10 Things You Didn't Know About AJ Lee

2. Her Troubled Childhood

AJ Lee
WWE

Lee leaves absolutely no stone unturned in her extraordinary autobiography, speaking extremely openly about the difficulties she faced during her childhood. The early chapters speak of a toxic home environment, during which she was the target of frequent emotional abuse from her mother, who'd constantly belittle and shame her for apparent sexual impurity. Depending on her mother's mood, she could expect to be beaten for daring to utter the 'wrong' thing.

These issues were exacerbated by the family's financial struggles. AJ wrote that only beer, not food, was ever to be found in their fridge, and that she only owned a single pair of trousers. Going through eviction after eviction, Lee never had a place to call home, the family living itinerantly between friends' houses, a motel, and even a car. AJ's struggles naturally became a burden at school; she was forced to make up excuses to avoid expensive field trips, and would often feign a lack of hunger to mask not eating. Her latter life success speaks volumes of Lee's tenacity and endeavour, and hers is one of the business' most inspiring rags to riches tales.

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Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.