Arts.

Bland Manlove was born and raised in urban Kansas City, Missouri. She has two relatives who served in the state legislature. Her uncle is former State Rep. Craig Bland, and her grandmother is former House member and State Sen. Mary Groves Bland. Both Craig and Ashley served as Chairs of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus. Ashley is the first openly LGBTQIA+ person to do so.