Ashley Cain: Children, Safiyya Split, Daughter Azaylia & New Baby

When Ashley Cain first appeared on MTV’s Ex on the Beach, viewers knew him as a former footballer with a reality-star swagger. But the years that followed told a much heavier story—fatherhood, devastating loss, and a public reckoning with grief.

Born: 27 September 1990 ·
Known for: MTV’s Ex on the Beach and The Azaylia Foundation ·
Children: Azaylia, Aliyas and Atlas ·
Former football clubs: Coventry City and Luton Town ·
Foundation role: Founder and trustee of The Azaylia Foundation

Seven key biographical markers, one pattern: Cain’s public identity has constantly been rewritten—from footballer to reality star to grieving father to advocate.

How did Ashley Cain get famous?

Ashley Cain’s rise to public attention started on the football pitch, then shifted to reality TV. Born on 27 September 1990 in England, he played as a winger for Coventry City and Luton Town (BBC News). After his football career, he became known to a wider audience on MTV’s Ex on the Beach, where his on-screen persona was labelled a “bad boy” (Apple TV).

What football clubs did Ashley Cain play for?

He featured as a winger for Coventry City and Luton Town during the 2010s. The move from lower-league football to reality TV was an unusual pivot, but it opened doors to further media work, including appearances on The Challenge and his own documentary Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone.

What is Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone?

A reality-adventure series where Cain pushed his physical limits. The show is part of his post-football media portfolio, alongside work as a DJ, personal trainer, and business owner.

The implication: his pre-existing celebrity became the platform for his most difficult chapter.

How many children does Ashley Cain have?

Ashley Cain has three children: a daughter named Azaylia and sons Aliyas and Atlas. Azaylia died in 2021 at eight months old. His sons were born after her death—Aliyas in January 2024 and Atlas in November 2024 (Birmingham Mail).

How many baby mums has Ashley Cain got?

The exact number is not fully confirmed in public sources. Safiyya Vorajee is confirmed as the mother of Azaylia. The mothers of Aliyas and Atlas have not been publicly named, though Cain announced Atlas with a statement that did not name the mother.

What has Ashley Cain said about raising his sons?

In social media posts and interviews, Cain has spoken about wanting to give his sons a “normal” upbringing while keeping Azaylia’s memory alive. He has described fatherhood as “the only thing that matters now.”

The pattern: fatherhood has become his central public identity after loss.

Who has Ashley Cain got a baby with?

His daughter Azaylia was born to him and Safiyya Vorajee (BBC News). The couple were in a relationship at the time. Cain’s two sons were born after he and Safiyya separated, and public reporting has not identified their mothers.

Who is Safiyya?

Safiyya Vorajee is the mother of Azaylia Cain. She and Ashley Cain were together during Azaylia’s illness and treatment, raising over £1.5 million for specialist care.

Are all of Ashley Cain’s children by the same mother?

No. Safiyya is the mother of Azaylia. His sons Aliyas and Atlas have a different mother—or possibly two different mothers—though the information has not been publicly confirmed.

Why did Ashley Cain and Safiyya split?

Ashley Cain and Safiyya Vorajee parted ways roughly a year after their daughter Azaylia died. Cain publicly announced the separation in March 2022, describing it as coming after “a devastating year.” Safiyya later described the split as “quick and brutal” (Mirror).

When did Ashley Cain and Safiyya split?

The split reportedly occurred weeks before the first anniversary of Azaylia’s death in April 2022 (Mirror). They have not reunited romantically, though they appeared together publicly in 2024 after the birth of his second child.

What did Ashley Cain say about his regrets with Safiyya?

In a Facebook video, Cain acknowledged he would have done some things differently but said he had no regrets about their shared fight for Azaylia (Ashley Cain Facebook). He added that the couple would always be “bonded by our daughter and our commitment to the foundation.”

The catch: their shared purpose was not enough to hold the relationship together.

How did Ashley Cain lose his daughter?

Azaylia Cain was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia at just eight weeks old. Despite raising more than £1.5 million for specialist treatment in Singapore, she died in April 2021 at eight months (Sky News). Her funeral drew public tributes across Coventry and Warwickshire.

What is the Azaylia Foundation?

The Azaylia Foundation was set up in Azaylia’s memory to support families affected by childhood cancer. Cain is its founder and trustee. The charity funds research, provides financial help to families, and raises awareness.

What has Ashley Cain said about grief?

Cain has been open about the lasting toll of Azaylia’s death, describing it as “something you never get over.” He has said parenting his sons has helped him rebuild a sense of purpose, but he continues to speak about carrying Azaylia’s memory forward.

What this means: his advocacy and his grief are permanently intertwined.

Is Ashley Cain still with Safiyya?

No, Ashley Cain and Safiyya Vorajee are not together. After their split, Cain became a father again. His current relationship status has not been publicly confirmed. His public focus remains fatherhood, fitness, and the Azaylia Foundation.

Who is Ashley Cain’s current partner?

Not publicly identified. Cain has not introduced a partner in any official capacity.

Has Ashley Cain had more children since Safiyya?

Yes. He welcomed a son, Aliyas Diamond, in January 2024 and another son, Atlas Diamond Cain, in November 2024.

The consequence: his family timeline is partially public, partially guarded.

Timeline

• 27 September 1990 – Ashley Cain is born in England.
• 2010s – Plays professional football as a winger for Coventry City and Luton Town.
• 2010s – Appears on MTV’s Ex on the Beach and gains reality TV fame.
• 2021 – Daughter Azaylia dies; Cain and Safiyya later split.
• Two years after Azaylia’s death – Cain welcomes a new baby.
• January 2024 – Son Aliyas Diamond Cain born.
• November 2024 – Son Atlas Diamond Cain born.
• 23 June 2026 – BBC reports Cain says he is “not proud” of historic sexist social media language.

Quotes from Ashley Cain

“I’m not proud of it.” – on historic sexist social media language (BBC News)

Ashley Cain

“Ex Pro, The First & Only Man In History Into The Danger Zone, Founder & Trustee of @theazayliafoundation. Azaylia. Aliyas. Atlas.” – Instagram bio (Ashley Cain Instagram)

Ashley Cain

“It was quick and brutal.” – on her split with Ashley Cain (Mirror)

Safiyya Vorajee

What this all means

Ashley Cain’s story is not a simple arc from footballer to reality star to grieving father. It is a layered, ongoing negotiation between private pain and public identity. The death of Azaylia reshaped everything—his relationships, his purpose, his sense of self. For Cain, the path forward is clear: keep Azaylia’s memory alive while raising his sons in a world that watched him fall apart. That means continuing the foundation, navigating co-parenting relationships that remain partially private, and confronting his past missteps publicly. The alternative—retreating from the spotlight—would betray the very openness that made his grief so relatable.