The Ultimate Fighting Championship is one of the largest sports leagues in the world and the biggest MMA organization by a mile. However, with huge success comes a great amount of hard work and a fair share of controversies. Over the last few years, UFC president Dana White has been under scrutiny for issues like fighter pay, post-retirement insurance, contract disputes, and more.
However, what fans choose to ignore is the more accommodating and thoughtful side of Dana White. One such incident rings a bell, dating all the way back to 2008. It involved ring girl Rachelle Leah and the UFC brass. Leah joined the promotion as a ring girl at the young age of 19. The opportunity of a ring girl knocked on her door because of the media snapping her picture at a UFC event prior and posting it on an MMA fansite.
However, it was in 2008 that she got a breakthrough opportunity to pose for the world-renowned Playboy magazine. It is worth mentioning that it was UFC, her employer at the time, that brought the gig to her feet. As per the California resident, the brass called her and asked: “if she would be interested to do it.” Upon her parents’ approval, she got back to the UFC and they got the deal done. She went on to pose for the cover of Playboy’s November 2008 issue.
When asked about Dana White, her boss at the time, Leah candidly shared, “What I’ll say is, what you see is what you get with him. He doesn’t keep anything away from anyone. There are certainly a lot of f-bombs flying around, though.”
Rachelle leah is back for the nj fight!!
— danawhite (@danawhite) March 11, 2010
Besides her infamous 2008 Playboy shoot, Leah has had a plethora of experiences in the showbiz industry. She is best known for being the host of UFC All Access. Apart from this, she has also been a part of TV gigs including The Ultimate Fighter, Inside the UFC, Spike’s Sexiest NYC Bartenders, Carson Daly Show, The Nick and Jessica Variety Show, and The WB Morning Show. etc.
Rachelle Leah has a net worth more than today’s UFC ring girls
Despite having several TV and movie gigs branching out of her modeling career, fans still remember Leah for her ring-side walks around the Octagon and her 10-page editorial in Playboy magazine. It is noteworthy that more ring girls like Brittney Palmer and Arianny Celeste have made their way to the magazine’s front over time.
As per virgiwiki, Rachelle is comfortably sitting on a net worth of over $1.5 million.
The ring girls currently signed to the promotion earn an average of $1000 in fight fees with an additional $5000 during PPV events. However, depending on the magnitude of the Pay-per-view, its location, and the main card fighters, this amount may increase.
Arianny Celeste is perhaps the most famous ring girl signed to the company. Per reports, she takes home a check worth a massive $1 million annually. This makes her the highest-paid ring girl amongst her peers. The iconic model made her UFC debut at the ripe age of 21 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Paradise, Nevada.
Another Octagon girl, Camila Oliveira, has been with the promotion since as early as 2013. She reportedly earns $50,000 per annum, becoming the 2nd highest-earning ring girl in the UFC today. Brittney Palmer, who has also posed for Playboy in recent years, bags a good $30,000 annually holding the board in-between fights. Another known face in Chrissy Blair is reported to take home about $30,000 or close annually.
At present, Rachelle Leah is living her best in Los Angeles, California. She is dating Rob Traill, the founder of Flesh and Bones, a broadcasting and media production company. Aside from her modeling avenue, Leah also runs her own Amazon shop.