Laila Ali Reveals Passions for Life and Family [Interview]

By Carol Ruth Weber reprinted from weberlifedesign.com/blog

Laila Ali, renowned as the daughter of famed boxing legend Muhammad Ali and, in her own right, as a retired professional boxing star, is so much more than what one sees when gazing at her image in the media. Behind her gorgeous and vivacious exterior is an amazing intelligent woman who speaks her mind about staying true to one’s self, and is continuously striving to conquer new goals.

The importance of family and staying healthy are ideals that the beautiful soul proudly articulates. After speaking with Ali, one walks away feeling as if they can win at anything, as long as they strive for honesty, and stay in control of one’s own destiny — just as she has.

Laila Ali speaks up about people needing to begin the road to feeling good from the inside out:

When your body is working as it should on the inside, you feel as if there isn’t anything you can’t accomplish.

Happily married to former NFL player Curtis Conway, Ali is mom to her two children, a son Curtis Muhammad Conway Jr., and a daughter, Sydney Jurldine Conway, as well as three older step-children. Her most important focus is on family.

Ali is a Vital Woman Who Speaks Up

Ali has now fashioned a career working to spread her knowledge educating on how to stay healthy and beautiful. She successfully and continuously morphs her know-how to help others through her website and other endeavors.

The passionate former boxer answered questions regarding her family and passions for life in her well versed and thoughtful honesty.

Carol Ruth Weber: Laila, you were an entrepreneur at a very young age, owning a nail salon and working as a manicurist — was it a difficult choice to trade in beautiful nails for a boxing career?

Laila Ali: No, because of the many similarities of having the opportunity of being in control. I have always been an ambitious person. I like to play by my own rules. My ambitions always included that I wanted to work for myself, and stay in control of my success, whether it was running a salon, working as a boxer, or now running a successful business. Boxing was the perfect sport for me since it is a one-person sport that I could be in control of.

CRW: Did your successful skills as a business owner help you to move into boxing, and now your other endeavors since retiring from the boxing ring?

LA: I have always had high expectations for myself, striving to be the best at everything I do. It’s in my DNA. Authenticity is very important — be true to one’s self.

CRW: With a degree in Business Management, as well as owning a business, has it helped you succeed in balancing a successful family life along with a flourishing career?

LA: They are two separate things. Family comes first. Focus on being balanced — success is balance.

CRW: In addition to boxing what else have you inherited from your father?

LA: My father taught me how to be confident and to be fearless in life.

CRW: As a mother now yourself, what did you learn from your own mom?

LA: My mother is a super person that I have a lot of respect for. She is a very graceful woman who always had faith in her children, believing that she should not set limits on what they can accomplish by giving unconditional love.

CRW: Entering into the sport of boxing did your parents worry when you decided to follow dad into the arena?

LA: Of course! Although they were nervous, my parents never told me not to do it. My mother had much faith in me and knew that I could make it as a boxer. She is now relieved that I am finished with being in the ring.

CRW: As a family friend, what effect did Nelson Mandela have on your life, and what would you personally like to pay forward so that people may never forget such a wonderful human being?

LA: I first met him when I was around 20 years old. People need to remember his story, knowing his story teaches how strong we can be as humans. It is necessary to continue to share his story so it is never forgotten and its spirit is carried on.

CRW: Was it tough trading boxing for raising children, and which is more challenging to win at?

LA: Boxing was a piece of cake! Being a mother is the most challenging and rewarding thing I have ever done.

CRW: Now that you have stepped out of the professional ring how do you stay in shape juggling being a mom with everything else that you do?

LA: I have an easy favorite go-to workout routine. I simply do a circuit workout using a treadmill and hand weights. My working out on the treadmill consists of sprinting, then heading up hill, and finishing with speed walking.

CRW: What healthy snacks and foods do you eat, as well as recommend, and what healthy snacks do your children most enjoy?

LA: Instead of making chips and cookies the go to choices in my home, I make sure that there are always fruits and vegetables available for myself and my family. I enjoy making vegetable soup that is a healthy dish to eat. It is important to stay away from processed foods. My children enjoy the fruit and vegetables as well, plus my son now likes protein shakes that he says taste like chocolate milk.

CRW: What is the one piece of advice that you have to give to help someone to achieve well-being, and be at their best in all facets of their lives?

LA: I strongly believe that good health begins from within and urge people to begin their road to a healthy lifestyle by first looking at their digestive heath. Feeling good from the inside should be the first step. Once one learns how to eat right and healthy they can then continue on their road to a healthier and more-fit self by exercising and continuing to eat properly.

Ali is a unique person that many can learn from. Her drive to be the best at what she strives for in life, while also having an honest and gentle soul that shows true caring and understanding of others’ needs, makes her an amazing role model for people and children of all ages.

I am thankful to of had the chance to sit down and speak with Laila, and am grateful that she welcomed me to share my experience of meeting her with my own daughter. Laila Ali is truly a beautiful person inside and out, and strives to pass on her aura to all.

Learn more about the curly #hairpower lifestyle influencer —
Visit Carol Ruth Weber at weberlifedesign.com