(Instagram/TheRealLailaAli)
Laila Ali is Muhammad Ali’s eighth child and youngest daughter. She also followed in her boxing legend father’s footsteps and today she is a retired, undefeated professional boxer. Prior to getting into boxing, Ali was actually a manicurist as a teenager and owned her own nail salon “Laila’s Nail Studio.” When she turned 18 years old, she then started boxing and she became a huge success, amassing a net worth of $10 million.
Read on to find out about Ali’s marriages, her legal issues in the past, and how she saved Hulk Hogan’s life.
1. When Ali Was Arrested, She Was Abused in Jail
Unfortunately, Ali was arrested several times and even endured physical abuse while incarcerated. Ali was a rebellious child who stole her mother’s car, was arrested for shoplifting and was caught committing credit card fraud, according to BlackPast.org. Ali ended up spending time in juvenile hall, jail and a group home as well. Click here to check out Ali’s book on Amazon, where she talks about the abuse she endured and her rocky past.
2. She Has Been Married Twice
In 2000, Johnny “Yahya” McClain and Ali became man and wife. McClain then began managing Ali’s career until the couple decided to divorce in 2005. Laila Ali is currently married to husband former NFL player Curtis Conway, who she married on July 23, 2007. They have two children together, a son named Curtis Muhammad Conway, Jr. and daughter Sydney Jurldine Conway. Conway also has three children from a previous relationship.
3. Reality TV Has Been a Big Wheelhouse for Her
Even though Ali was an extremely successful boxer, she has also had the opportunity to become a well-known TV personality, appearing on countless reality television shows. Some of the more notable shows she has appeared on include Dancing With the Stars, American Gladiators, Fashion Police and The Biggest Loser. Ali has also hosted All In with Laila Ali and Late Night Chef Fight.
In January 2016, Ali was announced as being a season 8 competitor on The Celebrity Apprentice.
4. Her Mother Is Her Dad’s Third Wife
Laila Ali’s mother is Muhammad Ali’s third wife, Veronica Porsche Ali, and her parents divorced when she was just 8 years old. After their divorce, Ali was raised in the Los Angeles area with her mother and sister, Hana. Ali’s mother had some small acting roles in her career, but is most known for being one of Muhammad Ali’s ex-wives. She was also married to jazz singer Carl Anderson until his death in 2004.
5. Hulk Hogan Says Ali Saved His Life When He Was Suicidal
In the past, Hulk Hogan has said that Laila Ali saved his life by calling him on the phone when he was depressed and suicidal. In 2009, Hogan told Today:
All of a sudden the phone rang, and it was Laila, and she said, ‘Hey, what’s going on? You’re on the set. You’re all depressed. We’re worried about you. You going to be OK? She called with no agenda, just to say hi and check on me. It snapped me out of it. At that moment I switched gears. I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. Her voice saved my life, it really did.
Hulk Hogan confessed that he had been contemplating suicide, going on a downward spiral while dealing with his divorce and the serious auto accident that his son Nick was involved in. Hogan explained:
My son had this horrible accident with his best friend. My wife and I had a marriage that had been unraveling for a long time. It was a bad situation. All of a sudden I got into this downward spiral.
Hogan and Ali starred together as hosts of the American Gladiators revival in 2008.
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