Layla, you got me on my knees
Move over Shana. Take a walk Sabina. The WPT has a new face: Brit Layla Kayleigh.
Born and raised in London but now resident in the States, Layla Kayleigh is the latest beauty to heat up the WPT, following in the footsteps of Shana Hiatt and Sabina Gadecki. A mix of Caucasian, African, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern descent, the 23-year-old beauty has seemingly come from nowhere to head up the WPT’s poker coverage.
Coming from a presenting background that’s included MTV2 in the UK, Layla was chucked headlong into the deep end with her first poker assignment, presiding over the final table at the recent Mirage Poker Showdown. The girl from Blighty has proved she has a wise and experienced head on that petite 5’3” frame.
In late 2005, she was tapped up to be a political correspondent on Al Gore’s fledgling cable network, Current TV. But when Current TV learned she had posed for a sexy spread in Maxim magazine, she was promptly fired.
Putting that all behind her, Layla finds herself centre stage as WPT’s newest and hottest recruit.
“America’s been really good to me but I’m still a London girl at heart.” – Layla Kayleigh
You’ve just made your WPT debut at the final table of the Mirage Poker Showdown. Was that a baptism of fire?
Not at all, because I was familiar with poker before. By no means was I an expert, but you know I love challenges and I’m not happy unless I’m being challenged. I told them when I took the job that I wanted to know everything and so I’m off to a poker camp for three days. I’ve been
thrown into the deep end many times but I’m used to it, it’s in my nature to swim in the deepest parts of the ocean!
It’s the only way to learn isn’t it?
Yeah, because I’m not one of those girls who present TV shows who doesn’t mind just being a pretty face and not knowing what they’re talking about. I’m not that person. Even though I’m familiar with it I want to know what I’m talking about on-screen because I think people see through girls who are just there to stand around and look pretty.
You’ve learned with the best – Johnny Chan and Jennifer Tilly. How did that come about?
I’d never played poker till up to about a year ago. I’d never even played cards. I went to a very strict Christian all-girls school and my mum absolutely disapproved of gambling. So anyway about a year ago I was invited to a celebrity poker tournament which was full of pros and celebrities. I couldn’t even read the cards. Jennifer Tilly was there and took me aside to give me a very basic poker lesson for 5 minutes. She ended up staying with me for 2 hours, so I got some amazing tips. When I started playing, Johnny Chan was there and took me under his wing. At the tables I was being really loud and everyone thought I was bluffing. I ended up getting to the final table – in my first proper poker game!
Will we see you competing at the tables any time soon?
I definitely hope so. Now that I’m working for the WPT, it’s important because, as I say, I don’t want to be seen as just another presenter. After this poker camp I’m sure you’ll see me at more celebrity tournaments.
Do you have a favourite player or has anyone so far provided you with any good interviews?
I like Phil Ivey. He’s the obvious choice as he’s one of the best poker players in the world. I like his style, he’s young, and he’s super-quiet, not obnoxious. I like the young kids too, the underdogs. A couple of weeks ago at the Mirage his young kid Jonathan Little won and that was nice. As for good interviews, Jonathan Little was great because he was new to the whole scene and was so excited.
Poker players are a little different to your usual celebrity!
They’re not like celebrities; they’re much more down to earth. Well some of them anyway – I haven’t met all the poker players yet!
How are you handling the male attention? Is the poker room a little too testosterone-heavy?
I have more balls than most of those guys anyway! I consider myself a very testosterone-filled person anyway, so I love it! I walk in the room in a mini-skirt and they think I’m going to be some drippy girl and the players are a bit surprised how in your face I am! I think I scare them if anything!
Are you conscious of Shana Hiatt or are you keen to show that you’re not filling her shoes?
She was awesome. She was very attractive and she knew her stuff but she’s moved on and I can bring different things to the WPT. I’m English, I have a different sense of humour, and you know it’s the World Poker Tour so hopefully I’m showing people how we Brits do things!
You were denied a spot on Current TV [Al Gore’s fledgling cable network] when they discovered you’d done a raunchy spread in Maxim. Do you regret that?
Definitely no regrets, but if I’d done it now I would have handled things a lot differently. I was young then and I didn’t realise that when you work for a network you can’t just do what you want. It’s a very corporate world and they have a certain image that they want to upkeep. At the time it was my first serious network job and I was a bit new to the business and I probably just handled it wrong. It’s a shame because I would have been sent to places like Bangladesh and given political assignments and that would have been very interesting.
What do you miss most about England?
I miss London so much! I miss Marks & Spencer and Sainsburys and walking around at 4am with so many people still awake. I don’t miss the weather, that’s for sure!
What do you like most about living in the U.S.?
The weather of course! Also, being here has given me a lot more opportunities. Being in London, I don’t think I’d be able to do what I’m doing here. The television opportunities in England aren’t as great. America’s been really good to me but I’m still a London girl at heart.
You have the lead role in upcoming film A Simple Promise. Tell us a little about that and do you have any plans to do some more acting?
It’s an independent movie that I’ve done. I’m not sure if it’ll ever see the light of day. The producers approached me and said that I’d be perfect for the role. It was great fun but I’m not sure if I want to be an actress or not. It’s a bit like 8 Mile meets Malina.
Finally your dream poker table - you and 5 figures from history.
I like controversial people so we’d have Big E, who’s one of my favourite rappers. I’m a bit ghetto to be honest with you! Margaret Thatcher – she’s an interesting person to me and I’d like to see her sit next to Big E. I don’t think she’s ever sat around anyone like that! Bill Maher, the comedian; Michael Jackson; and how about President Bush!
6 comments
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Posted by jamesmcb – 13 Sep 2007, 6:23 PM
Great article! Cool girl.
Posted by theMechanism – 13 Sep 2007, 11:18 PM
Nice!
Posted by Mediastarz.c – 14 Sep 2007, 11:29 AM
In recent surveys it's been found that around 25% of Online Poker players are women, and that rises to over 50% for online gambling. It's good to see both sexes able to play on a level field.
Posted by Kempo1987 – 14 Sep 2007, 1:11 PM
ive been waiting for the next big thing in WPT. I hoped it'd be a female and i think we've found her!
Posted by JoeCollins – 17 Sep 2007, 3:53 PM
Me too Kempo1987! I've heard alot about this girl!
Posted by Groberts – 24 Sep 2007, 12:23 PM
I'm not too keen, i think she's in it for the popularity of it all