An African-American, Arnetta Yardbourgh is the ex-girlfriend of basketball legend, Shaquille O’Neal, and the mother of his first child, Taahirah O’Neal. Away from her famous relationship, Arnetta is a successful businesswoman, mindful coach, influencer, wellness advocate, speaker, and microblading specialist.
She has experience with an American Basketball Association team, founded the Netta Closet clothing brand, and AY & Associates, LLC business consulting and services firm. On the aspect of her ex who brought her to the limelight, Shaq is a 4x NBA champion who played for Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and the United States basketball national team from 1992 until his retirement in 2011.
Arnetta Yardbourgh's Personal Profile
Early Life and Education of Shaq O’Neal’s First Known Girlfriend
Arnetta Yardbourgh was born on December 10, 1971, in Houston, Texas, United States.
She attended Judson High School in San Antonio, Texas. She also went to Houston Baptist University in 1997 before she graduated with an MLA in Humanities in 1999.
From 2002, Arnetta went to Coaches Training Institute and graduated with a CPC, Co-Active Coaching, and later Walden University for a Doctorate in psychology.
Her Relationship With Shaquille O’Neal and How She Had His First Child
In 1992 when Arnetta was 19 and O’Neal was 20 years old, the 2 met and started dating.
While the whereabouts of Arnetta at the time may not be known, it was the same year that O’Neal finished his college career at the Louisiana State University (LSU) and was also drafted into the NBA by Orlando Magic.
In July 1996, 4 years into the relationship, the former couple welcomed their first and only child together named Taahirah “TYO” O’Neal.
A few months after the birth, O’Neal and Arnetta’s relationship ended.
As regards why they parted ways after a child, there is no known knowledge but based on reports, they remain cordial and Taahirah has a good relationship with both of them.
Subsequent to the love affair, Arnetta has kept her love life private while her ex became married to TV personality Shaunie Nelson in 2002 and they had 4 children; basketball player Shareef O’Neal, Amirah O’Neal, Shaqir O’Neal, and Me’arag O’Neal.
The marriage ended in divorce in 2009. In 2010, Shaq began dating reality TV star Nicole Hoopz Alexander and split in 2012.
In 2014, he was in another relationship with the model, Laticia Rolle and it lasted until 2018.
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