Osi Umenyiora Wife: Leila Lopes Miss Angola UK Victory Controversy!

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A model and beauty queen from Angola, Leila Lopes is the wife of former New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora. In addition, Leila made history as the first Angolan to win the Miss Universe crown on 12 September 2011.

With that, she became the fourth woman from Africa in the pageant’s sixty-year history to win the title.

Ever since she was crowned the Miss Universe title, Leila has been making waves in the media and has been featured on the cover of several publications, including Selecta Magazine and New African Woman.

Leila Lopes
Leila Lopes On All White Outfit (Source: IMDb)

The power couple in the sports world, Leila and Osi, bonded in holy matrimony on 30 May 2015.

Leila’s husband, Umenyiora, holds the New York Giants record for the most sacs in one game.

Similarly, he is one of the five English players to have won a Super Bowl.

Today in this article, we will cover the model’s career, net worth, controversies, and many more. So please read the whole article.

Here are some quick facts on the former NFL player’s wife to help you get acquainted.

Osi Umenyiora Wife | Quick Facts

Birth Name Leila Luliana da Costa Vieira Lopes
Known As Leila Hopes
Nickname Leila
Date of Birth February 26, 1986
Zodiac Pisces
Age 38 Years Old
Birth Place Benguela, Angola
Current Residence New York, United States
Education University of Suffolk
Nationality Angolan 
Religion Not Known
Ethnicity African
Height 5 ft. 10 in/178 cm/1.78 m
Weight 58 kg/128 lbs.
Hair Color Dark Brown
Eye Color Dark Brown
Tattoo None
Sexual Orientation Straight
Build Slim
Distinctive Features Thin Lips, Well-Toned Physical Appearance
Father’s Name Geraldo Vieira Lopes
Mother’s Name Dulce Costa
Siblings Kleber Gomes Lopes (Brother)
Marital Status Married
Husband Osi Umenyiora (2015-Present)
Children Dijani Umenyiora (Son)
Profession Actress, Model, Beauty Pageant Titleholder
Manager NOPACTalent
Best Known As Miss Universe (2011), Spouse of Former NFL Player Osi Umenyiora 
Brand Deals  YOU C1000, Doritos, Elixxir Ultra Premium Wine, and Natures Gentle Touch
Net Worth $1 Million
Social Media Instagram
Merch  Osi Umenyiora Signed Football, Osi Umenyiora Signed Photograph
Last Update March 2024

Osi Umenyiora Wife | Early Life & Education

Leila Lopes, originally Leila Luliana da Costa Vieira Lopes Umenyiora, was born on February 26, 1986, in Benguela, Angola.

She was born to her father, Geraldo Vieira Lopes, and mother, Dulce Costa. Leila grew up along with her brother Kleber Gomes Lopes.

She attended the University of Suffolk in Ipswich, United Kingdom, where she pursued a degree in business management.

Lopes began participating in beauty pageants during her college days.

Osi Umenyiora Wife | Age, Height, Weight & More

Born in 1986, Leila is 38 years old as of 2024. As a February born, she falls under the sun sign Pisces, regarded as among the most sympathetic of the zodiac signs.

Leila stands 1.78 meters tall and weighs around 128 lbs.

The pageant winner has a lean build and looks super sexy in any outfits she dons.

Leila Lopes in Pink Outfit
Leila Lopes in Pink Outfit (Source: Healthy Celeb)

And it is a treat for her fans to know about her beauty secrets.

When it comes to beauty, she basically advises her fans to stay hydrated, get six to seven hours of sound sleep, and use sunscreen even when it’s not sunny.

Similarly, she hits the gym regularly to maintain her curves, and even if she is busy, she carves some time out to complete her daily sets.

Leila also believes eating healthy is another major aspect of staying fit and healthy.

Osi Umenyiora Wife | Early Career & Miss Universe

Early Career

Osi Umenyiora’s wife, Leila Lopes, began participating in beauty contests during her college days.

On 8 October 2010, Lopes participated in Miss Angola UK. She was living in England and pursuing her studies at the time.

Fortunately, she won the title, which eventually led her to the opportunity to represent the British Angolan community in Miss Angola 2010.

And the big day came on 18 December 2010 when she beat 20 candidates to be named Miss Angola in Luanda.

She not just won the title but also obtained the Photogenic Award.

This win led Leila to represent Angola in the 2011 Miss Universe.

Miss Universe

On 12 September 2011, Leila became part of history when she became the first Angolan woman to hold the Miss Universe title.

The former Miss Universe Ximena Navarrete of Mexico crowned Leila the 2011 Miss Universe title in São Paulo, Brazil.

In addition, Leila also became the 5th woman of African ancestry to win the title since its inception.

Leila Lopes Being Crowned Miss Universe By former Miss Universe Ximena Navarrete
Leila Lopes Being Crowned Miss Universe By Former Miss Universe Ximena Navarrete (Source: Broadway World)

Lopes currently is the 60th Miss Universe titleholder and the fourth woman from the African continent to win the title.

Ever since she won the title, she has become a famous Angolan figure and a leading African advocate to the world, and a role model to many.

She has well capitalized on her fame to serve the needy and unfortunate in Africa and all around the world.

Osi Umenyiora Wife | Social Works

As mentioned before, Leila has utilized her status as a well-renowned pageant winner to help people in need worldwide.

She has devoted her time and energy to raising awareness about AIDS and the discrimination people with the disease experience.

In October 2011, Lopes went to Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, to attend local charity events and Puteri Indonesia 2011 Pageant.

Similarly, from 9 to 14 March 2012, Lopes traveled to Düsseldorf, Germany, for a week-long USA/Armed Forces Entertainment tour.

During her travel, she was accompanied by fellow title holders Alyssa Campanella and Danielle Doty.

The same year, she visited Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

Osi Umenyiora Wife | Miss Angola UK Victory Controversy

As aforementioned, Leila was crowned Miss Universe in 2011.

However, after she was crowned, several allegations arose that false documents were used to allow her to compete in Miss Angola UK that qualified her for Miss Angola and, ultimately, Miss Universe.

It was also claimed that she had never lived outside of Angola at the time she participated in the pageant, so she should not have been permitted to enter the competition.

Leila Lopes Miss Angola
Leila Lopes Miss Angola (Source: Pinterest)

But Leila herself has stated that she had lived in England for four years and was legitimately eligible to enter the competition that was exclusively for Angolan citizens living in the UK.

Nevertheless, both Miss Universe organizers and Leila have denied such allegations about the false documents.

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About Osi Umenyiora

Osi Umenyiora, originally Ositadimma “Osi” Umenyiora, is a former American football defensive end who played for teams such as the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League.

Umenyiora played college football for Troy State Trojans at Troy University and was drafted in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

He holds the Giant’s record for most sacks in one game and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection.

Similarly, he is one of five English athletes to have won a Super Bowl.

Osi Umenyiora
Former Defensive End Osi Umenyiora (Source: British GQ)

Interestingly, he was not even invited to the 2003 NFL Draft Combine, and somehow, Giants picked him 56th overall in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft.

After ten seasons with the Giants, Osi signed a two-year deal with the Falcons on March 27, 2013.

However, he announced his retirement on August 26, 2015. And to retire as a Giant, Osi signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the team.

All in all, Osi played for 12 total seasons in the NFL, earning unparalleled success and fame.

Osi & Lopes

Winning the title of Miss Universe helped Lopes in many ways in her career, including meeting the perfect life companion, Osi Umenyiora.

It was perhaps because of the excess exposure that she garnered after being crowned the title that she and Osi began dating shortly after meeting.

Osi and Lopes Wedding
Osi and Lopes Wedding (Source: BellaNaija)

The couple became engaged in February 2013.

Similarly, the former NFL defensive end and Lopes wed in Lopes’s native Angola on May 29, 2015.

They have two children together; Dijani Umenyiora (son).

Also Read About Eric Decker’s Wife: All About Jessie James Decker!

Osi Umenyiora Wife | Net Worth

The Angolan beauty queen Leila Lopes has a staggering $1 million net worth as of 2024.

Her wealth can be attributed to all the beauty contests and pageants she has won throughout her career.

Being crowned Miss Universe alone earns the winner a six-figure salary. So, Leila must have made a fortune from numerous contest wins.

As for her spouse, Osi currently has a net worth of $7 million. The British-born defensive end has earned his share of money from his successful football career.

In addition to that, Osi also made a decent amount of money from lucrative endorsement deals and sponsorships during his active playing career.

All in all, he made $91,020,220 from NFL salaries and incentives alone.

In 2005, Osi signed a seven years $32.925 million contract with the New York Giants.

Osi Umenyiora Wife | Social Media Presence

The 2011 Miss Universe has more than 498k followers on her Instagram handle.

As one might expect, her Gram is basically filled with her photos in designer outfits, children, husband, and vacation reels.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Leila Lopes Umenyiora (@officialeilalopes)

And unlike his wife, Osi does not have an Instagram profile. He is, instead, more comfortable with Twitter and boasts 110.9k followers.

He typically shares football news with some personal updates on the platform.

Unknown Facts About Osi and Leila Lopes

  • After he hung his boots, Osi joined BBC Sports as a pundit for their football coverage.
  • He won Sports Journalists’ Association British Sports Pundit of the Year award in 2018.
  • Umenyiora made a cameo appearance in the music video “I Luv Your Girl” by The-Dream in 2008.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Did Leila Lopes attend Cannes Film Festival?

Yes. On 23 May 2012, Leila walked the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.

Is Osi Umenyiora a Hall of Famer?

No. The former Giants, Osi Umenyiora, is not a Hall of Famer.

What jersey number did Osi Umenyiora wear?

Osi Umenyiora wore jersey number 72 for the New York Giants and 50 for Atlanta Falcons.

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Pranaya Poudel
Pranaya Poudelhttp://playersbio.com
Stargazer, & Rock n' Roller I Pranaya Poudel, am a content writer and editor for playersbio.com. Coffee lover and kind of a loner. Favorite Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (NBA), Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) Favorite Players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden & Patrick Mahomes FYI I believe in Alien!!!

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