As influencer redemption arcs go, Ashley Cain’s is perhaps the most impressive and tear-jerking in equal measure.
From playing the villain on reality TV shows to a bereaved father honouring his late daughter through a series of gruelling challenges, this is the inspirational story of Ashley Cain.
Grab yourselves a box of tissues, because this isn’t going to be an easy ride.
Early Life & TV Appearances
Much like many influencers in the fitness space, Cain has a background in elite-level sports. In fact, he achieved his childhood dream of becoming a professional footballer.
Born in Nuneaton, Cain, now 32, rose through Coventry City’s academy ranks before signing his first professional contract with the club in 2007.
A natural winger, he made his debut in England’s second tier against Charlton Athletic before later enjoying stints at Luton Town, Oxford United, and Mansfield Town, amongst several other semi-professional outfits.
While he continued playing football sporadically, Cain took a sidestep into reality TV following an Achilles Tendon injury, appearing in MTV shows The Challenge and three different seasons of Ex On The Beach.
It was Ex On The Beach that made him a recognisable face in the influencer circuit, and he quickly developed a reputation for being a womaniser and all-around bad boy.
Cain did, however, eventually settle down with now ex-partner Safiyya Vorajee and the pair welcomed their daughter Azaylia Diamond Cain into the world in 2020.
The Loss Of His Daughter
Tragically, at just seven weeks old Azaylia was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. The pair raised £1.5m to fund specialist treatment in Singapore, but after a hard-fought battle, Azaylia died in April 2021, aged eight months.
Cain documented the young family’s struggle on his various platforms and gained massive support from the influencer community, the general public and mainstream media alike.
Azaylia’s fight against cancer touched the hearts of millions and raised awareness about childhood cancer globally, which inspired Cain and Vorajee to start a charity in their daughter’s name.
Cain and Vorajee have since parted ways as a couple but insist they remain united by their work, with the latter stating the experience helped forge an ‘unbreakable bond’ between them.
Both have talked extensively about how they navigated their grief, with Cain making several appearances on talk shows and popular radio stations in a bid to help others who are experiencing similar plights.
In an interview with Good Morning Britain in 2022, Cain poignantly explained that he hasn’t cut his beard since his daughter’s passing because she used to ‘touch those very hairs’ while she played with it from her hospital bed.
For a man who has spent his whole life in the spotlight for very different reasons, he has embraced his public journey through loss and heartbreak with grace and strength.
Ashley Cain Book & Fundraising Challenges
Just last month Cain released ‘Strong: Life, Loss and Eternal Love for My Daughter’, a memoir in which he reflects on his struggles since Azaylia’s passing.
The book touches heavily on Cain’s strength and resilience. Though it is a moving tribute to his daughter, it encompasses the practical and positive mindset that he now embodies, tying his emotional and physical grief to his extreme challenges.
Such challenges have included five marathons in five days and cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats. His latest test is by far the most extreme, however.
This month the TV star and philanthropist is taking on the Yukon 1000 – often described as the world’s toughest survival race.
The challenge will see him kayak down the Yukon River from Whitehorse in Canada through the Arctic Circle to Dalton Highway Bridge in Alaska in the US, covering a total distance of 1,000 miles.
Cain and his teammate, Gary Johnson – a personal trainer, hope to complete it in seven to eight days, which means they will need to cover 120-125 miles (193-201km) each day.
Throw in the added threat of camping in territory inhabited by bears and wolves, and it’s a pretty extreme and dangerous endeavour.
Ashley Cain on Instagram
Since making the move from a career in football to being a reality star and influencer, Ashley’s built his Instagram up to an impressive 2 million followers. You can find him at @mrashleycain, where he shares loads of photos and videos of his life, his family, and his (often epic) experiences.
Ashley Cain Net Worth
There are several reports on Ashley Cain’s net worth, each offering vastly different figures. The general consensus seems to be between $1m to $2.3m, although these could be wide of the mark.
That being said, what Cain brings to the influencer community is far more important than how much money he has.
His growth as a person has been extraordinary, and the way in which he has handled the loss of his daughter is nothing short of admirable.
Next, check out our posts on David Laid and Chessie King.
Relationships
As far as we know Ashley isn’t dating anyone at the moment. He was with his ex-girlfriend Safiyya Vorajee from 2017 until 2022 when they separated after the tragic loss of their daughter Azaylia. Their daughter was just 8 months old when she passed away following a battle with a rare form of leukaemia, and while the pair are still working together on the Azaylia Foundation they couldn’t make the relationship work.
In January 2024 Ashley announced the birth of his son, Aliyas, but he’s not revealed who the mother is yet. All he’s shared is the fact that she is an old friend of his who he’s known since he was 18 and who he’s dated on and off over the years. While they’re not in a relationship Ashley is planning on being a very hands-on dad and has already shared several pictures of his son on his Instagram.
Ashley Cain’s Beard
While he’s famous for his time as a footballer, stints on reality TV shows, and tireless work for the Azaylia Foundation raising money to fight childhood cancer, there’s no doubt that Ashley is also well known for his signature style when it comes to his facial hair.
There’s a heartbreaking reason he’s decided he’ll never shave off his beard though. Speaking on ITV’s Real Full Monty he revealed that he sees his beard as a connection to his daughter Azaylia who used to love holding on to it and playing with it.
Inspirational Author
Cain has talked a lot about the loss of his daughter and his experiences with grief and mental health, and in 2023 he released a book titled ‘Strong’ which really breaks down what the family went through and how he’s found the strength to keep going.
Described as ‘heartbreaking and powerful’, the book is a real insight into the type of man Ashley is and how he’s working to keep his daughter’s name and legacy alive by raising money for the foundation he set up with Safiyya to help fight childhood cancer.
Former Footballer
Before taking the reality TV world by storm with appearances on Ex On The Beach and The Challenge, Ashley played football for Championship side Coventry. The Winger also had loan spells at Luton, Oxford United, and Mansfield Town over the course of his career.
He left the sport after rupturing his Achilles tendon during his first game for CS Gaz Metan Medias.
Hint: You can learn about tons of other footballers on Goalissa, or read more about Tommy Fury Showing Off Immense Strength Training With Eddie Hall
Photo credits: Ashley Cane’s Instagram.
