Ashley Cain said he was ‘smiling through tears’ as he reflected on his late daughter, Azaylia, who tragically died in April 2021 when she was just eight months old.
The 33-year-old footballer and former Ex on the Beach star was in a relationship with 36-year-old model Safiyya Vorajee when they welcomed their daughter in 2020 and were devastated when she died the following year after bravely battling leukaemia. The couple later split and Ashley has since welcomed a son named Aliyas with another woman.
On Easter Sunday, Ashley took to social media to share a string of photos of his late daughter eating a large easter egg. He wrote a touching tribute to her alongside the images - in which he confessed he was struggling to celebrate Easter Sunday.
He wrote: “Today is Easter and I'll be completely honest, I don't know how to spend these kind of occasions anymore. Day to day life, you suck it up and smile, but these times of the year prove extremely difficult. This day should be an incredibly happy day with my son, but since last night I haven't been able to stop thinking about the last Easter I spent with my daughter.
“The 4th April 2021 was a very sad and painful day for so many reasons and one that completely breaks me to revisit, as 20 days later, Azaylia took her final breaths and left us for heaven. Azaylia wasn't just my first child, but my first true love. She isn't only the love of my life, but the inspiration for my life itself. She truly became my Hero, and because of that, I vow to be her little brothers. So this Easter, not only will I try to smile through the tears for my son, but I will try with all of my heart to do it for my daughter.
Two strangers with exactly the same name and near-identical looks take DNA testHe added: "I love you champ, forever and always with everything in my heart and I miss you so much that it hurts, every single day. My love, my prayers, my thoughts and my smiles will be with you and for you today My little Angel."
Azaylia's mum, Safiyya, replied to the message with a touching message of her own. She wrote: "Heavenly Easter my precious baby this will always be one of mummys fav moments with you sitting back watching you tuck in to your Easter eggs!!! Love you always."
Followers were moved by Ashley's words and left messages of support in the comments section. One typed: "What a beautiful girl you will meet her again when ur time is up on earth, she will be waiting for you." And another wrote: "Now that perfect Angel is above watching over you two."
In December last year, Safiyya revealed she was finally feeling able to smile again after grieving for baby Azaylia. She enjoyed a group night out in the VIP section of a Christmas fair - sharing highlights on social media. In an online clip she was seen posing with pals Courtney Green and Elma Pazar as the girls drank cocktails at the festive night out. Sharing the clip herself, Safiyya captioned the video: "Really put a smile on my face tonight."