If you’re a fan of reality television or you really enjoy watching the NBA and knowing everything there is to know about the players when they’re not on the floor, you may have heard of the name Malaysia Pargo. Most people who are familiar with her know her from the reality television show, Basketball Wives LA. Married to former NBA player Jannero Pargo (up until 2014, that is), she appeared on 27 different episodes of the show over the course of four seasons. Interestingly enough, she continued on with the show through 2015, one full year after she had divorced Pargo and secured a substantial divorce settlement in the process.
All that being said, there are still many things that most people don’t really know about her. Aside from appearing on that particular television show and a few talk shows, she’s managed to remain relatively under the radar. If you want to know more, keep reading to find out some facts about her that you probably didn’t already know.
1. Her real name isn’t Malaysia
It is widely known that celebrities from all walks of life often change their names, and it is no exception for Malaysia, whose real first name is Laquisha. Although she has never given an explanation for why she decided to go by a different name, it is clear that this is a personal decision that should be respected. Maybe she just wanted to keep her private life away from the public eye, and that should be enough for everyone else.
2. She’s from Compton
A lot of people don’t really know where she’s from, but she’s never made an effort to hide it for any reason. After all, why would she? For anyone who watched the reality television show she was on for a number of years, the subject came up a couple of times, at least. If you ask her, she’ll probably tell you she’s from Compton, California. This is a town that has a somewhat tarnished reputation, frequently known as a very rough place to grow up in. It’s important to remember, however, that there are some aspects of that reputation that are true but that doesn’t mean the entire town is like that. Those who are from there know that, like anything else, there’s more than one side to the story and, as in all things, there are several layers to it. It’s not a one-dimensional thing. She’s actually quite proud of the town she calls home and she’s not the least bit ashamed to defend it if anyone decides to openly criticize it.
3. She can get mad, really mad
It may sound funny to say that she can get angry, but the truth is that everyone has the potential to become angry. Even the most calm and kind individual can get angry when pushed into certain situations. She has a real temper, but it’s something that is rarely seen. The saying goes that you should watch out for the quiet ones, as when they do eventually get angry, it can be quite a sight. This is not meant to be a criticism, rather, those who take the longest to get angry can become the angriest when pushed to the brink.
4. She lost her brother
Although she doesn’t talk about it often, she has been open about it in the past. She lost her brother when he was just 20 years old. Although she doesn’t usually go into much detail, it is known that he was fatally shot by a police officer in Riverside, California. She has also spoken of the anguish of losing a brother and how it has impacted her throughout her life. For anyone who has gone through loss, regardless of the cause, they can relate to this. Losing someone you love is never easy, and the pain never really goes away. You just learn to live with it, because you have no other option but to keep going.
5. She’s been fearful of police ever since her brother was killed
She’s also spoken about being fearful of police officers since her brother was killed. In fact, her fear had gotten to the point that it was adversely affecting her life. Fortunately, she made the decision to do something about it and reached out to a police officer who was active on social media, asking if she could meet with him and have an open and honest conversation about her fears. He agreed, and it has reportedly helped her deal with that fear in a more positive manner.
6. She hasn’t always gotten along with her castmates
It probably comes as no surprise that reality television shows like Basketball Wives LA are not always conducive to everyone getting along and having a good time. In fact, the main reason why people watch these types of shows is because of the drama that ensues. There have even been suspicions that the shows are largely scripted in order to create even more drama and attract more viewers. Whether or not this is true is debatable, but it is known that the castmates have not always had the best relationship. At times, the tension between them was not only tangible on camera, but very real off-camera as well.
7. Despite that fact, she has tried to smooth things over
She has put in a lot of effort to reach out to those that she had not gotten along with while she was on the show and attempt to make things right between them. This takes a lot of courage on her part because it’s never easy to reach out to someone with whom you haven’t gotten along and try to make things better, since you don’t know how it will be received. It’s not widely known how successful her efforts were, but she certainly made the effort.
8. She doesn’t want to say why she got a divorce from her husband
People know how it can be when you’re in the public eye. People tend to think that they have a right to know anything and everything about you, and that you have no right to privacy. It’s quite absurd when you think about it. Just imagine what it would be like if you were a celebrity and your every move was being watched and judged, often unfairly. This was the case when she filed for divorce. Despite this, she has made it a point to refuse to explain her reasoning for filing to anyone, and she doesn’t have to. After all, it’s really none of anyone else’s business.
9. She also filed for sole custody
What little information is known is that she also filed for sole custody, granting her ex-husband general visitation rights. She also affirms that she still loves him and wishes only the best for him; whatever happened between them, it was not enough to break the bond of love, which is undoubtedly the strongest bond that anyone can experience.
10. She’s her own person
This might seem cliché, but it’s true. She’s developed a habit of doing things her own way and won’t let others dictate or control her decisions. To do that on a daily basis can be difficult, and even more so when you’re constantly in the public eye. Kudos to her for standing her ground and refusing to let someone else make her choices, no matter what the cost.
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