Leyla Milani

Early life and immigration

Leyla Milani Khoshbin was born on April 2, 1982, in Iran. Her family emigrated when she was a young child, relocating to Toronto, Ontario, when Milani was four years old. She was raised and educated in the Greater Toronto Area, which established her foundational Canadian identity. The details of her specific schooling and early career pursuits in Toronto are not part of the public record, but her entry into modelling and television began in her early twenties. Her move from Iran to Canada at a formative age positioned her within a bilingual and bicultural context that would later influence her career opportunities.

Television career and <em>Deal or No Deal</em>

Leyla Milani's breakthrough in television came with her role as a briefcase model on NBC's prime-time game show Deal or No Deal, which she held from the show's inception in 2005 through 2009. She was consistently assigned case number 13, a detail that became central to her on-screen persona. Despite the number's traditional association with bad luck, Milani was frequently dubbed "Lucky Leyla" or "Lucky 13" by host Howie Mandel and others. This nickname stemmed from her case often containing high-value amounts, including the top prize of $1,000,000 on eight separate episodes during her tenure. The show itself was a major ratings success and won The People's Choice Award for Favorite Game Show for two consecutive years.

Her prominence on the show led to several notable offshoot appearances and recognitions. In 2009, Milani and her fellow Deal or No Deal models collectively won a Game Show Network Award for Favorite TV Models, which she accepted on stage at the ceremony. She was also selected to make a special appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where Oprah Winfrey herself chose Milani's case for a segment. Beyond the game show, Milani leveraged her visibility for guest-hosting and acting roles. She co-hosted Jimmy Hart's all-women wrestling program Wrestlicious TakeDown upon its debut in March 2010, though scheduling conflicts led to her replacement after one month. Her television work established her as a recognizable face in North American popular culture.

Other media appearances and ventures

Parallel to her game show work, Milani pursued a variety of roles across television and film. She was a contestant in the 2005 WWE Diva Search, where she finished as the runner-up out of approximately 8,000 global entrants, an experience that led her to adopt the professional name Leyla Milani. This foray into sports entertainment included an appearance at a Pro Wrestling Guerrilla event and a commercial for WWE Raw on the USA Network. Her acting credits include guest spots on series such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Rules of Engagement, and Sleeper Cell. Milani also appeared in several film projects and reality television programs.

Her notable media appearances include the following roles and events:

• Contestant in the 2005 WWE Diva Search, finishing second.
• Co-host of Wrestlicious TakeDown from its debut on March 1, 2010.
• Referee in the 2006 Lingerie Bowl.
• Role as Dallas in the independent horror film Wrestlemaniac.
• Role as Brittany in the docu-comedy Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down.
• Guest appearance on LOGO's Noah's Arc as a job applicant.
• Featured subject in the TLC special Secrets of a Trophy Wife (December 8, 2012).
• Star in an online comedy web series for Experian Credit with Pauly Shore.

These diverse appearances helped maintain her public profile during and after her tenure on Deal or No Deal.

Business and entrepreneurship

Capitalizing on her public image and personal experience, Leyla Milani founded her own company, Leyla Milani Hair, in 2009. The business is a luxury haircare brand specializing in premium, 100% human hair clip-in extensions. Milani has cited her own challenges with hair as the direct inspiration for launching the product line. The company is legally structured as part of Kosh Milani Enterprises LLC and is headquartered in Irvine, California. As of its early years, the company was reported to have employed five people. The brand launch was promoted during Milani's appearance on Catch 21 in early 2010, strategically aligning the business announcement with her ongoing television visibility.

In subsequent years, Milani has expanded her business identity to include roles as an angel investor and philanthropist. Her social media profiles describe her as the founder of LEYLA MILANI HAIRtamin, indicating a potential expansion into vitamin or supplement products for hair health. She maintains an active presence as an influencer, often documenting her brand and lifestyle from her home in Newport Coast, California. This transition from television personality to business owner is a well-documented path for many figures in the industry, allowing them to build sustainable enterprises based on their personal brand equity.

Philanthropy and community involvement

Leyla Milani has engaged in philanthropic work, often using her platform to support charitable causes. In May 2026, she and her husband hosted a special fundraiser for The Autism Community in Action (TACA), demonstrating a commitment to autism support and advocacy. This event is a clear example of her utilizing her social capital for community benefit. Her involvement in charity extends back to earlier television appearances, such as on Fox News' Redeye, where she was featured as a celebrity seeking a charity to support. These activities align with her public identity as a philanthropist, which she highlights alongside her roles as a wife and mother.

Her charitable efforts are frequently documented on her social media channels, where she shares moments from fundraisers and family celebrations with her followers. For instance, in December 2025, she posted a recap of favourite moments from her family's Christmas celebration. This blending of personal life, business promotion, and philanthropy is characteristic of the modern influencer model, where authenticity and cause-related marketing are valuable. Her work with TACA, in particular, connects her to a network of families and advocates, broadening her impact beyond the entertainment and business spheres.

Personal life and public image

Leyla Milani is married to Manuchehr Khoshbin, and the couple has two children together. They reside in Newport Coast, California. She actively shares aspects of her family life and lifestyle on Instagram, where she has cultivated a significant following as an influencer. Her public persona integrates her roles as a wife, mother, philanthropist, angel investor, and business founder. In 2026, she was featured in a custom gown by the designer Nicole+Felicia, indicative of her ongoing presence in socialite and fashion circles. This curated online image serves both personal expression and professional brand management for her various ventures.

Her identity as an Iranian-Canadian who achieved success in the American television industry remains a notable part of her narrative. While she has retired from active acting and modelling, she maintains a busy schedule focused on her hair extension business, investments, and charitable work. The transition from a television model known as "Lucky 13" to an entrepreneur and influencer illustrates a strategic evolution of her career over two decades. Her story resonates with many immigrant and Canadian audiences who follow paths of reinvention and business creation in the public eye.

Key elements of her public profile include:

• Marriage to Manuchehr Khoshbin.
• Mother of two children.
• Residence in Newport Coast, California.
• Self-described roles as philanthropist and angel investor.
• Founder of the LEYLA MILANI HAIRtamin product line.
• Active Instagram influencer with a focus on family, business, and charity.

Questions about Leyla Milani

Is Leyla Milani Canadian?

Yes, Leyla Milani is Iranian-Canadian. She was born in Iran in 1982 but moved to Toronto, Ontario, with her family when she was four years old. She was raised and educated in Canada, which established her Canadian nationality and background. Her career later expanded into the United States television industry, but her early formative years and immigrant experience are rooted in her Canadian upbringing in the Greater Toronto Area.

What business does Leyla Milani own?

Leyla Milani owns Leyla Milani Hair, a luxury haircare company she founded in 2009. The business specializes in selling premium, 100% human hair clip-in extensions. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California, and operates under Kosh Milani Enterprises LLC. Milani has also indicated involvement with a product line called HAIRtamin, suggesting an expansion into hair health supplements. Her business venture was inspired by her own personal hair challenges and has been a central part of her career since stepping back from full-time television work.

What charity work is Leyla Milani involved with?

Leyla Milani is involved with The Autism Community in Action (TACA). In May 2026, she and her husband hosted a special fundraiser to support the organization. Her philanthropic activity has also included earlier appearances on television programs like Fox News' Redeye, where she participated in segments focused on charitable giving. She integrates her charity work into her public persona, often sharing related events and causes with her social media audience as part of her identity as a philanthropist and community advocate.

What is Leyla Milani known for?

Leyla Milani is best known as a model on NBC's prime time game show Deal or No Deal from 2005 to 2009, where she held case number 13 and was nicknamed Lucky Leyla. She is also recognized as the founder of the luxury haircare company Leyla Milani Hair, established in 2009. Her career includes being a television host, a retired actress with guest roles on shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Entourage, and a former contestant in the 2005 WWE Diva Search where she placed second. Currently, she is an Instagram influencer, philanthropist, and angel investor based in Newport Coast, California.

What happened to Leyla Milani from Deal or No Deal?

After Deal or No Deal, Leyla Milani founded her own haircare company, Leyla Milani Hair, in 2009. She continued with television work, including co-hosting the wrestling show Wrestlicious TakeDown in early 2010 and making guest appearances on various programs. In recent years, she has focused on her business, philanthropy, and social media presence. For example, in May 2026 she hosted a fundraiser for The Autism Community in Action (TACA). She now identifies as a wife, mother of two, philanthropist, angel investor, and the founder of her hair company, maintaining an active profile as an Instagram influencer.

Did Leyla Milani win the WWE Diva Search?

No, Leyla Milani did not win the WWE Diva Search. She was a contestant in the 2005 competition and finished in second place out of approximately 8,000 contestants worldwide. This high-profile placement helped launch her entertainment career and led her to adopt the stage name Leyla Milani. Following the search, she made appearances in wrestling related programming, including a commercial for WWE Raw and a match at Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Her performance in the Diva Search was a significant early milestone before she gained wider fame on Deal or No Deal.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Novello Desserts desk. Last updated 2026-10-27.