Blac Chyna is no stranger to the public eye. She first came into prominence as a dancer at a nightclub and later became involved with the Kardashians. Chyna has always been known for being outspoken and determined, no matter who she offended along the way.
Chyna originally rose to prominence as a stunt double for Nicki Minaj in the music video for “Monster” before she caught the attention of Tyga. Her rise to fame has had many twists and turns, from having meltdowns on camera to suing the Kardashians. Keep reading as we unpack how she became such a controversial figure.
Started From the Bottom
Long before she was in a $100 million lawsuit with the Kardashians, Angela Renee White, aka Blac Chyna, was born in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., to Shalana-Jones Hunter (Tokyo Toni) and Eric Holland. Chyna’s family didn’t have much money, so she had to work many jobs, including taking orders at McDonald’s.
After graduating from Henry E. Lackey High School in Maryland, Chyna planned to attend Johnson and Wales University in Miami. However, she needed to save money for tuition, so she started stripping in Maryland at age 19. Chyna planned to work at local clubs for two years to have enough money for school.
Taking a Different Route
When Chyna moved to Miami for school, she continued stripping at the popular King of Diamonds club. She had an exotic look because of her half-Jamaican and half-Vietnamese background, and people began to take notice of her. She loved the attention and money stripping brought her, and she was good at it.
However, she couldn’t juggle stripping and her classes at Johnson and Wales because she was always exhausted. Chyna decided to drop out of school to pursue stripping instead. Chyna later told Elle magazine, “It wasn’t working out for me. My mom used to be a stripper, and she supported my decision.”
Popular With the Customers
While working at the King of Diamonds club, Chyna became one of the most sought-after dancers. At that point, she was still using the name Angela, and a customer suggested she go by Blac Chyna because it was easier to pronounce. She had also tested out the name Dora Renee, but it didn’t work well.
Many famous people frequented the club when she worked there, including Drake. In 2010, a year after dropping out of school, things started to move fast for Chyna. She got her first name drop on Drake’s debut album, Thank Me Later, in the song “Miss Me.”
A “Household” Name
In Drake’s song, he rapped, “Call up Kind of Diamonds and tell Chyna it’ll be worth the flight/ I be at my table stackin’ dollars till the perfect height.” The name drop came as a surprise to Chyna, but it definitely helped her career. The mention made her a household name in Miami’s hip-hop scene.
Soon, Chyna started modeling and graced the covers of Dimepiece, Straight Stuntin’, and Black Men. Those covers caught the attention of none other than Nicki Minaj. She needed a body double for her music video for the song “Monster” and asked Chyna to stand in. Chyna had the right body type for the part.
One Thing Led to Another
The music video was great exposure for Chyna, even though her face wasn’t shown. She said, “It was good Nicki rapping to bad Nicki, so they needed an extra body. They put her head on my body so it would look like she was rapping to herself.”
Chyna’s popularity skyrocketed, and another famous rapper had his sights set on her. Tyga started pursuing Chyna, asking her to join him on a tour with Chris Brown. Initially, she wasn’t interested and turned down his advances until January 2012.
Welcoming a Baby
Once she gave in, Tyga and Chyna’s relationship moved quickly. It started with her appearing in his music video for “Rack City,” which confirmed they were a couple. Later that year, the two welcomed their son, King Cairo, and Tyga proposed in December.
Although she was busy being a new mom, Chyna wanted to pursue another career. She enrolled in the JLS Professional Makeup Artist School. She and Tyga planned to get married after he proposed but delayed their wedding plans because of drama and their busy schedules.
Things Got Complicated
Through her relationship with Tyga, Chyna was introduced to Kim Kardashian. The two became unlikely friends and formed a close bond. However, their friendship became complicated due to issues in Chyna and Tyga’s relationship. She and the rapper broke up in 2014, and he moved on.
Tyga didn’t waste time by quickly moving on with none other than Kylie Jenner, Kim’s sister. He didn’t cheat on Chyna, but she was the last to know about their relationship. What made things worse was that Kim distanced herself from Chyna when Kylie and Tyga started dating.
Kicked Out of the House
Chyna was heartbroken by the split and felt hurt that Tyga and Kylie flaunted their relationship on social media. Chyna only found out about the relationship when Tyga kicked her out of the house they had shared. It was hard to handle losing her home and a close friend.
Anyone in Chyna’s position would have been destroyed, but she kept going because she had to take care of her son. She was angry about the situation because it felt like her close relationship with Kim and the Kardashians brought Tyga and Kylie together.
Cozying Up With Another Kardashian
Before things became uncomfortable between Chyna and Kim, the two frequently hung out. Chyna knew the whole family, including Kim’s brother, Rob. Although it’s not officially clear when they reconnected, Chyna started dating Rob sometime in late 2015, and they kept it a secret.
Rob felt uncomfortable because his little sister, Kylie, was dating Chyna’s ex, Tyga. Yes, it was a complicated and tangled web. However, Chyna and Rob decided to go public with their relationship in January 2016. Let’s just say, the Kardashians were not happy about the news.
Was It Real?
When Chyna and Rob announced their relationship, everyone questioned her motives. It seemed like she was trying to get back at Tyga and cozy up with the Kardashians, who could help her career. Others believed Chyna was using Rob for his money, and his sisters had many questions.
Although the Kardashians were hesitant, Chyna seemed to be a good influence on Rob. He had shied away from the public eye for many years, but Chyna brought him out of his shell. She also helped him adopt a healthier lifestyle. He seemed happy for the first time in a while.
The Media Heard It First
After a few months, the Kardashians started to accept Chyna and Rob’s relationship. Kim started hanging out with her former pal again, and Rob patched things up with Kylie, who previously felt “super betrayed.” They loved seeing Rob so happy, but that quickly changed.
Within just four months of dating, Rob proposed to Chyna with a massive diamond ring. It should have been a happy moment, but Rob forgot an important detail; he didn’t tell his family about the proposal. Instead, they heard about it in the news and weren’t happy.
More Shocking News
If the Kardashians thought a surprise proposal was a lot, they were in for an even bigger shock. When Rob finally sat down with his sisters to address the proposal news, he also told them Chyna was pregnant with their child.
If you watched Keeping Up with the Kardashians, you know how that went over. They were shocked, but they knew they had to accept Chyna because she would be family. The Kardashians did their best to include Chyna, and Kylie even gave the couple her blessing.
Filming Begins
Since Rob had stopped filming KUWTK, it was a surprise that he agreed to have a spin-off series about his relationship with Chyna. In the summer of 2016, the couple started filming for their upcoming show called Rob & Chyna, and Kris Jenner was fully supportive.
Shortly after the cameras started rolling, the couple had a big fight. In July 2016, Rob deleted all traces of Chyna from his social media pages. It led people to believe the two had broken up. However, a source said they were filming and had an argument but were still together.
Not Going Well
Things seemed to go back to normal for a while, and Rob even posted about Chyna on social media again in October 2016. But later that month, things took a quick turn. Rob went on a blocking spree, blocking his sisters and Chyna from his phone and Instagram.
On an episode of KUWTK, Kim told Chyna, “This is how he’s been for the last three years. I don’t know what the answer is.” Despite being at odds, Chyna eventually got in touch with Rob shortly before her due date.
The Big Premiere
In September 2016, Rob & Chyna premiered on E!, and there was plenty of drama from the start. The season featured Rob taking a paternity test because Chyna wanted to shut down tabloid rumors. This came right before their explosive fight.
Before giving birth, Chyna didn’t know if she wanted to stay with Rob because of their issues. She told her friend she offered to go to therapy with him. Chyna also sought advice from Kim, who offered to invite Rob to her house so the three could talk about the couple’s issues.
What a Dream!
The discussion went well, and it was the first time Chyna and Rob had spoken in a week. The following week, they welcomed their daughter, Dream Renee, on November 10, 2016. Cameras were rolling as Chyna prepared for a C-section, and Rob looked excited to meet his daughter.
Dream’s birth was featured in an hour-long special of Rob & Chyna. The couple believed their daughter would bring them closer together, but it didn’t take long for the fighting to start again. A month after giving birth, Chyna and Rob had a violent altercation.
The Beginning of the End
To say Chyna and Rob’s relationship was toxic would be an understatement. On December 15, 2016, the couple had a huge fight involving violent behavior. Chyna was accused of pointing an unloaded gun at Rob. The two then took their argument to social media.
Chyna’s Instagram was hacked, and she claimed Rob was behind it. Meanwhile, Rob posted several videos alleging Chyna took their child away from him, blocked him, and wouldn’t let him come onto her property to see Dream. Chyna responded with a post stating Rob could see their daughter.
A Short-Lived Reunion
Their violent fight was the final straw for Rob’s family. The Kardashians began to distance themselves from Chyna and took her off the guest list for the annual Christmas Eve party. They didn’t support the relationship, but that didn’t stop Chyna and Rob from trying to make things work.
In late January 2017, Chyna reconciled with Rob to celebrate their first anniversary. The couple shared their milestone on Instagram, but the reunion was short-lived. Chyna and Rob split again by mid-February and called off their wedding plans. Chyna was “fed up” with his behavior.
Things Got Worse
Although the couple broke up, that wasn’t the end of their story. In March 2017, the two prepared for their custody battle, and Chyna planned to seek full custody of Dream. The two seemed to keep things civil until July, when Rob posted naked photos of Chyna on social media.
Rob accused Chyna of substance abuse and infidelity and shared screenshots of their conversations. Chyna quickly took legal action by seeking a restraining order against Rob. She told ABC News, “This is a person I trusted. I felt betrayed.”
Hit With a Lawsuit
Shortly after Chyna and Rob agreed to joint custody, she was hit with a lawsuit from Rob and his sister, Kylie. The complaint stated Chyna attempted to choke Rob with an iPhone cord in December 2016 at Kylie’s home. They sued for battery, assault, and vandalism.
The lawsuit claimed Chyna only dated and had a baby with Rob to “extort the Kardashians for her own monetary gains.” As a result, Chyna countersued them, naming Rob, Kris, Kim, Khloe, Kylie, and Kendall for damaging her brand and getting her reality show, Rob & Chyna, canceled.
Tax Problems
In late 2013, Chyna launched a line of adhesive eyelashes called Lashed by Blac Chyna. The following year, she purchased a beauty bar in LA to offer makeup courses and sell her products. However, in 2018, her company was suspended by the State of California Franchise Tax Board.
The tax board suspended Chyna’s company for its “failure to file a tax return.” Her company couldn’t conduct business, and the storefront seemed to be abandoned. The tax issue must have been resolved because Lashed is back up and running.
Not a Great Year
In addition to her tax issues, 2018 was a rough year for Chyna because her adult tape leaked and went viral on Twitter. She took legal action to have the tape taken down, but it had already spread like wildfire on the internet.
The man in the video was her ex-boyfriend, Mechie, but he said he did not leak the tape. Unfortunately, the tape didn’t help her in her custody battle. Rob would later use it as an example of how she was a reckless parent and a bad influence on Dream.
The Battle Resumes
In early 2020, Rob filed for primary custody of Dream, claiming Chyna was “out of control.” He stated that Chyna was always hosting parties while their daughter was home and that she used drugs and drank excessively. He wanted to have Chyna’s parenting time reduced to only weekends.
The former couple reached a new agreement in late 2020, which gave them equal time with their daughter. However, Rob wanted Chyna to submit to drug and alcohol tests 30 minutes before each visit. As part of the agreement, Chyna dropped all claims against Rob but not the rest of his family.
Blac Chyna Vs. the Kardashians
Chyna might have had to dismiss her claims against Rob, but she was still going after the Kardashians for defamation and having Season 2 of Rob & Chyna canceled. In 2020, a judge denied the Kardashians’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit after viewing unaired footage from Season 2.
Chyna and Rob had started filming a second season before it was canceled when the two broke up. However, Chyna felt the Kardashians influenced the network to cancel the show as “revenge” for her leaving Rob. Chyna also claimed they wanted to clear the way for Kylie’s show, Life of Kylie.
Headed to Trial
Five years after filing a lawsuit against the Kardashians, Chyna got her day in court. Chyna rejected a settlement offer and proceeded to trial, seeking $100 million in damages. In April 2022, the trial started with Chyna’s mother being banned from the courtroom.
Her mother attacked the Kardashians on Instagram live, and their lawyer asked the judge to bar her from the courtroom for the family’s safety. During the trial, Kylie, Kris, and Rob testified with many accusations against Chyna. The judge also denied Chyna’s request to testify.
A Big Loss
The nine-day trial ended on May 3, with the jury ruling in favor of the Kardashians. The jury said the family was not justified in notifying the producers that Chyna harmed Rob but determined the family had no significant impact on Chyna’s career or her contract.
Chyna immediately announced her plan to appeal the decision, and her mother started a GoFundMe to raise $400,000 so that Chyna could appeal the verdict. The Kardashians also wanted Chyna to pay $390,000 in legal fees for the two-week trial. Chyna’s lawyer said they were trying to ruin her financially.
She Shared Her Story
Before the trial, Chyna got a chance to share her side of the story with her own reality show called The Real Blac Chyna. The series aired in 2019 on the Zeus Network for 13 episodes. The show was Chyna’s opportunity to give people a different look at her life.
Most of the season focused on the tension between Chyna and her mother and her day-to-day life. Unsurprisingly, Chyna has plenty of drama with and without the Kardashians in her life. She fought with friends and her employees as the cameras rolled.
Making Millions
Chyna may have sued the Kardashians for $100 million, but she earned double that in 2021. She started her OnlyFans in 2020 and became the top-earning creator the following year. According to Statista, Chyna made $20 million per month totaling $240 million.
During the trial, Chyna said OnlyFans was her main source of income, and she only made $1 million. She said she joined the platform to support her children and her career. Chyna claimed she didn’t get child support from Rob or Tyga and needed money to keep her businesses running.
False Claims
Chyna is controversial for many reasons, including her social media activity. In March 2022, Chyna told her Twitter followers that she had to give up three cars because she is a single mother with “no support.” In response, Tyga and Rob responded to the post.
Tyga said, “I pay 40k a year for my son’s school, and he lives with me Monday-Saturday. Why would I pay child support?” Rob added, “I pay 37k for my daughter’s school and handle every medical expense and extracurricular activity. She lives with me Tuesday-Saturday.”
Not Adding Up
Considering what Tyga and Rob said, it seemed valid that they didn’t additionally pay child support. Chyna had previously spoken about her agreements with both men. During a 2021 appearance on The Wendy Williams Show, Chyna said she was satisfied with their financial agreements.
Chyna stated, “If they’re doing their part on their end and I’m doing my part, that’s perfectly fine, and that’s co-parenting.” She didn’t seem upset about not receiving child support and even bragged about being about to take care of her kids without help. So, what was she complaining about?
Battle With Instagram Model
It seems like Chyna can’t catch a break. More legal issues came her way in October 2022 when Instagram model Ava Louise claimed she was held hostage at Chyna’s house for six hours. Louise said Chyna invited her over at 4 a.m.
Louise reportedly had to sign and was held in the house until 10 a.m. The Instagram model shared that Chyna said she had to wait until that time because her daughter, Dream, would be out of the house. Louise claimed Chyna then called an escort service, saying Louise would make a “good product.”
She Said, She Said
After Louise posted a TikTok about the events at Chyna’s home, Chyna sent a cease and desist letter from her lawyers. However, Louise did not back down and said she thought she was going to be the victim of a “sex crime.” Louise said she reported Chyna to the FBI.
Chyna’s legal team said Louise’s claims are a “desperate attempt to boost the TikTok star’s following.” The situation is ongoing and has yet to be resolved. Louise has made farfetched claims about others in the past, including Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
A Legal Win
Chyna has racked up many legal bills in the past few years, but she finally got a win on November 2, 2022. The charges against her in an assault case were dropped. Earlier this year, an altercation took place at an LA nightclub where Chyna allegedly kicked her friend in the stomach.
The incident took place shortly after Chyna lost the lawsuit against the Kardashians. Her friend, Sequoya King, accused Chyna of kicking her after she accused King of recording her. King denied the accusations, and their argument turned physical. However, Chyna is off the hook.
Tattoo Regrets
Chyna has at least 15 tattoos and has regretted some of them. She has the letters BC on her ankle for her initials and the name Jay on her arm for her ex-boyfriend, Almighty Jay. Chyna also has her children’s names tattooed on the sides of her hands.
She previously had the name Stevenson, Tyga’s last name, on her inner elbow, but she got it removed. Chyna had to cover up another Tyga-related tattoo with a henna design on her hand. Chyna covered up a back tattoo with an even bigger inking that covered her entire back.
Former Best Friends
Chyna was best friends with Amber Rose for many years, and the two were inseparable. They called each other sisters. Rose was the first person Chyna told about her pregnancy with Rob. However, fans noticed the two unfollowed each other in 2018.
The two didn’t post about each other for over a year until they seemingly repaired their friendship in 2020. Chyna and Rose couldn’t stay mad at each other and missed being friends. According to sources, the birth of Rose’s son in October 2019 brought them back together.
She’s Born-Again
Following the loss in the Kardashian lawsuit, Chyna decided to do something spiritual for her birthday on May 11. She posted videos on Instagram, saying she was “born again” after being baptized by a priest. Chyna’s family watched as she was dipped in her pool.
Chyna wore an all-white ensemble as the priest said a prayer before baptizing her. Her mom posted a video of the event on Instagram with the caption, “Having your mother around brings great change. Being humble is only one lesson learned.”
She Was Arrested
Rob should have seen the red flags from the beginning when Chyna was arrested for public intoxication in a Texas airport in January 2016. She was removed from the plane days after announcing her relationship with Rob and charged with possessing a controlled substance.
Chyna was released the following morning and posted a video to Snapchat to tell her fans she was okay. Rob reportedly gave her a stern talking when he came to pick her up. He didn’t like that Chyna was causing him more negative attention.
How Much Is Blac Chyna Worth?
Although she reportedly earned $240 million in 2021, Chyna is only worth an estimated $5 million. Some reports venture as far as $10 million, but they haven’t included her OnlyFans earnings. If she really made $240 million in one year, her net worth could be much higher.
Chyna owns a $4 million home and an array of high-end cars. Although she lost her $100 million lawsuit against the Kardashians, she doesn’t seem to be suffering financially. If she has to pay the Kardashians’ legal fees, it will be a big loss.
Khloe Called Her Out
In the new season of The Kardashians on Hulu, the latest episode featured the family discussing the trial. The season was filmed earlier this year when the trial took place. During the episode, Khloe called out Chyna for suing her while she was looking after Dream.
The family was anxious about the trial because the decision was left to a jury. Khloe was frustrated because she often took care of Dream, but Chyna still sued her. Chyna should be happy they are still talking about her and keeping her name relevant.