Bubba Almony is a career multi-award winning Celebrity Bodyguard for Dr. Khalilah Camacho-Ali, the former wife to boxing royalty and the greatest of all time, Muhammad Ali. He is also the founder of Bubba’s Celebrity Basketball Game that hosts the top names in the world bringing awareness to bullying prevention and mental health. He is also a martial artist of 15 years and was a 3-time national champion. He is a resident of Essex County, NJ.
Dhiren Shah: Welcome to this interview, Mr. Almony? Why did you choose to become a bodyguard for celebrities?
Bubba Almony: God chose me and placed the gift in me to be a protector! God showed me that it was my passion, purpose and true divine calling in life! I’m able to make a difference in people’s lives and help keep them safe at the same time!
DS: Are you able to give names as to which celebrities you guarded?
BA: Yes, absolutely! I have body-guarded for Kendra Lust, Tony Sunshine from Terror Squad, Tru Life Future’s artist, Grant Cardone and Elena Cardone. Joslyn James, Neon Hitch, Demarjay Smith, Samaya Clark-Gabriel, Liz Gaspari, numerous billionaires, world leaders, top attorneys, Muhammad Ali’s former wife Dr. Khalilah Camacho-Ali, Muhammad Ali Jr, Corey Woods, SwiftOnDemand, Vinny Guadagnino from MTV’s Jersey Shore, Kaash Paige and many others!
DS: How do you handle it when there is suddenly a mass rush to meet the celebrity?
BA: When a client is mass rushed, I refer to a term called flight or fight. I get my client and myself to safety while monitoring for any eminent immediate dangers. Prayer and faith are the most important and powerful resources a bodyguard has! God is my bodyguard and yours too!
DS: When and why did you choose to help bullied people and how to prevent bullying?
BA: I have always stood against abuse, bullying and harassment. A few years back, I really dove heavily into educating others about personal safety and trying my best to be the best anti-bullying leader I can be. It’s very important that people have access to this information that could save their lives and to know people are fighting to one day eradicate bullying. Bullying is really abuse. Believe it or not, even as a bodyguard and an anti-bullying leader I have faced my own experiences with abuse and bullying. When your strength comes from God you can’t be broken!
DS: Did you have any education on the prevention of bullying?
BA: I have trained in martial arts for 15 years and learned a lot about respect, personal safety and bullying prevention. As a bodyguard, I also have extensive training in situational awareness, threat assessments and how to avoid danger! My encouragement to anyone being bullied would be to allow God to raise you up and get you out of that environment!
DS: How much money have you spent so far for your program and how much money would you like to raise?
BA: I have spent a big amount of time, money and effort into anti-bullying. I hope to raise as much funds and awareness as I can! It takes a collective effort to one day eradicate bullying in all its forms.
DS: Are you helping mainly the African American community or other communities as well?
BA: I am helping everyone that I can! I’m a voice and a protector for all!
DS: In your opinion, has the quality of life in African American communities improved over the past 25 years?
BA: I believe some would say that there has been some improvement in places, but many would agree there is still a lot more to be done! I stand in support of the African American community, and I am also a NAACP member!
DS: Do you have any message for our “Local Talk” readers?
BA: My message to the “Local Talk” readers is that whatever your dream is in life, hold onto it, protect it, and never let it go! Every day, you should have the mindset that it’s the best day of your life because it is! Always keep God first in your life!
