Former boxer Laila Ali is pretty busy right now, but it’s not with opponents or training for a fight. These days, she’s a brand new mother to daughter Sydney, born earlier this month, and son Curtis, Jr. almost three. But motherhood doesn’t mean she doesn’t make time to continue her entrepreneurial ways.
Ali was once a licensed manicurist, and being healthy and beautiful are important to her. Her new line of hair and skincare products are geared to women who enjoy healthy lifestyles and include an anti-aging skin crème, body lotion, cleanser, shampoo, conditioner and even relaxer.
We caught up to Ali, resting at home while taking care of her newborn baby girl to talk to her about her new self-titled product line, motherhood and what it takes to be beautiful.
BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM: Congratulations on your new baby girl. How’s it going?
LAILA ALI: It’s going good. I’m just not getting much sleep right now, but I expected that with a newborn after my first one. I’m breastfeeding, so I’m up every hour and a half. Sleep is like … whew … if I could get just one hour of sleep.
How old is your son now?
He’ll be three in August, and the times I do have to rest, I have to give that time to him because he needs it, too. But I’m not the first one doing it. Mothers have been doing it for years. I can hang, I can handle it.
Does it help having been an athlete and having the discipline from training and being in top-notch health and all of that?
I think so. My whole thought process is different probably from the average person. I’m very competitive so if see other women have been doing it, then so can I. If I know other women have been doing it, I know I can, too, and I want to do it better. For me, it’s a challenge, and when I’m dead tired, I just tell myself I can do it. So I have a coach in my head, basically, coaching me.
Of course other people have done it before, but sometimes people get inspiration from celebrities who have been through similar experiences. I can’t think of anything more challenging than being a mom of a newborn and a toddler.
I had my mind right before I had the baby, and I knew what it was going to be. It was probably harder with the first baby because I knew what to expect. People ask what the biggest surprise about parenting was – it’s the amount of sleep you lose. I just didn’t realize how much sleep I was going to miss, but this time, I knew. It’s such a short time for the first few months to have to deal with in her life and in mine, so it’s fine.
Despite all of the mom duties, you have multiple businesses going on. You just started a product line. Tell us about that.
As far as the haircare and skincare, that’s what I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m so excited. To get it up and running was a lot of work, in terms of formulating the product and getting it how I wanted it. It was a lot of work. I pretty much did my job, and now it’s about my team getting it in the stores and on the shelves. And then I’ve got to start working again because it’s now time to promote the product. (Laughs)
What stores can folks find the products in?
Right now, it’s in Wal-Mart and Sears, and it is going to …..
What made you want to do the line in the first place?
Since I was young, I was always into natural beauty, and that starts with your hair and starts with your skin. Healthy hair and skin really stand out, and you don’t have to wear a lot of makeup if your natural beauty shines. I wanted to create an affordable, quality product that actually does what it says it’s gonna do. Of course, you know that I had black women in mind, and I wanted to address our needs, but it’s a product that anyone can use. I’m eventually going to add to the [product line].
People always compliment me on my skin and my hair and ask what do I use, but for me, it starts with taking care of yourself, and it starts from within. It’s eating right, drinking water, taking vitamins and rest.
So, what’s next for you? Are you heading back to the ring or is that over with?
I don’t think you’re going to see me doing anything else athletically. I’m trying to get back into the shape I was in [before the baby.] (Laughs)
You had a gorgeous husband before, and you’ve got a gorgeous husband now. Any tips for the single ladies?
A lot of time, as women, we need to work on ourselves and get ourselves right. We always have this big list of wants, and we have to make sure we’re somebody someone else would want as well. Then you have the women who are like, “I’m perfect, and I have a good job, and I have money,” and sometimes the attitude has to be a adjusted. You don’t have to need a man, but God meant for us to be together. Everyone likes companionship. You have to let a man be a man and let a woman be woman. Get rid of the baggage, and be people that somebody would want to be around.
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Laila Ali’s self-titled line is in Sears and Wal-Mart stores now. If you want to get in shape with Laila, who’s trying to lose her baby weight, you can work out along with her at www.facebook.com/lailaali.
