Bianca Belair’s inspiring family story: How WWE’s EST overcame adversity, embraced her roots and built an angel family legacy beyond wrestling | WWE News
Bianca Belair’s rise to WWE superstardom has been defined by her incredible athleticism, her confidence and her championship success; but behind The EST persona is a deeply personal story built on family values, determination and a belief in building a legacy for future generations. WWE itself has noted how Belair’s family history has shaped the mindset that has helped her pursue greatness.That influence has been critical as Belair’s life has gone beyond the ring. After a decorated WWE career and marriage to fellow WWE Superstar Montez Ford, another significant chapter in her life began in 2026, when the couple welcomed their first child together, Romeo Leonardo Allen Crawford.
Bianca Belair’s inspiring family story
Belair has always defined family as more than just the immediate kin. WWE said she comes from a long line of African-American trailblazers, including her great-grandfather Edward N. Toole, a pioneering licensed electrician; her grandfather Edward G. High, a respected biochemist and educator; and her mother’s godfather Z. Alexander Looby, a civil rights lawyer and activist.Belair was given a strong early identity by those stories. She said she saw photographs and newspaper clippings about her relatives in her grandmother’s home and heard about their achievements and struggles. That family history became a source of motivation, not a record of the past.
| Family influence | Contribution |
| Edward N. Toole | Trailblazing licensed African American electrician |
| Edward G. High | Biochemist, educator and academic leader |
| Z. Alexander Looby | Civil rights lawyer and activist |
Bianca Belair overcame adversity before WWE success
Before she became one of WWE’s most recognizable female Superstars, Belair paid her dues in competitive athletics. WWE notes that she was an All-SEC and All-American track athlete, competing at the University of South Carolina, Texas A&M and the University of Tennessee.Her way was not exactly clear. The athletic pressure and body image issues became a personal journey for her, and the move away from traditional track competition caused her to rethink her future. Eventually, CrossFit and weight training provided an outlet for her athleticism.But that change eventually led to professional wrestling. Mark Henry saw Belair at a CrossFit competition and told her to look into WWE. Later, she remembered that he believed in her, and that made her own confidence stronger before she took the opportunity seriously.Belair’s WWE breakthrough proves just how well those experiences translate to wrestling. She won the Royal Rumble in 2021, main-evented WrestleMania 37 and defeated Sasha Banks to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Bianca Belair and Montez Ford embrace parenthood
The story of Belair’s family took a new turn with Montez Ford, with whom she built one of the best-known couples in WWE. The reality series Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez, which tracks their relationship, has also allowed fans to get a little more insight into the pressures of their careers and personal lives.Belair announced her pregnancy at WrestleMania 42 in April 2026, a huge personal moment in front of the WWE audience. Months later, she and Ford had their first child together. In August 2026, WWE confirmed they had a son, Romeo Leonardo Allen Crawford.The larger story behind The EST is her evolution from elite athlete to WWE champion and now mother, and the strength shown inside the ring has been coupled with family support, perseverance and a lasting commitment to setting a positive example for the next generation.
