The Untold Truth Of Malika Haqq
Malika Haqq may not be the biggest star in the entertainment industry — frankly, if you're not a fan of reality television or someone who knows the kind of performers who fill relatively obscure roles, then you might not even recognize her name — but that doesn't mean that the minor celeb isn't wildly intriguing — because she definitely is.
"Our crowns may slip a tad but they never fall off," Keeping Up With the Kardashians star Khloé Kardashian captioned a photo of herself and Haqq that she posted to Instagram in June of 2020. Along with two perfectly apt crown emojis, she also added the hashtags #Queens and #BFF. You may now be thinking to yourself: "Ooooh, that's who Malika Haqq is!" Yes, she's primarily known as the reality TV star's best friend who occasionally pops up both on the show and in the celebrity's social media posts. As you might expect from two such fabulous besties, sometimes the duo can be seen on vacation together, on adventures with each other, or even just using a filter together as BFFs sometimes do.
However, there's a lot more to Haqq than just her role as a "professional best friend." From the complicated dynamics that make up her family to her other celebrity connections and surprising financial status, you'll surely be captivated by these facts about Haqq.
Malika Haqq has very different familial relationships
Relationships with relatives can be complicated at the best of times, and that's especially true when it comes to how one feels about their parents. While Malika Haqq was born in Los Angeles, Cali., her parents "immigrated from Khuzestan Province in Iran" before she was born, according to Iranian.com, which means that her background is Afro-Iranian. The area her mom and dad hail from is "Iran's most south-westerly province," The Guardian notes while explaining that its residents "fac[e] dust storms, dried-up rivers, and mounting pollution."
These days, there's quite a difference between how Haqq talks about her mother and how she speaks about her father. While Haqq seems to adore her mom — telling Kathleen Cross that she admires her mother's "strength," saying, "She's emotional, but she's 100% strong. I don't think I could have gone through half the things she went through" — she apparently doesn't have a close relationship with her dad. The star explained, "I don't see my father at all. When I was very little I did, but not since. Well, actually, I saw him at a family funeral once." She described the encounter as "awkward."
Haqq was also willing to open up about how her relationship (or lack of a relationship) with her absent father affects her, saying, "For me, it makes me distance myself as soon as I think a man is going to leave. I'm like let me leave you first."
Malika's a twin sister who had twin sisters
Along with the fact that Malika Haqq is a twin whose sister's name is Khadijah — she told Kathleen Cross, "I love being a twin. I never want to know what it's like to not have my twin" — the siblings have a brother, Jamal. However, it turns out that they weren't the only twins in the family that included five kids. In August 2018, Malika shared a photo of herself and her three sisters on Instagram, writing, "Most don't know, I grew up like this. 2 sets of identical twin girls in my home. I'm just one. Blessed my mama twice." Sadly, one of the elder twins died at the age of 18.
When Malika was asked by Kathleen Cross what was the hardest thing she's ever dealt with, she admitted, "Losing my older sister when I was twelve. My mother had two sets of twins. One of my older twin sisters died ... and it profoundly affected me and Khadijah. We lived in fear that one of us was destined to die at eighteen."
Fortunately, the twins have thrived and, in October 2019, launched their own Facebook show, aptly titled Side by Side with Malika and Khadijah. Khadijah told potential viewers in an Instagram video that despite being twins, "We're really different in a lot of ways. We happen to have different opinions on just about everything." That may be true, but these sisters still consider themselves to be "best friends."
This star has a passion for an extreme pastime
Plenty of celebrities risk their lives for the rush of adrenaline that comes along with surfing, rock climbing, or bungee jumping. And then there are the stars who jump out of a plane and rely on a parachute to whisk them down back down to the ground — including Viola Davis, Carrie Underwood, Chris Evans, and Tom Cruise. When asked by Kathleen Cross about something that people would be surprised to learn about her, Malika Haqq admitted, "I love sky diving."
However, while Kendall Jenner and Scott Disick — who are both related to Haqq's best friend, Khloé Kardashian — took the plunge (or rather, the dive) back in April 2018, Haqq hasn't really shared any details about if she's actually done the daredevil-ish deed.
Perhaps that's because she's waiting for the right time to do it. Or the right someone to do it with. In fact, Haqq takes skydiving so seriously, that she explained to Kathleen Cross, "I've always said that 'the one,' if he loves me, he'll jump with me." Talk about taking a leap for love!
The public figure struggles with anxiety
"Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year," reveals the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Malika Haqq is one of those people. The star opened up to Hollywood Life in 2019 about her struggles and how she copes, revealing she uses CBD oil, her diet, and exercise.
In fact, she even promotes a specific brand of CBD aides. According to Hollywood Life, "beam [is] a Boston-based CBD wellness brand that uses organic, pharmaceutical grade, full-spectrum CBD products, 100% free of THC." While taking to Instagram to share a (paid) post about beam, she noted that using the oil is her "favorite way to start the day." Although she also seems to like the "Lavender & organic Eucalyptus Essential Oil salve."
Beyond that, when it comes to using exercise to deal with her anxiety, Haqq explained, "I've always had a very small, petite frame, and I wasn't working out because I wanted to lose weight, I was working out because it was good for me — mind, body, and soul. And having anxiety issues, working out is really good for you, to get your blood pumping." She added that it helps her "manage and control how [she] was dealing with stress." Frankly, she says, "It did make me feel better about myself."
Malika Haqq's dating history includes celebrities
Malika Haqq may have a famous best friend in Khloé Kardashian, but she's also dated her fair share of well-known men. For instance, while there "aren't many details" about her relationship with the Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter, Haqq and the pop singer reportedly dated in 2002, according to People. However, the public only found out about their relationship "in a March 2015 episode of [Keeping Up With the Kardashians]."
Fans can also thank the Kardashian family's shows for informing them that "after some over-the-top flirting through the early seasons" of KUWTK, Haqq and Rob Kardashian revealed that they were "hooking up" during the first season of Khloé & Lamar (way before the disastrous Blac Chyna days). Haqq's BFF (who is also Rob's sister) admitted, "Obviously I want my best friend and my brother to have like, a good relationship, but this is way more than I ever asked for."
Haqq has also been connected to Jersey Shore's Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Arizona Cardinals football player Adrian Wilson, and O.T. Genasis. While Haqq and the rapper had broken up at the time, in March 2020, the pair became the parents to a baby boy named Ace Flores. Although it's unclear whether or not Haqq and O.T. Genasis will reignite the romantic part of their relationship, when Haqq announced that she was pregnant, she seemed pretty content with her situation, telling People, "I feel really good about where I am in my life."
Malika Haqq froze her eggs before welcoming her baby
"As women delay motherhood and take their time in finding the right partner, fertility experts see egg freezing becoming more popular," according to CNBC. What's also becoming more popular is women feeling comfortable opening up about their decision to freeze their eggs, including celebrities like E! News host Maria Menounos, former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe, and Modern Family star Sofia Vergara (although that decision has resulted in heaps of embryo-related drama for the actress). Malika Haqq is another person on that list.
While Haqq welcomed a baby boy, Ace Flores, into the world in March 2020 with her ex, "Look at That" rapper O.T. Genasis, she revealed in November 2019 that she had decided to take her reproductive future into her own hands a year before she got pregnant. "Deciding to freeze my eggs as a gift to myself for my 35th birthday was pretty hilarious now at this point because I have eggs in the freezer I may never use," she said on her Facebook Side by Side Show while chatting with her twin sister, Khadijah Haqq. If you're curious, that happens to be "the average age of women getting the procedure done," which is down "from 38 in 2016," CNBC notes.
Granted, Haqq apparently didn't end up having the eventual follow-up baby-making procedure done, as she explained, "I made a baby in love, and those eggs weren't necessary."
There was backlash around her 'post-pregnancy makeover'
Before the birth of her son, Malika Haqq took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and a doctor, writing, "Stopped by just to see my fav [Dr. Jason Diamond] and I'm fully book [sic] for my post-pregnancy makeover. I can't wait!" If you recognize that name, you might have seen Diamond on Dr. 90210 or Netflix's Celebrity Plastic Surgeons of Beverly Hills.
Haqq's social media followers had a range of reactions to the post. Some merely wanted to know what she was referring to, while others informed Haqq that she was "already beautiful" and didn't need to have any plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures done. Others were simply not impressed. "Sad that's why you're looking forward to," one person wrote. Another person responded to the post by commenting with: "Malika, this is not normal! Your world is scary and vain."
Although it would have been totally understandable if Haqq refused to acknowledge anyone critical of her decisions regarding her own body, she decided to respond to one person who commented by writing, "Lol wait who said I was getting surgery?! I don't need it. Never have boo boo." While that doesn't explain why she was visiting a celebrity plastic surgeon while planning her "post-pregnancy makeover," again, this first-time mom doesn't owe anyone an explanation.
Khloé Kardashian, boss lady?
While you may know who Malika Haqq is, you might not be aware of what she does. For the most part, in the past, she has worked for Khloé Kardashian in one way or another. Back in 2015, E! premiered a reality show that "feature[d] the Dash Dolls a.k.a. the women who work at — and represent — Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé Kardashian's store, Dash," according to Glamour. Naturally, this included Malika Haqq.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that "to any fan of reality television, so much is familiar here. The series [was] a hybrid of Real Housewives, The Real World, and the mother ship: Keeping Up with the Kardashians." Apparently, that wasn't a good thing. The show involved "lots of staged conversations and conflicts," "product placement [that was] beyond awkward," and a discussion "about the virtues of posing nude." Unfortunately for those involved, that didn't thrill viewers, and the show only lasted for one season. And while Kim claimed that "[b]eing a 'DASH doll' also opens up a lot of other opportunities," apparently for Haqq that meant another job with Khloé.
Following Malika's stint at Dash, she became Khloé's assistant when Keeping Up With the Kardashians became popular, and while Khloé was married to former NBA player Lamar Odom, Life & Style points out. However, she "quit that gig in 2012" in order to focus on her own career. She told Juicy magazine (via Bustle), "My main focus is to get back into features."
The reality TV star is also an actress
Malika Haqq may be famous for appearing on Keeping Up With the Kardashians, however, her onscreen work goes beyond reality TV. She's also an actress who's appeared on Entourage (as Video Ho #3) and Las Vegas. However, her better-known roles are likely her portrayal of Penny in the 2005 family comedy film Sky High, which starred Kurt Russell and Kelly Preston, and as Star in 2006's dramatic crime movie ATL, in which you can also see performances by T.I., Lauren London, Evan Ross, and Big Boi.
However, Malika's acting career hit a snag when her twin sister, Khadijah Haqq, who was also an actress and often appeared alongside her identical sibling, decided to get married and step back from the spotlight somewhat, which Malika felt affected her own chances of getting gigs. While the two initially faced some "drama" over the "sister issue that may derail their dreams," according to Hip Hollywood, Malika told the outlet, "I'm not mad at her anymore ... maybe a little resentful but I'm not mad."
While Malik's latest role was in Definitely Divorcing, that was back in 2016, so it seems as if she might still be waiting for her big break when it comes to her acting career.
Malika Haqq may not have as much money as you think
Malika Haqq's efforts trying to establish herself as an actress have paid off — literally. She "earned her net worth through her acting roles in films such as Sky High and ATL, as well as her roles in television shows such as The Bernie Mac Show and Las Vegas," according to Celebrity Net Worth. And as a "regular on the reality series Keeping Up with the Kardashians," she's undoubtedly given a nice payday considering the famous family has reportedly signed deals that range from $80 million to $150 million over the years, per Cosmopolitan. Haqq also brings in money via her makeup collaboration with her BFF Khloé Kardashian, and her various ad deals with brands like Smile Direct Club, Essentia Water, and even K-Y Lubricants.
And it certainly seems like Haqq is living the kind of life that takes a fortune to fund. Her social media followers know that she cruises (and poses for selfies) in a Bentley Bentayga, strolls in Burberry, and chills on a big boat. And then there's that drool-worthy shoe collection. All of that has to cost a pretty penny!
However, while Haqq may hang out around millionaires — she's not a millionaire herself. Celebrity Net Worth estimates that she has a relatively small fortune of $600,000. Granted, that's nothing to scoff at, but it's certainly not the kind of money that her peers play around with.