Laila Ali was born in Miami Beach, Florida, and raised in Los Angeles after her parents’ divorce when she was nine. Her path was anything but straightforward — teenage run-ins with the law led to time in a group home. However, she turned her life around and by 16, she had opened her own nail salon. 

She followed in her father’s footsteps, boxing legend Muhammad Ali, although he had initially opposed her boxing career. She turned professional in 1999, before retiring in 2007 with a flawless 24–0 record and five world championship titles. After retiring, Ali moved into television, where she co-hosted NBC’s revival of American Gladiators in 2008. 

Laila Ali went on to host All In with Laila Ali on CBS, Everyday Health on ABC, and the Emmy Award-winning Home Made Simple on OWN, which she hosted for six seasons starting in 2017. She also made history in 2012 as the first woman to provide expert boxing commentary for NBC Olympics coverage. Additionally, she has served as a three-time host of the ESPN Sports Humanitarian Awards and currently hosts Food Network’s Chef Grudge Match.