Most people who grew up in the 2000s remember Rob & Big, the MTV show that made Christopher “Big Black” Boykin a household name. What many don’t know is that he had a daughter who lost him at age nine. Today, Isis Rae Boykin is seventeen years old, living a carefully protected life away from cameras and public attention. Her story isn’t just about MTV fame or a massive inheritance—it’s about a father’s love, a family’s grief, and a teenager trying to grow up normally.
Who Is Isis Rae Boykin?
Isis Rae Boykin was born on February 15, 2008, to Christopher “Big Black” Boykin and Shannon Turley. She came into the world when her father was already known for being Rob Dyrdek’s larger-than-life bodyguard and co-star on the hit MTV series. Growing up as the daughter of a reality TV personality meant her life was never going to be completely private, even though her parents worked hard to keep her out of the cameras.
What makes Isis different from other celebrity children is how determined her father was to give her a normal childhood. Despite his fame and media presence, Christopher kept his daughter largely away from the spotlight. He rarely posted about her online, and when he did, it was only to celebrate special moments like birthdays. This choice set the stage for the private life she leads today.
As of 2025, Isis is likely finishing high school or preparing for college—the same milestones any seventeen-year-old faces. The difference is that she’s doing it with financial security most teenagers won’t experience, and with the weight of public curiosity following her late father’s legacy.
The MTV Star Who Became a Devoted Father
Christopher Boykin’s journey to fame wasn’t typical. Born in Mississippi, he served in the Navy before moving to California to pursue opportunities in entertainment. His big break came when he connected with Rob Dyrdek and became his bodyguard, eventually becoming the breakout star of Rob & Big alongside him.
The show ran from 2006 to 2008 and became a cultural phenomenon. Christopher’s larger-than-life personality, his catchphrases like “Do Work,” and genuine friendship with Rob made him unforgettable to millions of viewers. The duo achieved Guinness World Records together and created memories that still resonate with people who watched during their teenage years.
But something shifted in Christopher around the same time his daughter was born. The fame that had felt exciting started to matter less than being present for Isis. He knew his health wasn’t great—he’d been dealing with heart issues for years—and he had plans. Real plans. He wanted to be remembered as a good father first and a TV star second, and that mindset changed everything about how he lived the rest of his life.
Growing Up in the Shadow of Rob & Big
Isis’s early years were complicated in ways most children never experience. Her parents, Christopher and Shannon, married around the time she was born, but their relationship didn’t last. They divorced in 2009 when Isis was just a baby. What’s remarkable is that even after the split, Christopher and Shannon stayed close, co-parenting their daughter together.
As Christopher’s health declined over the years, he and Shannon found themselves back under the same roof. It wasn’t a romantic reunion—it was a practical decision made out of love for their child and respect for their shared history. Shannon became the primary caregiver while Christopher managed his health, and Isis got to spend time with both parents even though they weren’t together.
For Isis, having a famous father meant dealing with things other kids didn’t. There were the occasional people who recognized Christopher, the questions about what life was like on a real MTV set, and the reality that her family had been turned into entertainment for millions of people. Yet her parents worked hard to shield her from the downsides. She wasn’t taken to events, wasn’t featured on his social media constantly, and wasn’t used to boost his career. She was just his daughter.
The Tragedy That Changed Everything
In May 2017, Christopher’s life took a tragic turn. He’d been living with congestive heart failure—a serious condition he’d managed for over a decade with a heart defibrillator implant. When his condition worsened, he ended up in a hospital in Plano, Texas. Shannon and nine-year-old Isis rushed to be with him, but they arrived twenty minutes too late. Christopher passed away on May 9, 2017, at just forty-five years old.
The grief was immediate and overwhelming. Rob Dyrdek posted emotional tributes to his brother figure. MTV released statements honoring the man who’d been such a huge part of their network’s success. Fans mourned the loss of someone who’d made them laugh and feel inspired. But in the middle of all that public mourning was a little girl who’d just lost her dad.
Isis had to process an enormous loss while the entire entertainment world watched. Her face appeared in news articles, her name was in headlines, and suddenly everyone was talking about her. She became known as “Big Black’s daughter”—a label tied forever to tragedy. At nine years old, she didn’t choose this attention, and she didn’t want it.
A Father’s Final Gift—The Legacy Christopher Left Behind
Before he died, Christopher had been incredibly thoughtful about Isis’s future. He wasn’t the typical celebrity who spent money as fast as it came in. Instead, he was careful with his finances because he understood that money could protect his daughter after he was gone. At the time of his death, his estate was worth approximately $3 million—a significant amount, but not the kind of money many celebrities have.
What made Christopher’s planning truly special was his college fund. He’d set aside dedicated money specifically for Isis’s education, covering most or all of the costs so she could pursue whatever degree she wanted without worrying about student loans or financial pressure. This wasn’t just about being generous—it was about giving his daughter choices and freedom.
Christopher’s inner circle made a commitment to protect that fund and make sure it was managed wisely. They understood his wishes and his love for his daughter. They became part of her support system, ensuring that his careful planning would actually follow through long after he was gone. This kind of foresight isn’t common among celebrities, and it shows what Christopher’s real priorities were.
Life After Loss—Isis’s Path from Nine to Seventeen
The years following Christopher’s death have been about healing and growing up. Shannon stepped fully into her role as Isis’s primary parent, and the family made deliberate choices to keep Isis’s life as normal and private as possible. No tabloid appearances, no social media accounts, no exploitation of her inherited wealth or celebrity status.
Isis has been quietly completing her education and experiencing the typical things seventeen-year-olds do. She’s had the opportunity to make friends who don’t know about her father’s MTV fame, to focus on school without cameras following her, and to figure out who she is as a person separate from her family’s history. The money her father left her has provided genuine security—she can focus on her education and future without the financial stress that pressures many teens.
There’s been no verified information about her personal interests, social media accounts, or future plans, and that’s exactly how it should be. Isis has the gift that Christopher wanted for her—the ability to write her own story, not one dictated by public curiosity or media coverage.
Why Isis Rae Boykin’s Privacy Matters
Celebrity children face a unique challenge that most kids never have to think about. They’re born into situations they didn’t choose, with their names already part of the public conversation. Isis Rae Boykin is a textbook example of why privacy protections matter for young people connected to fame.
She didn’t choose to be the daughter of an MTV star. She didn’t ask for her father’s death to become news. She didn’t want her grief to be something people discussed on the internet. Yet all of these things happened to her anyway. The ethical thing to do is respect the boundaries her mother and father set, and let her have something most celebrity children don’t get—genuine privacy during her teenage years.
Some websites have created entirely fictional biographies about Isis, inventing details about her career, education, and accomplishments that don’t exist. These stories serve no one except the people writing them for clicks. They’re harmful because they spread misinformation and they violate a teenager’s right to privacy during her formative years.
Lessons from Christopher’s Legacy
Christopher Boykin’s story matters for reasons beyond MTV nostalgia. His choices teach real lessons about what actually matters in life. He could’ve kept chasing fame, kept doing Reality TV, kept building his brand. Instead, he stepped away to be a father. He managed his finances carefully to protect his child’s future. He planned for his death even as he was still alive, because he understood responsibility.
For young parents especially, Christopher’s approach to estate planning sends an important message. He showed that living below your means, making deliberate financial choices, and thinking about your child’s future isn’t boring—it’s one of the most meaningful things you can do. His legacy isn’t really about the money; it’s about the love and foresight behind it.
Where Things Stand in 2025
Today, Isis Rae Boykin is a seventeen-year-old with a college fund waiting for her, a mother who’s protected her privacy fiercely, and a father’s memory that continues to inspire the people who knew him. She doesn’t have a social media presence that the public can follow. She’s not giving interviews or making public appearances. She’s living the kind of normal teenage life that many kids take for granted but that most celebrity children never get.
The reality is that we don’t know much about Isis’s current life, and that’s okay. We don’t need to know everything about every person connected to fame. What we can appreciate is that she’s been given something valuable—the chance to grow up on her own terms, with the financial security her father wanted for her, and with the privacy she deserves. Christopher’s most important achievement wasn’t anything MTV filmed. It was being a great father who left behind both protection and freedom for his daughter.
