Ashley Cain has incredible revelation about his beard after admitting heartbreaking reason why he’d never shave it

Warning: this article discusses the loss of a child which some readers might find distressing.

Ashley Cain is fresh from the world’s first Ultraman challenge where he successfully crossed Britain three times from top to bottom - once running, once cycling, and once kayaking, over the course of just three months.

The 33-year-old TV personality, well known for his stints on Ex on the Beach and Five Star Hotel, suffered a monumental loss after he and his now ex-girlfriend, Safiyya Vorajee, lost their child, Azaylia, back in 2021.

After completing the challenge, which spanned over 2780 miles of physical endurance and mental strength, Ashley impressively raised over £217,000 for The Azaylia Foundation’s incredible Childhood Cancer PhD Scholarship Programme, which has already funded 5 PhDs.

Little Azaylia was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer at just eight-weeks-old, with tumours having grown on her lungs, stomach and kidneys. She sadly passed away after undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

Ashley revealed he was able to 'turn pain into purpose' through the 'guidance and protection' of Azaylia, who he describes as his 'hero watching [him] from above'.

After completing the Ultraman challenge, the former Coventry City footballer was able to finally return to his son, Aliyas, who he welcomed to the world earlier this year.

Speaking of his absolutely adorable baby boy that is his first child with his unnamed current partner, Ashley revealed the tot would be sharing a middle name with his late older sister, Azaylia.

"Aliyas Diamond Cain - 16.01.24, 4:32am, 9lbs 3oz. I will love you, appreciate you, guide you and protect you with all of my heart, for the rest of my life & you will have the most beautiful guardian angel heaven holds watching over you and protecting you too," he wrote.

"Welcome to the world my son. May your body be strong, your mind be wise, your heart be loving and your spirit be pure and truly powerful."

Fans will also notice that Ashley has been sporting some pretty impressive facial hair for quite some time now and, in an exclusive interview with Tyla, he's revealed just how 'personal' his beard is to him and opened up about why he won't be shaving it off anytime soon after making an incredible revelation about it.

"I guess my beard is something a lot more personal to me," he told us.

Ashley explained he can't describe the 'pain and emptiness' that losing a child leaves you with but bravely shared exactly why his beard means so much to him following the loss of Azaylia.

He recalled: "I remember in hospital, because it was Covid [and] because we couldn't leave the hospital, I couldn't get my hair cut, so I ended up growing this beard.

"And then as she got older, the more and more she got into it. She would grab it, she would run her feet through it. She would play with it."

Ashley shared how his beard was not only a form of comfort for little Azaylia but also for himself, adding: "So then when I when I lost Azaylia I thought, 'What do I have left there of her that she's touched, that she’s held, that’s meant something to her?'

"So for me, at the minute, when I need so much strength, I don't see a reason why I should cut it, and I've actually grown to kind of like it."

And in a beautiful turn of events, Ashley discovered that his son now also equally loves his beard for the exact same reason.

"He grabs it and plays with it," he told Tyla. "It's great for me, because when my son grabs it and plays with it and holds it, I think, 'that's what my daughter used to do'.

"He's playing with the same hair that she used to touch."

Ashley resolved: "Even though the beard represents that time, it represents the best time of my life, and also every time someone plays a bit now, it just reminds me of happiness.

"So it's great."

You can donate to Ashley Cain's GoFundMe for The Azaylia Foundation here.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.