Summer Skin has come to an end, and I feel it’s time for a bit of a review – to be more precise, a Summer Skin Roundup. We began our journey way back July 4th – seems like a long time ago, right? Well, over the course of two months, we’ve been treated to some delightful photoshoots. Okay, some were less delightful than others, but that’s not for me to decide – that’s for you, the visitors, to decide. I’ve wrangled up each Diva’s feature and found out what you (and I) thought of them. I’ve also determined which were the most popular, least popular, etc. Let’s get down to business, shall we? Read on to view my labor of love..

The following is in order of when they were added to WWE.com.

Michelle McCool

What You Said: You thought she looked pretty, but needed some meat on her bones. She didn’t look healthy.
What I Said: I didn’t dig the bikinis, but I thought she looked nice. Overall, it was a pretty unspectacular shoot.
Yay or Nay?: Yay!; According to the poll results, 29 liked the shoot, while 17 didn’t.

Mickie James

What You Said: The words “fine”, “stunning”, and “beautiful” sprung to mind, so it was clear that you guys were fans of the shoot. It was stated that Mickie’s shoot was much better than Michelle’s, the only other one that had been revealed thus far.
What I Said: I loved that Mickie’s fun personality showed through in the photos – she mixed things up and made it interesting. I though she looked gorgeous and I admired the fact that her body, while bangin’, made her look unique amongst the trimmer girls.
Yay or Nay?: Yay!; Pretty overwhemingly, I’d say. According to the poll results, 34 liked the shoot, while 4 didn’t.

Candice Michelle

What You Said: Opinions were pretty mixed; Among the complaints were dislike for her new, shorter hairstyle and the fact that her face looked like it had been “worked on”. Some said she had gotten less hot, while others defended her, claiming that many (including me) were unfairly criticizing her. In this shoot Candice, like always, proved to make for a pretty debatable discussion.
What I Said: I wasn’t fond of much of anything – I didn’t like the hair nor the bikinis, and her poses seemed over-the-top. I thought the classic look they were going for with her hair clashed with the more modern (and sorta trashy) attire she was wearing.
Yay or Nay?: ?; By golly, it was a dead tie! According to the poll results, 23 people liked the shoot, while another 23 felt differently. I couldn’t have planned that better if I tried!

Kelly Kelly

What You Said: Overwhelming consensus said that Kelly looked bland. The photos were boring, and it often looked like they took the photo she wasn’t ready; Sorta deer-in-the-headlights. Also, it was said that Kelly looked too “made up”, as if her makeup were caked on when the girl clearly doesn’t need it.
What I Said: I echoed the “repetitive” claims – even going so far as to say it looked as thought the same face was being pasted onto different body poses. There was zero variation, and Kelly just looked bored. Comparisons to statues were made, etc. Very, very blah.
Yay or Nay?: Nay!; But just by a hair. According to the poll results, 73 people liked the shoot, while 75 didn’t.

Jillian Hall

What You Said: This seemed to turn into a PSA for plastic surgery addiction – people were pointing out left and right the things Jillian seemed to have had “worked on”. From the lips to the skin to the nose to the boobs, people were highly critical of her non-natural looks. Some said she looked “confused”, even “allergic to the skin” with the way she constantly squinted.
What I Said: I mostly complained about the way her looks had changed (for the worse) over the years. One of my main pet peeves, exaggerated lips, way taken to a whole new level with this shoot, and I spent probably too long complaining about that. Overall, I didn’t like the shoot – Jillian’s store-bought looks kind of killed it.
Yay or Nay?: Yay!; This was a surprise, in my opinion. According to the poll results, 87 people liked the shoot, while 47 didn’t.

Maryse

What You Said: Many claimed this to be the best so far, with some even jokingly saying it was “unfair” of Maryse to upstage the others.
What I Said: I loved the shoot – she managed to show sex appeal without going overboard with the facial expressions. Her bikinis were gorgeous, and her poses looked natural. I fawned over her gorgeous looks, too. And to be honest, this was where I truly started to like Maryse..
Yay or Nay?: Yay!; This was pretty much a landslide, I’d say. According to the poll results, 148 people liked the shoot, while a meager 20 didn’t.

Katie Lea

What You Said: Most were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the photos, saying she looked “amazing” and “fierce” and had one of the best shoots yet. This was pretty much unexpected by all, and nearly everyone had many positive things to say.
What I Said: I was shocked as well – Katie Lea hadn’t had the chance to really show off her photoshoot prowess before. Her intense stares worked really well, and I admired her “unique” and “mysterious” qualities that came through in the photos.
Yay or Nay?: Yay!; It was pretty damn clear-cut. According to the poll results, 165 people liked the shoot, while 28 didn’t.

Victoria

What You Said: Some called this one of Victoria’s best shoots to date. Some felt it was “amazing”, while others didn’t think it was necessarily the best. The response was pretty much positive.
What I Said: I felt her shoot was mellow, which doesn’t usually fit her out-of-the-box personality. There was still that spark about the photos, I said, because her attitude shows through. I loved seeing her softer side..
Yay or Nay?: Yay!; This was another decisive one. According to the poll results, 134 people liked the shoot, while 40 didn’t.

Melina

What You Said: Many loved the variety in the photos and the fact that Melina was “active” in her photos, trying different poses. Words like “lovely” and “phenomenal” were tossed about, while some felt some of the photos left a bit to be desired.
What I Said: I, like you, loved the diversity she brought. A lot of it looked effortless, and I liked it. The shower photos kind of turned me off to it, though – I didn’t like the unflattering angles or the blatant “sexy” look they were going for there. Aside from that, I really enjoyed the shoot.
Yay or Nay?: Yay!; Wow, this was quite one-sided. According to the poll results, 143 people liked the shoot, while 19 didn’t.

Natalya

What You Said: You loved her natural curves and thought she looked “incredible”. Her blonde hair in the photos, which by then had been dyed red, was preferred by some. Others claimed to like both looks. Some didn’t like her facial expressions, but overall you were pleasantly surprised by how well she worked a bikini.
What I Said: I never thought Natayla would look so great in a bikini – and that she did! She brought her character’s spunk to the photos, and I loved that someone who’s very much a wrestler could also look spectacular in photoshoots.
Yay or Nay?: Yay!; According to the poll results, 130 people liked the shoot, while 41 didn’t.

Lena Yada

What You Said: She was dubbed a “natural beauty” and “sweet” by a few of you, but most couldn’t pinpoint why she belongs in the company, aside from her looks. Many were shocked to see so much time and material devoted to a Diva that’s never on TV.
What I Said: She definitely had the most playful shoot – she looked cute and had unique shots that really caught my eye. I loved her bikinis, which were as bright as the beach ball she was tossing around.
Yay or Nay?: Yay!; According to the poll results, 102 people liked the shoot, while 59 didn’t.

Beth Phoenix

What You Said: With words like “gorgeous”, “fierce”, and “hot” floating around, it’s safe to say that you guys were impressed.
What I Said: I liked how Beth was able to incorporate her “Glamazon” gimmick into her shoot, looking like a true amazon in the tropical setting. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past the fact that she felt the need to wear her headbands, but other than that, I was highly impressed that Beth could look both tough and sexy in one fell swoop.
Yay or Nay?: Yay!; According to the poll results, 48 people liked the shoot, while 9 didn’t.

Layla

What You Said: You felt that everything – from the poses to the scenery to the bikinis – were perfect. “Amazing” was a recurring theme, and that pretty much says it all.
What I Said: I felt that Layla was always photogenic, and this was no exception. Everything was spectacular, and I thought she was in “top model” form. This was probably one of my favorite shoots of the entire “Summer Skin” batch!
Yay or Nay?: Yay!; Looks like she impressed you! According to the poll results, 111 people liked the shoot, while 19 didn’t.

Lilian Garcia

What You Said: Some thought it looked more “fitness”-y than “Diva”-y, with the bikinis and active poses. Still, the response was mostly positive, with some saying she looked great for her age. (Which, in my opinion, isn’t old in the slightest.)
What I Said: I liked seeing this rare side of Lilian, since she doesn’t do the “Diva thing” very often. I thought that this showed her potential to become a more well-rounded Diva, as her photos showed heaps of personality, which was more than some of her fellow Divas could say.
Yay or Nay?: Yay!; It was a bit closer than the other polls.. According to the poll results, 86 people liked the shoot, while 29 didn’t.

Eve Torres

What You Said: Most thought she looked gorgeous, with a few comments on the “authenticity” of her breasts. Boob job or no boob job? Others were more distracted by her bikinis, finding them tacky.
What I Said: I felt her photoshoot was pretty close to flawless – she’s gorgeous! I complimented her unique looks and the unconventional scenery she posed against. Though, I spent most of the time wondering why she is hardly used on TV..
Yay or Nay?: Yay!; According to the poll results, 91 people liked the shoot, while 23 didn’t.

Maria

What You Said: The majority disliked her look – namely her hair and choice of bikinis. Others claimed that this was one of the worst Summer Skin shoots. Some felt she was trying much too hard.
What I Said: I felt the hair was over-done – it didn’t fit with the rest of the look. The bikinis, I felt, were tacky, and the accessories weren’t the best choice. I, like you, thought that this photoshoot was one of the worst.
Yay or Nay?: Nay!; Apparently you weren’t too fond of this one.. 60 people liked the shoot, while 73 didn’t.

So, which was the most popular photoshoot? The least popular? How about most controversial?

Erin: Personally, my favorite photoshoot was Maryse‘s. She continually puts out some of the best WWE.com photoshoots, and this one was no different. I just loved Maryse’s ability to make it look effortless while exuding sex appeal the entire time and not looking cheesy in the process. Her bikinis were simple, for the most part, and her makeup and accessories were kept minimal, which is just the way I like it. She just looked gorgeous in every single photo.

Melanie: It’s hard for me to choose a favourite, but I personally enjoyed four the most: Katie Lea, Layla, Maryse and Natalya. Katie’s was unexpectedly beautiful, I was pleasantly surprised. Layla and Maryse looked phenomenal, but I don’t think we could expect anything less from these two. Meanwhile, Natalya was the perfect combination of “wrestler” and “model”, she is built like a wrestler but looks beautiful and curvy in her bikinis.

What about you? What was your favorite Summer Skin photoshoot? Least favorite? What were your thoughts on a feature as a whole? Did WWE.com waste their time, or are you already excited for next year’s batch? Sound off in the comments!

Summer Skin has finally come to an end, and Maria has done her best to usher is out on a high note. I can’t say she’s necessarily achieved that, because this, in my opinion, is one of the worst of the shoots. Her bikinis, for the most part, are tacky, her hair looks more like a mane, and her facial expressions, as always, are overdone. It’s disappointing, because sometimes Maria can turn out a pretty great photoshoot. This just isn’t one of those times..

Maria is the last Diva to make her Summer Skin debut, but did they save the best for last? I’m not quite sure. She looks amazing, but I can think of a few photoshoots I may have enjoyed more. There’s no doubt that Maria photographs extremely well, and these exotic locations definitely add to her seductive qualities. I’m just not feeling the big hair and biker gloves – those just don’t scream “summer” to me..

To read Maria’s interview, view the video of her shoot, shop for her bikinis, and find out “how to date” her, follow the cut.

• View the video of Maria’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Maria

• “Fashioning a Diva”
by Andrew Rote

“Passion is my motivation and that’s what drives me.” Maria’s passion has led her to becoming one of the most recognized Divas in WWE, being on the cover of Playboy, and countless other successes.

Performing has been a huge part of Maria’s life since the tender age of 3. That is when she took up dance lessons. The SmackDown Diva played every sport offered during grade school, continued with volleyball and tennis in high school and joined the school’s choir and dance team.

“I always wanted to entertain and that was first and foremost. Should I do my homework or should I work on my competition dance? Competition dance.”

Despite performing whenever she could, Maria went through a period of stage fright. She often worried about how her audience would react to her, a fear she blames on having few friends growing up and the feeling of never being able to fit in.

When Maria did make friends, the majority of them were males. Between those friendships and her close relationships with her father and brother, Maria was molded early on for a career in sports-entertainment.

“I was always a wrestler,” she explained. “I broke my brother’s nose when he was 3.”

Maria, her brother and her father would all wrestle on the living room floor while watching Superstars like WWE Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

After years of watching, Maria fell in love with former WWE Divas Lita and Trish Stratus.

“I remember thinking to myself, what powerful women.”

She had no idea of how to get involved with WWE herself, but then she heard about Diva Search. She entered the competition on the last day possible and within a week, she saw her photo on TV when she was watching Raw.

While WWE defines much of who Maria is, it is not her only passion.

“I love music,” she said. “I’m definitely a rocker. I just started playing the drums last year. I also take vocal lessons.”

Maria credits her father for sparking her musical interest. He was a drummer while she was growing up. She would have been in a band herself if she knew more about music at the time.

“When I was little, my mom would say, ‘Oh my, that’s horrible!’ when I was singing in the shower.”

That didn’t stop her, though. She began writing music when she was in the seventh grade. And, writing would quickly become another passion.

“I will probably eventually write a book,” she said. “It’s amazing how many interesting people there are out there. I could write a book just on my mom. I love to write.”

Most of what inspires Maria comes from people.

“I do have a muse and he knows who he is,” she said. “It all comes from people.”

Maria’s brother spent nearly a year serving the United States military in Iraq. He motivated her to attend every tour to visit the soldiers and to put smiles on their faces. Maria’s sister is the one who keeps her morally sound, as her mother drives her to continuously push forward, and her father makes sure she stays strong inside and outside of the ring.

As her family holds her together, music serves as her outlet, particularly when she is working on her own secret recordings.

In addition to singing and writing, Maria expresses herself through fashion.

“A lot of people think of [fashion] as just clothes,” she said. “But some of the biggest statements in the world have been made through fashion.”

She cited when shorter skirts came into fashion saying they were created because the economy was struggling and using less fabric saved money. Whether or not people have a passion for clothing, Maria states, they are still making some sort of statement.

Maria often designs her own outfits, including ring gear and dresses. Her interest started as a result of Halloween. Maria’s mother would make unique costumes for her and her siblings, leading her to love dressing up at a young age.

“As I grew up, we didn’t have a lot of money,” she explained. “So, when I was entering bikini contests, my choices were – go with a real ugly dress or make one. So my mom and I opted to make them.”

Although she hopes to have her own clothing line someday, Maria desires to be a Diva for as long as possible.

“I made it to Diva Search and I’m a wrestler,” she said. “Even if I’m not always in the ring, I hope to be part of WWE forever – no matter what form or fashion.”

Where to Find Her Bikinis:

• Cyn & Luca
Live in Cyn
CynAndLuca.com

• Opera Swimwear
Opera by Sueli Costa
OperaSwimwear.com

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Is Maria’s passion for fashion contagious or are not seeing what the fuss is all about?
[poll=158]

Eve Torres has rounded out her Summer Skin shoot, finishing with her gallery totaling to 38 photos. I’m pretty impressed with her work – her unique look, paired with standout scenery such as a bonfire and jagged rocks makes for a shoot that doesn’t try too hard and accomplishes just what it sets out for. Tomorrow, Maria starts the final Summer Skin feature – hopefully she’ll end summer on a high note!

The latest photos are at the end of the gallery.

[poll=155]

Eve is gorgeous – there’s no denying that. Her Summer Skin photoshoot is practically flawless. But it’s times like these where I wonder if she were given the chance to show what she’s got, she could be a top-tier Diva. She’s got a great look (and I’m not just being partial to her because she’s a fellow brunette ;)), but even though it seems like being a Diva Search winner is anything but a blessing, don’t you think it’s about time she’s been given more of an opportunity to shine? I want to see more out of her, and hopefully she won’t go the way of past Diva Search winners (Christy, Ashley) before she’s given a fair shot.

To read Eve’s interview, view the video of her shoot, and find out “how to date” her, follow the cut.

• View the video of Eve’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Eve Torres

• “Dancing to the Top”
by Andrew Rote

“There’s something really amazing about women who are really sexy, really athletic, really strong, and really powerful and dominating,” said Eve. And Sensational Sherri couldn’t have said it better herself.

The Diva who was always focused on academics and law managed to find her way into that powerful position after winning over the WWE Universe en route to becoming the last woman standing in the 2007 WWE Diva Search.

In the fourth grade, Eve visited the FBI headquarters in Washington D.C. Since that day, it has been her dream to be an FBI agent.

“As a kid, I started off very intense. Very serious,” she explained.

While she continued studying for a career in the FBI, Eve practiced dance on the side. She credits dance with breaking her out of her shell as a shy tomboy.

“I think I put a lot of pressure on myself to make sure I was doing my best,” Eve admitted. “Around middle school, I grew out of it. I realized it’s important to have fun in life and I should be enjoying life more.”

Eve took her new outlook on life with her to the University of Southern California, where she earned a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering. She knows the industry she is currently in is vastly different from the one she went to school for, but she is still glad she made it all the way through college and to graduation.

She hopes to be with WWE for much longer, but should anything ever happen, the possibilities are endless when it comes to finding a fallback, thanks to Eve’s education.

At the point of graduation, all of Eve’s friends had jobs lined up.

“Everyone knew exactly where they were working,” she said. “I just realized I don’t want a job right now. I don’t want to work 9:00 to 5:00. I would’ve had one of those jobs if I wanted one. I always go after what I want.”

Eve decided what she wanted to do was dance.

“I wanted to do what I love to do. I love being the spotlight and performing.”

During the week following graduation, Eve got an agent and the opportunities started rolling in. She participated in the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Dance Team when basketball season came around. She also appeared in some roles on television shows.

In 2007, an opportunity with WWE came when Eve decided to compete in the Diva Search. She made it past the cut to the final 50 contestants, past that cut to the final eight and she never looked back as she was announced as the winner and given a WWE contract on the October 29 edition of Raw.

“It’s right up my alley,” she said. “I have a lot of respect for the women in this company and I see myself as being able to do the same thing.”

The Diva, who is also trained in jujitsu, sees versatility as her strength. The combination of her athleticism, education and communication offer her a dose of confidence that could give her an edge over her competition. And she feels like she can take on anyone.

Eve still may pursue training for the FBI someday – and perhaps she can turn her ability to solve a Rubik’s Cube in less than 15 minutes into something – but for now, she is living a dream.

“My love for performing and entertainment stems from dance. Even as a gymnast, I realized the only part of gymnastics I loved was performing. When I moved on to dancing, I loved having the audience captured by what you’re doing. That’s what we do here.”

She sees performance as a way of wearing a metaphorical mask. She gets the opportunity to be a part of something huge … something that everybody comes to see.

“Whether you’re putting a smile on their faces or making them sit on the edge of their seats,” she said, “It’s irreplaceable. There’s nothing that compares to it.”

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Do you wish to see more of Eve on your television, or is this more than enough?
[poll=155]

With the end of Lilian‘s Summer Skin reign, we have a few more photos from the songstress. Now that we have seen all of her photos, how do you feel about Lilian being involved in more Diva-ish activities? Were you not impressed with this endeavor, or are you ready for more?

We have 2 more Summer Skin shoots to go – featuring Eve and Maria. Geez, it seems like this thing has been going on forever. I can’t say I’ll be too sad to see it go – it’s been nice to see all the summery photoshoots, but Summer Skin hasn’t exactly been the best thought-out plan the WWE’s cultivated..

The latest photos are at the end of the gallery.

[poll=151]

Lilian Garcia has sprung onto the Summer Skin scene, and her shoot looks to me one of the most fun so far. She’s rollerblading, jumping, and looking all-around just happy to be there. Perhaps that’s because she rarely gets the chance to do Diva-related things. If this shoot is any indication, it’s that she has the potential to become a more well-rounded Diva, and I hope the WWE gives her that chance. She’s showed more personality in these photos than 95% of the other Divas have. Rock on, Lilian!

UPDATE: 8 new photos have been added to the end of the gallery!

To read Lilian’s interview, view the video of her shoot, and find out “how to date” her, follow the cut.

• View the video of Lilian’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Lilian Garcia

• “Army Brat Goes Diva”
by Andrew Rote

When WWE visits our troops in Iraq every year, the experience holds a special meaning for Raw ring announcer Lilian Garcia.

“Whenever we go to Iraq or Afghanistan, we get off the planes, we see the men in uniform, and it brings me back to my childhood,” Lilian said. “I feel like they’re family.”

Born in the Canal Zone military base in Panama and raised for eight years in Madrid, Spain, while attending Royal Oaks military school, Lilian had immense exposure to Army life. She is always quick to call herself an Army brat, after spending many years traveling with her father who served.

“I always felt like someone in uniform was a family member,” she explained. “A large part of who I am is being an Army brat. I have a lot of respect for soldiers.”

Lilian’s father worked in intelligence at the American Embassy during her time in Madrid. Her eight years there were enough for her to consider the city her home. After moving to the United States, she eventually chose to live in New York for its similarities to the Spanish city.

Before her move to the Big Apple, Lilian made a stop in South Carolina when she was 14 years old. Her family moved and shortly afterward, the future WWE Diva was introduced to sports-entertainment.

“Once we moved to South Carolina, I remember watching WWE with my dad and yelling at the TV,” she said. “He took me to a couple of matches at the Carolina Coliseum in Columbia. I watched Ric Flair, Andre the Giant and so many others. I’ll never forget the intensity of that building.”

In the late 1990s, Lilian’s agent called her with an opportunity to work for WWE. With no previous wrestling experience, Lilian had her concerns, but went to Stamford, Conn., anyway to see what WWE had to offer.

That position to work with the company’s Spanish-speaking show fell through, but six months later, Lilian was called for another opportunity. It was an audition to be a ring announcer for the new show, SmackDown. WWE hired her for a trial run, but they wouldn’t need another six months this time.

“That was August 23, 1999,” Lilian recalled. “It was Iowa St. University and it was amazing. From the very first day, I was hooked. And here I am nine years later.”

While Lilian’s mother and sister were not the biggest fans of WWE to say the least, it gave her and her father something to bond over. When Lilian initially called her father to tell him about her new job, he was as excited as she was.

“It was our thing,” she said. “Then, suddenly, there I am announcing Ric Flair. It was very surreal.”

Lilian is not only living out one dream. She’s actually living two, as WWE supported her in recording her first album as a vocal artist.

Her first album, ¡Quiero Vivir!, is the result of a singing career that began at the young age of 5 when her father took up guitar lessons. The instructor would come over and play while Lilian and her sister sang along. Eventually, they were the ones receiving lessons while Lilian’s poor father never learned how to play guitar.

The music instructor wasn’t joking around; he placed the sisters in shows and helped Lilian realize her singing dream early in life. She pursued this love, even in her spare time, recording herself singing.

“I love to entertain people and I love music,” Lilian said. “When I get to perform, when I see those faces of people who are entertained by me singing … That’s the lore of it. It’s the same as Superstars and Divas having a great match, when I go out there and perform.”

¡Quiero Vivir! was the perfect start for Lilian. Spanish was the first language she knew, so it was only appropriate that her first album be released in Spanish. She started learning English when she was 5, after going to kindergarten wearing a sign that said the only words she knew in English were hello and goodbye. Even while she learned English, she kept up with her Spanish consistently, thanks to her Spanish-speaking grandmother who lived with her.

Now that the first album is produced and she’s on the map, Lilian is in the process of recording her follow-up – an English album.

“I love writing and I love being in a studio,” she said. “I’m really excited about this coming together, and then we’ll see where it goes from there.”

Whether it’s singing to her mother when she was 5 or singing the National Anthem at a New York Jets game, music has been a huge piece of who Lilian is. And don’t look for that to stop anytime soon.

“Music is always going to be a part of me. I have to do it. It’s an avenue I have to pursue.”

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Is it nice to see Lilian without a microphone in front of her, or are you wishing that she’d stick to her announcing duties?
[poll=151]

Layla‘s Summer Skin tenure is winding down – tomorrow’s her last day – but she’s keeping up the pace with fantastic photos. She just may be in the running for best Summer Skin photoshoot. What do you all say – who’s showed the best Summer Skin

UPDATE: The last of her photos have been added – check the end of the gallery!

[poll=147]

Layla‘s Summer Skin feature has debuted, and I’m pretty impressed. Layla has always been one of the most photogenic Divas in the WWE, so it’s not much of a surprise to see her turn out some great photos. Her bikinis are beautiful, and the setting is amazing. Seeing this, is it a coincidence that her favorite celebrity is Tyra Banks? It can’t be, because Layla’s looking like a top model to me..

To read Layla’s interview, view the video of her shoot, see where she got her bikinis, and find out “how to date” her, follow the cut.

• View the video of Layla’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Layla

• “Dance.. As If Everyone Is Watching”
by Tracy Dugan

If there is one thing this Raw Diva is passionate about – other than stepping into the ring and giving the WWE Universe her all – it’s dancing. Layla has been moving and shaking since the tender age of 2.

“It’s in my blood. When I am dancing, it just feels real. It feels like it’s a part of me. For as long as I can remember, as soon as music starts to play, I am moving,” the British beauty explained.

Layla was never sure of exactly what she wanted to do in life, but was always positive she wanted to be successful. After spending some time in school studying law, the natural dancer decided performing arts was her true path. Before joining WWE, Layla strutted her stuff on the basketball court as a dancer for the Miami Heat, and performed with the likes of Kanye West and P-Diddy. It was in 2006 that she decided to try-out for the $250,000 WWE Diva Search contest.

“When I first heard about the competition, I laughed it off thinking there’s no way I could do this,” Layla said. “I was looking at the girls, like Chyna, and then looking at myself. I didn’t think there was any chance. But eventually, I just decided ‘Why not?’ and woke up the day of the audition and went in.”

Layla was two-and-a-half hours late for her Diva Search audition, but was still allowed to show WWE what she could do. She went on to win the entire contest, earning her a spot on the SmackDown roster. It would be a few months until her in-ring debut in October 2006 as part of a Diva Trick-or-Treat Battle Royal.

In January 2007, Layla shimmied her way over to the Land of the Extreme where she was given her golden chance to slip on her dancing shoes for WWE fans. Alongside Kelly Kelly, Layla performed as a member of Extreme Exposé. Since then, the luscious lass believes she has only been able to brush the surface in terms of showing off what she’s capable of in the realm of dancing.

“I don’t really choreograph anything when I am out there. I just let them play the music and I dance. I would love to work on my routines a bit more. I really want the fans to see what I can do.”

Layla joined the Raw roster by means of the 2008 WWE Draft. It is in front of the Raw Universe that she hopes to get her opportunity to really let loose.

When WWE’s first British Diva is not living out her greatest dreams, she is wearing her enormous heart on her sleeve, participating in as many charitable events as possible.

“I want to really evolve. I want to do as much as I can as an entertainer, as well as a person,” Layla expressed. “I want to be a good role model for everyone, but especially kids – girls. And girls of different ethnicities. I want them to see that they can be positive and obtain whatever they want if they really work for it.”

Most recently, Layla supported former New York Giants defensive end George Martin in raising money and awareness for the rescue workers experiencing health issues related to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. She was also a part of the Read Across America initiative, in which she encouraged literacy, and is a spokesperson for WWE’s WrestleMania 25 Reading Challenge.

“I have been very blessed in my life and now I want to really give back. I think that is so important for everyone, but especially people with some sort of recognition.”

Recognition is something Layla certainly has. But getting to where she is now was no dance in the park. This Diva from across the pond worked especially hard and now basks in a well-deserved spotlight.

“I came to the States with dreams and I accomplished them. I said I was going to travel and dance and I did that. As soon as I saw a Miami Heat game, I said I was going to be a dancer for them and I did that, too. And now I’m with WWE. So far, I have met all of the goals I set for myself. That’s a really great feeling.”

• Where to buy Layla’s bikinis:

• Body Glove
www.bodyglove.com/girl

• Opera Swimwear
Opera by Sueli Costa
www.operaswimwear.com

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Do you feel like dancing, or are you not so enthralled?
[poll=147]

It’s time to see Beth Phoenix like you’ve never seen her before! Okay, so her Summer Skin shoot isn’t *that* much of a departure – she’s still doing her bodybuilder poses and can’t seem to get rid of her headbands, but it’s still kind of cool to see her work a bikini. I think she does it pretty well, but you can tell she’s out of her element. But honestly, I see no problem with that. Not every Diva needs to ooze sex appeal. She looks great in these photos, but I prefer Beth the bad-ass, personally.

UPDATE: 8 new photos are at the end of the gallery!

To read Beth’s interview, view the video of her shoot, see where she got her bikinis, and find out “how to date” her, follow the cut.

• View the video of Beth’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Beth

• “Raising the Bar”
by Katie A. Raymond

Beth Phoenix likes to talk a good game. In every interview, she boasts of her strength and dominance over all the Divas in the ring. And Phoenix backs her words up — it’s what Glamazons do. But while domination may be her “nature,” The Glamazon is no one-trick pony. Ever since she was a little girl, she’s been commanding respect and powering her way through obstacles and challenges.

“On the playground, I was definitely the baddest b*tch of them all,” said Phoenix slyly. “I got everything I wanted, because frankly, I deserved it. A Glamazon gets what a Glamazon wants.”

And her passion for sports-entertainment began as a young girl, watching wrestling on weekend mornings with her grandma. It was an experience The Glamazon will never forget, because it gave them the opportunity to bond. After watching countless hours with her grandma, sports-entertainment was always on the back of her mind … and come hell or high water, she was going make it. At Notre Dame High School in Elmira, N.Y., Phoenix began to blaze her own trail, becoming the first female on the wrestling team.

“When I first signed up, they took me into the principal’s office and asked if it was a mistake. I told them no, and they pulled no punches with me. I trained with the boys and had to do special physical fitness tests to ensure I was able to wrestle.”

The guys on the team saw how hard she worked, and respected her — just as she feels everyone in WWE does. And the boys she beat up? “You might want to ask them,” The Glamazon said with a laugh. “They are still hiding under a rock somewhere.”

But making it to WWE was a little more difficult … and college came first. Phoenix graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, with intentions of becoming a lawyer. Degree in hand, she threw caution to the wind and moved to Louisville, Ky., to pursue sports-entertainment full-time.

“All the time I was in college, I was going to wrestling school on the weekends. I felt like my education would be with me my entire life, but you’re only young once,” she explained. “But it’s certainly not out of the question that I’d pursue something in the criminal justice field after I retire.”

Phoenix also has a softer side, with a hidden skill the WWE Universe may be surprised to learn about.

“I’ve been classically trained in piano since I was little. My father was a pianist, so they started me early. I could read music before I could read words.”

Added to her busy schedule of wrestling school on the weekends, Phoenix helped partially pay her way through college by playing the piano at a church.

“I was liturgical pianist,” Phoenix recalled with a grin. “But those days are over.”

Although her fingers may glide delicately across the ivory keys to the tune of Mozart, her sheer strength is in a genre all of its own. Her performance at Judgment Day, lifting both Melina and Women’s Champion Mickie James over her shoulder at the same time, drew gasps from the crowd. But according to The Glamazon, moments like those are just the beginning … and it speaks for itself.

The Glamazon continues to take her game to next level, recently accepting Santino Marella’s open challenge on Raw for any Superstar to face him. Putting her strength on display, Phoenix bodyslammed Marella and rolled the Italian Superstar up for the victory. It’s just another notch on The Glamazon’s belt, reminiscent of her high school career … ending with a braggadocios male hiding under a rock.

“Male, female, it doesn’t matter. All I see when I look across the ring is an opponent,” Phoenix explained of her victory. “I make a living in this business by winning. And whoever is across from me is going to fall to The Glamazon — because I am the ultimate presence.”

But Phoenix won’t stop there. Each time The Glamazon steps into the ring, she aims to set the bar even higher. There is no rest for the weary, or those who are complacent. Like beating Santino on Raw, sports-entertainment is full of opportunities for those who are willing to take it one step further.

“After I fought my way in the dark, WWE recognized and respected The Glamazon for the incredible entity that I am. It’s not that I want to establish myself at the top of the food chain,” Phoenix continued. “I want to establish myself as unlike anyone else who has come through WWE and the Divas Division.”

• Where to buy Beth’s bikinis:

• Blue Sky Swimwear
blueskyswimwear.com

• Opera Swimwear
Opera by Sueli Costa
operaswimwear.com

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Are you impressed by this new side of the Glamazon, or are you missing the kick-ass Beth?
[poll=140]

Silly me.. I thought yesterday’s batch of Lena Summer Skin photos were the last. Actually, today is the last stop, bringing in a total of a whopping 37 photos for Lena. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s the most any Diva has had so far. Now, I’m not putting much stock into these things, because they’re pretty insignificant, but I find it strange that the Diva they seem to be investing the least in gets the most Summer Skin attention. Eh, whatever.. I’m thinking about this too much. Tomorrow brings us Beth Phoenix, so stay tuned for that..

The latest photos are at the end of the gallery.

[poll=131]

This may look like a “Caption This” post, but it’s actually the last set of Lena‘s Summer Skin photos. She looks great as always, mixing up the shots with a few playful ones (swinging on a swingset, tossing a beach ball), but what is with those photos with the matching old women? If they’re going for some artistic symmetry look it went so far over the head it scraped the ceiling.

The latest photos are at the end of the gallery.

[poll=131]

Lena‘s Summer Skin feature is up today, showcasing even more impressing pictures. It’s like the WWE put all of their less than impressive shoots up first and reserved the best for last, because these last few photoshoots have been great, and Lena is no different. Her bikinis are gorgeous and her photos are unique – the one under the dock is incredible! But that doesn’t change the fact that she’s still the least-active Diva on the roster. She’s practically invisible! Is it some strange, epic coincidence that her favorite color is clear? I mean, come on.. This stuff writes itself! She’s ECW’s only Diva, aside from Tiffany, and I have to say, it’s pretty ridiculous how little she’s done so far..

9 more photos have been added!

To read Lena’s interview, view the video of her shoot, and find out “how to date” her, follow the cut.

• View the video of Lena’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Lena

• “Sensational”
by Andrew Rote

“Watch out. Here comes Lena.” It’s how she describes herself as a child growing up, and it only applies more today.

Lena Yada is persistent, if she is anything. She can call herself a WWE Diva, but that title comes after a great deal of hard work and never giving up.

In 2005, Lena participated in her first WWE Diva Search. She made it to the final 30 cut, but was eliminated before getting further. Still, that didn’t discourage the future Diva from continuing to fight for her dream.

“I like to try everything at least once,” she explained, “But I can be a sore loser.”

Lucky for the WWE Universe, Lena takes being a sore loser one step further to flat out rejecting loss. In 2007, she returned to Diva Search and lasted as one of the final three contestants. Shortly after the competition, she had a contract with WWE.

“I remember way back when my cousins and brother got me into wrestling,” she said. “It was such a fantasy to me. You just see it on television.”

Her fantasy of combining her beauty and her knack for performance was conceived at a young age. Growing up with a brother and two close male cousins added that spice that makes her a perfect fit for the WWE Diva mold. But she didn’t let the men in her life influence her too much.

“I wanted to be a girly girl back then and my mom always me to have short hair and be more tomboyish,” admitted the self-proclaimed “Asian sensation.” “It was a battle. I felt sorry for my mom because I was the only other girl in the family and nobody knew how to give her advice on how to take care of a little girl.”

Ballet took up a great deal of Lena’s time. She was in love with it, whether she was watching or participating.

“I always wanted to be a ballerina. My mom used to tell me that if she took me to the movies, I would be so uninterested. But if she took me to the ballet, I wouldn’t even move.”

The costumes and the fantasy behind ballet won her heart over. She would perform up until college, where she took up fashion design.

Lena still considers fashion one of her main hobbies, but the stage is her lifestyle.

“You can’t beat the rush you get when there’s tens of thousands of people watching you,” she explained. “It’s such a rush. I don’t think you’ll be able to find that anywhere else – just knowing that somebody is coming and paying to see your show. And you’re the highlight of their day. It’s the most rewarding feeling in the world.”

Lena admits risk of injury has always been a concern for her, but it’s never stopped her before and it won’t stop her now. The “Asian sensation” competed in the quarter finals of the 2007 World Title of Tandem Surfing. The former Miss Hawaiian Tropic Japan also plans on raising the bar in WWE.

“I really look forward to stepping into the ring. I got the opportunity with Layla and it was great. I would love to just show my stuff. I’ve always been a physical person. And I just want to translate that in the ring. So look for me soon.”

She has her support system all lined up. Lena is very close with her family, who watch her on television. Despite her father finding the humor in his small daughter being surrounded by some of the biggest men on earth, her parents are with her every step of the way.

Lena spent a lot of time with her father growing up while her mother worked long hours. Every weekend, the two of them would go to either the park or the beach. Later on, Lena’s relationship with her mother developed, as Lena refers to her mom as her best friend.

The Diva has already found herself living the dream. As she continues to find herself as a sports-entertainment personality, she hopes to bring in pieces of her background, particularly her Japanese heritage. No matter what, she’ll be performing – which she has done virtually since leaving the womb – and expressing herself.

“It’s so rewarding. Even with all of the traveling we do, this is the only job I can honestly say I love going to every week.”

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Do you like reading about her childhood, or are you less than interested?
[poll=131]

The last of Natalya‘s Summer Skin photos are up, and they’re just as lively as the rest. This shoot was easily one of the biggest surprises so far – I mean, it’s not like Natalya is inept at posing, but I didn’t expect her photos to be this good! Here’s hoping Lena’s (which starts tomorrow) keeps up the trend.

The latest photos are at the end of the gallery.

[poll=126]

Sorry for the impromptu Fresh Prince rendition.. Natalya‘s back with more Summer Skin goodness, and she still looks every bit a Diva! It’s amazing to me how well she poses when in reality she’s pretty much the anti-Diva on television. I suppose it’s a good thing, though, that the WWE doesn’t need chicks with no ring talent to fill out a bikini, ’cause it’s starting to look like the one that can wrestle are doing that pretty damn well on their own..

The latest photos are at the end of the gallery.

[poll=126]

It’s sort of like a blast from the past, isn’t it? Natalya‘s Summer Skin photoshoot has debuted, and instead of sporting the bold red hair she’s recently adopted, she’s still got her blonde tresses. Redhead or blonde, I’m a pretty big fan of Natalya, and I must say she really impresses me in this photoshoot. We’re definitely not used to seeing her running around in bikinis, but she more than pulls it off. She’s got the spunk and style of other Divas, plus her own unique look. It looks like Natalya’s continuing the trend of “wrestlers with good shoots”, which is all well with me!

To read Natalya’s interview, view the video of her shoot, and find out “how to date” her, follow the cut.

• View the video of Natalya’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Natalya

• “Princess of Harts”
by Andrew Rote

Imagine growing up with a ring in your grandfather’s backyard and with more than half of your family members being wrestlers at some level. Natalya doesn’t have to try very hard to picture that childhood. As the daughter of Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart and a member of the Hart family, the first ever third generation Diva has been given the opportunity to be the best. Still, just because she’s a Neidhart, it doesn’t mean her road to becoming a WWE Diva was remotely easy.

“I had a fairly normal childhood, but in some ways, it was like growing up without a dad,” Natalya admitted. “But the time we had at home with him and my mom really made it count.”

The Diva said she had a great childhood, but it was a sheltered one.

“My father was very protective of his three daughters. He really tried to protect us from wrestling.”

With where Natalya has ended up, it’s easy to see how well that worked. When her father was traveling for 300 days each year, she and her sister Muffy would watch him on TV. They particularly enjoyed watching the Hart Foundation when they would face the Rockers, so Natalya could watch her crush – Shawn Michaels – and Muffy could watch hers – Marty Jannetty.

“It was not a business for his little girls,” Natalya explained.

Despite Jim’s take on wrestling, every Sunday, Natalya and the rest of the Hart family would gather at her grandfather Stu’s house for food and fighting.

“At Sunday Dinner, my grandfather would cook for 40 or 50 people, sometimes even 75,” she said. “Then after dinner, we’d have our matches. My grandfather designed and built the ring himself.”

In their after-dinner contests, Natalya and her cousins would participate in anything from one-on-one matches to Battle Royals. She and her cousins all grew up near each other in the Tampa, Fla. area, and would take turns wrestling, managing and ringing the bell.

“We had our own wrestling promotion called the KWA – the Kids Wrestling Association,” she explained. “And we had a belt that we designed and made out of Styrofoam.”

Natalya specifically mentioned her cousin Matthew, who passed away at the age of 13 from a flesh-eating virus. He was only a year younger than the future Diva, which helped make them as close as they were.

Nicknamed the Canadian Cougar, Matthew has inspired Natalya and her cousins to pursue the dream of being in the squared circle – the dream he grew with.

While wrestling was always there, it wasn’t the only thing Natalya wanted to be. She initially hoped for either a veterinary career or a life in journalism. But with her experience with theater in school and with the business always surrounding her, WWE has turned out to be what she calls a natural fit.

“It’s always been a huge part of my life,” she said. “I can’t remember a day in my life we haven’t talked about wrestling. My uncle was big on saying we’re not going to talk about wrestling, and then five minutes later, we’ll talk about wrestling.”

After Natalya realized her dream of becoming a member of the professional wrestling business, she toured the independent circuit and found herself in Japan in 2005. It was there that she had an experience that would change her life.

While working overseas, Natalya tore her meniscus and severed her ACL.

“I was so scared,” she admitted. “I’d never been injured before that.”

She told her uncle Bret she planned on going back to school and giving up wrestling.

“I was too scared to go back to wrestling. I was finished with it. I was so traumatized by this injury. It was like a gun going off.”

Natalya had to wrestle 12 matches on a blown out knee, but she considers those the 12 contests that made her who she is today as it helped her to show her guts and warrior mentality.

“The doctors gave me a death sentence,” she said. “Nine months with no wrestling.”

She took it as a sign that it was time to step away from sports-entertainment.

“It traumatized me so much that I wanted to quit wrestling.”

Then, in 2006, Bret Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He invited Natalya and her cousins as his guests. There, the future Diva met people there like Superstar Billy Graham, who had near death experiences, and Matt Hardy, who had the same knee surgery that she had.

“I met people who had been to hell and back,” Natalya said. “I realized I had so much unfinished business. I realized this is my dream. And that knee surgery is what took me to the next level. It was meant to happen.”

More driven than ever before, Natalya came back strong and got hired by WWE.

“Everything is mental. My grandfather used to say that. And without that knee injury, I don’t think I’d be the person I am today. And it’s funny how I almost gave up my dream because of fear.”

Fortunately for Natalya and for the WWE Universe, she overcame that fear and has an entirely new attitude – not only a scar – to show for it.

“I’m still very new to WWE,” she admitted. “A lot of the other Divas think I’m arrogant or cocky, but I’m the first ever third generation Diva in the entire world. There’s not another one, and it’s groundbreaking. For me to get here was a very long road. But I’m really history in the making.”

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Is it nice to see this different side to Natalya, or was it not such a welcome change?
[poll=126]

The last photos from Melina‘s Summer Skin shoot have been released, and they’re pretty much the same as the rest – solid and diverse. She looks great, poses great, and manages to spice it up without going overboard. There’s not much else you can say! Though, I must admit the shower photos are my least favorite of the bunch. There’s something skeevy about them that I’m just not liking.

The latest photos are at the end of the gallery.

[poll=122]

She’s been absent from WWE TV for a while, but it’s time for Melina to make a bit of a comeback. Okay, it’s just her Summer Skin feature, but it’s still nice to see her! As always, Melina’s works hard to mix up her photos, even if a few poses may miss their mark at times. She looks phenomenal (gorgeous bikinis, great hair), as does the scenery. The shower bit kind of freaked me out at first, but it is a nice change of pace – I mean, how many sunsets can you photograph? At least with Melina, there’s one thing you can definitely count on: diversity.

EDIT: 8 more photos have been added! Check the end of the gallery.

To read Melina’s interview, view the video of her shoot, shop for her bikinis, and find out “how to date” her, follow the cut.

• View the video of Melina’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Melina

• “A Complete Diva”
by Andrew Rote

Some could call her a walking contradiction, but Melina sees herself as the complete WWE Diva. And with what she has accomplished, whether it’s in the ring, on a mat or anywhere else, she’s absolutely right.

“When I was young and around my family, you could say I was a little Diva,” Melina said with a smile, reflecting about her childhood. “I’d dance around, and I’d pretend like I was a little ballerina. I was always in my own little world.”

Melina described herself as a pretender, but is anything but, as she has always pushed for her dreams to become reality since grade school.

“I have a lot of dreams. It’s just whatever door opens up and whatever fits at that time.”

The self-proclaimed “True Diva” took part in acting, singing both in and out of choir, dance, journalism, track and rollerblading, to name a few of her activities. She grew up in an active household as her mother worked out regularly and her father boxed. Melina also has an older brother who was intent on training her early on for a career in wrestling.

“He toughened me up for wrestling,” she explained. “I always wanted to hang out with him and he hated my guts. He beat me up a lot,” she laughed.

The future Diva, who was extremely shy yet put on performances, was also homecoming queen despite being every bit as much of a loner as she is in WWE.

“I was never in one, set clique,” she said. “I got along with everyone. [Being nominated] was important to me because I represented all of my friends.”

One of her friends, who happened to be a wrestler, suggested Melina become involved in the sport to keep in shape while she was working with a trainer on flexibility.

“It was a hobby,” she explained. “It never occurred to me that I would be in WWE.”

Not only did Melina make it to WWE; she reined as Women’s Champion twice. Getting there wasn’t the smoothest ride, however. After being scouted, she went to events for two years every time WWE came to her area of California and took part in Tough Enough 3, where she failed to come out on top.

“When I didn’t make it, I thought maybe this wasn’t what I’m supposed to do,” she admitted. “But I just kept going until one day, it happened. When they say it’s the right place at the right time, it’s true.”

Melina feared being looked at as too much of a girly girl – someone who wouldn’t be able to get into the ring and do some damage. But soon that fear grew into acceptance as the Diva found a way to combine that image with the tomboy image she held for herself.

“I never saw myself as sexy, ever,” Melina said. “I was always everybody’s little sister or little buddy. It was a weird transition, but it’s made me a complete person. It’s nice to have somebody look at me and say, ‘you look pretty’.”

The “True Diva” brings her feminine side, her tomboy side and a touch of goofiness to the locker room.

Recently, Melina has also brought a bit of Cirque du Soleil to the arenas. At WrestleMania XXIV, she debuted a fitting outfit and ever since, she’s been working the art form into her image and her performance.

“I’ve always been fascinated with Cirque du Soleil and what the human body can do,” she explained. “These people are so incredible and so athletic.”

She sees their methods similar to hers with WWE. Cirque performers incorporate athleticism to entertain. And as their experiences do for them, Melina used sports-entertainment to discover her flexibility.

Between her years with WWE and her training in cirque, which she has been studying since March, Melina has been amazed at just how flexible she is. And she has made it a goal to find out how much further she can go.

“It’s pretty tough,” she admitted about her training classes, “But I love the fact that it is tough because it’s challenging and it makes me feel good that I’m able to accomplish it. It’s so beautiful and graceful, too.”

Cirque du Soleil isn’t her only passion outside of WWE. In fact, it’s one of countless other interests that she involves herself with.

“Everything is art to me.”

Decorating is one of her new targets to become an expert in. Cooking is another area she has mastered, which comes in handy being from a culture where cooking is such an important part of life.

“My Mexican heritage plays a huge part of who I am,” Melina said. “We’re known for our dancing, our movement and our passion as well as our fire, our intensity, and our tempers. Everything I do represents my culture. It’s who I am. It’s nothing I have to force.”

Melina feels like she not only represents Latin culture, but all other ethnic cultures, as well. She’s amazed by the support she has gained from all over the world and appreciates every bit of it.

The “True Diva” has come a long way since being that little girl hiding behind her mother’s leg and peeking out to put on performances. She has gone from training to be a doctor to becoming a two-time WWE Women’s Champion.

Through all of it, she has never changed who she is, still seeing herself as nothing more than a big kid playing dress-up and acting out.

“It’s weird how it works, but one day WWE looked at me, took notice and then it all worked out.”

Everybody has something unique to show the world, Melina says. And her mix of culture and contradictions has made her a complete Diva on her way to being a complete person.

Where to Find Her Bikinis:

BlueSkySwimwear.com

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Are you happy to see Melina again, or are you not exactly counting down the days until her return?
[poll=122]

The second set of Victoria‘s Summer Skin photos are up, and the “Vicious Vixen” is still impressing me. Her shoot is rather mellow, with most of her poses featuring her lounging about, but she still has that spark about her that keeps me interested. The only thing that irks me a bit are the sunglasses; I don’t think they flatter the shape of her face. :/ Is it strange that the thing that really catches my eye is the sculpture she’s laying on? I don’t know.. Something about tile art in the shape of reptiles just piques my interest. ;)

The latest photos are at the end of gallery.

[poll=119]

Ask anyone, and you’ll be sure to get the same response: Victoria is one of the most unfairly treated wrestlers (Superstar or Diva) on the WWE roster. She’s one of the WWE’s most accomplished wrestlers, yet she’s never been given a solid push since her Women’s Title reign back in 2003. Nevertheless, this former “psycho” retains her infectious enthusiasm, and you can definitely feel her personality coming through in her first Summer Skin photos. Victoria’s never been one of the conventional Divas – she’s got muscles that could put some Superstars to shame – yet it looks like she feels right at home in the bikini shoots. So far, I’m really liking it. Seeing Victoria’s softer side is pretty cool, even if we don’t get to see it all that often.

To read Victoria’s interview, view the video of her shoot, and find out “how to date” her, follow the cut.

• View the video of Victoria’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Victoria

• “Black-Widowed Woman”
by Katie A. Raymond

The term “unmotivated” isn’t in Victoria’s vernacular. She wasn’t “unmotivated” when she hoisted the Women’s Championship into the air on two occasions, and she wasn’t “unmotivated” when she opened her latest business venture, Black Widow Customs, in Louisville, Ky.

But her journey into becoming one of the most respected — and feared — Divas in WWE has a little bit of a different ring to it. If her path had been etched out at a slightly different angle, her life, now consisting of dominating her foes with the Widow’s Peak, may have been about helping children as a pediatrician.

“The first college I went to was Riverside Community College. Then I transferred to a private college, Loma Linda University,” Victoria explained of her bio-med college education. “I never came from that type of private school setting … I wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself into.”

Loma Linda was tailored to pre-med, and after only her second year, she was working on cadavers. But still, the fit wasn’t quite right, and after discussing it with her dad, Victoria headed to UCLA. It was also around this time she started working at the Inland Eye and Tissue Bank, in Redwoods, Calif., where she removed corneas, heart valves, bones and tissue, everything needed for transplantation.

But working there also gave Victoria a different outlook on life. She was dealing with two things: Life and Death. On the one hand, the job itself was rewarding. On the other hand, she was dealing with some of the major causes of death; heart disease and weight, among others, on a daily basis. And now, she was going to take her health more seriously.

“I guess I just handle death differently than most people. I got addicted to working out and became a fanatic with myself. That’s when I started to become a professional fitness competitor.”

In 1997 she won ESPN’s Fitness America series, and continued competing. Soon after, while at the gym, she met a former WWE Superstar, who put the idea of sports-entertainment in the back of her mind. Victoria knew with her gymnastics and cheerleading background, she would be a natural. She sent in a video package to WWE, and received a call requesting a meeting.

“I really thought I could do some of the same moves as the men in the ring. I thought I was invincible, that nothing could damage me,” Victoria said with a grin. “I searched for a wrestling school on the Internet and drove an hour and a half. I had 20 days to learn how to wrestle,” she continued. “There were people that didn’t have faith in me … a lot of people didn’t. That just made me push harder.”

Now, after two stints as Women’s Champion, her training is still paying off. Known for her athletic and powerful style, Divas across WWE have fallen victim to the Widow’s Peak — some believe it’s one of the most devastating finishing moves of any Diva … ever.

But Victoria’s family always believed in her. Her father is Puerto Rican and her mom was born in Korea but raised in Japan. However, Victoria is not Korean. The self-proclaimed “big time tomboy,” also had three older brothers watching out for her.

“My mom is from Papar. The people of that area were gypsies from northern Mongolia and moved from place to place. I describe myself as Turkish, because it’s easily understood,” Victoria said about her heritage.

And life in the ring has afforded Victoria the opportunity to bring her mom back to Japan, a dream of hers.

“My mom was in Japan until she met my dad in the service, and he brought her to New Jersey. When I took her back to Japan, my mom was able to visit an area she grew up in, which isn’t really there anymore. It was cool because she became my translator.”

Now on her plate is the Diva’s newest venture: Black Widow Customs in Louisville. But the car shop is not just another business opportunity, it’s a real passion for Victoria. At the end of May, she entered her Black Widow Customs 2006 Chrysler 300C Hemi into the YouTube Chrysler 300 Spin It Your Way online contest. The perfectly-modded machine took home the big win — and a trip to the L.A. Auto Show in November.

“I did a really awesome job designing that sucker,” Victoria said with a laugh. “Business is really booming, and we are making a name for ourselves. People can bring anything in and we can make their car a dream come true.”

Victoria isn’t lying, either. The Diva’s first car, a Dodge Colt from her oldest brother, ignited her interest in customizing cars. Victoria took it down to Tijuana and had it all pimped out, with the interior painted white. Her hometown, San Bernadino, Calif., a primarily latino community referred to it as the “gringo-mobile.”

“Everything I do is in a man’s world, and has prepared me to be in WWE. I get paid to beat up people for a living … and I do such a great job.”

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Has Victoria motivated you with her enthusiasm, or are you not feeling the “Black Widow”?
[poll=119]

Katie Lea has finished her Summer Skin photoshoot strong, turning in some beautiful last photos. Most of you have been impressed by her pictures, so it’s safe to say that she’s definitely coming into her own as a Diva. Here’s hoping her push on RAW will continue, and she’ll get a better opportunity to become one of the top WWE Divas, because I for one think she can handle it and certainly deserves it. Tomorrow, Victoria debuts her feature, so hopefully this trend of spectacular shoots continues!

The latest photos are at the end of the gallery.

[poll=115]

A few more Summer Skin photos have been added to Katie Lea‘s gallery, and I’m still impressed. Is it weird that I think that the seaweed brings out the blue in her eyes? She’s got the *intense* stare down pat, and while it may be unsettling after a while, it makes for some fierce pictures..

The latest photos are at the end of the gallery.

[poll=115]

Here’s something we’ve never seen before – Katie Lea in full Diva mode! Yep, it’s her turn to do the Summer Skin thing, and I must say she looks pretty darn good. She may be lounging in seaweed in one of the photos, but in a weird way, it sort of suits her unique persona. I’m not saying she’s crazy, but she’s just not your usual Diva. To me, she always seems to have this extra “it” factor, where you don’t *really* know what’s going on in her mind. That may be intentional or unintentional but that makes her unique, in my mind.

To read Katie Lea’s interview, view the video of her shoot, find out “how to date” her, and see where she bought her bikinis, follow the cut.

• View the video of Katie Lea’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Katie Lea

• “Pain and Beauty”
by Andrew Rote

ot long ago, Katie Lea Burchill was a tomboy growing up in Germany with the understanding that any kind of physical aggression was not right. Now, she is a resident of Tampa, Fla., and one of the Sexiest Women on Television, earning one of the quickest title opportunities in Divas history.

Needless to say, spending all of her time with boys in grade school didn’t hurt her in her road to becoming a WWE Diva.

“I was more comfortable around boys than girls,” she explained.

Before she ever had dreams of being in the ring, however, Katie imagined herself on a different stage. Movies were her passion, and she still hopes to be involved in any way possible, whether it’s acting or writing.

“I used to read a lot of books. I used to write a lot of stories too. Writing and acting were my favorite things.”

Katie didn’t have to look far to find drama. Her father sang opera and her mother danced ballet. The future Diva would find herself going to the theater on nearly a weekly basis.

“It was always what I loved,” she said. “In school, I always wanted to the play the main part.”

Her experience performing has given her an edge, adjusting to sports-entertainment.

“I’m shy in social situations, but not on stage. I’m not scared going out there. To me, the stage is the most comfortable place in the world.”

Katie first watched WWE when she was 14. She found out how much performing went into the art and fell in love.

“I was amazed,” she said. “I thought it was the greatest thing ever. When I was 16, we got cable and I started watching it all the time.”

Though she had to put aside her hobby of writing short movies, Katie found a creative outlet with her role at WWE. Still, she hopes to return to writing movies in conjunction with being a Diva.

Her road to WWE began after graduation. She moved to England to study drama while attending a wrestling school.

Katie took the independent wrestling circuit by storm. She won championships in three separate establishments, including becoming a two-time Ohio Valley Wrestling Women’s Champion when she came to the States in 2006.

“I love it here,” she said, adding that people are the only things she misses about Germany and England. “If I move, that place becomes my home.”

Katie’s work in acting, as well as some martial arts background, is not all that prepares her for the squared circle.

“I have some hidden anger that sometimes needs to be released,” she admitted. Sure to strike fear into her opponents, she added, “I don’t mind getting hurt either. I actually like pain, so it works out well.”

Right now, Katie’s dream is to become the best Diva in WWE history. She has no plans to be anything else, as she considers herself to be the perfect fit for the role.

“Performing is the thing that makes me happy more than anything else,” she said.

She’s certainly on the right path to making her mark in Divas history, with a championship opportunity already under her belt. And her enthusiasm and talent is enough to propel her to exactly where she dreams of being.

As Katie said, “Anything is possible if you believe it.”

• Where to buy Katie Lea’s bikinis:

Cyn & Luca
Live in Cyn
CynandLuca.com

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Are you interested in hearing more about her Hollywood aspirations or are you less than intrigued?
[poll=115]

Maryse has turned up the heat for her last set of Summer Skin photos, producing – in my opinion – the best photos of this whole feature so far! She shows sex appeal without going too far with it, and her bikinis are simply gorgeous. She probably could have gone without fudging with the tops (bunching them up to, I assume, make her boobs look bigger), but they look great nonetheless.

The latest photos are at the end of the gallery.

[poll=112]

Don’t look now, but there’s more of Maryse‘s Summer Skin shoot up on WWE.com. It’s more of the same, really, but that’s not a bad thing. She still looks gorgeous, and doesn’t seem to be trying too hard, which tends to be the hallmark of a WWE Diva when it comes to photoshoots. She doesn’t seem to be doing a lazy job either, so she’s treading the line pretty nicely, in my opinion..

The latest photos are at the end of the gallery.

[poll=112]

Time for me to break out my two years of high school French to introduce Maryse‘s Summer Skin shoot! Okay, so I used Babel Fish, but whatever.. The point is, Maryse looks amazing! She makes the most of the lackluster surroundings and has posed for some gorgeous photos. It wasn’t long ago that I though that Maryse was utterly useless, but now that she’s slowly coming into her own in the ring, I’m more inclined to give her a chance. That, added to the fact that she’s broken the streak of boring and less-than-spectacular Summer Skin shoots is bringing her further into my good graces, and I know that’s such a coveted place to be.. ;) Oh, and might I add that she’s that much cooler for listing Spider-Man as her favorite superhero? Yay for lack of Wonder Woman love, for once!

To read Maryse’s interview, view the video of her shoot, find out “how to date” her, and see where she bought her bikinis, follow the cut.

• View the video of Maryse’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Maryse

• “Making Life Beautiful”
by Andrew Rote

Of all the women to participate in WWE’s Diva Search contests, Maryse may have had the longest road to travel. Imagine being told to be yourself during interviews and competitions knowing only a few words of English.

“I felt like saying, ‘Yeah, try to be yourself and speak French!’” Maryse said with a smile.

But the future SmackDown Diva set her mind to what she wanted, and two years later, she speaks English as fluently as if she grew up in the United States.

The Montreal native has been entertaining people since the age of 15. In a class with 30 boys and no other girls, Maryse stuck to her guns, never straying from her passion for beauty. She ran her school’s fashion show, and even began putting together a makeup line – which she hopes to have running in full force within a year.

“People are really hard on women today,” she said. “I really love taking a girl who has no idea how to wear makeup and teach her everything, and show her the difference at the end. The smile on their face is just amazing. It’s like they won a million dollars.”

In 2003, Maryse won Miss Hawaiian Tropic Canada and she finished as the runner-up in the International Finals of Miss Hawaiian Tropic 2004. She has also been featured in a special edition of Playboy and on the cover of its Girls of Canada 2007 calendar.

Growing up around beauty, Maryse found herself among a surprising amount of pessimism.

“When I started in this business, I was 15 years old, and no matter the places I went, there were always really negative people around. There’s a lot of competition and jealousy. I learned that you have to just believe in what you’re doing.”

People have often approached her, asking how she handles being an entertainer. She calls her role a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week job and it’s a matter of keeping her priorities straight.

“I just push away everything negative,” she explained. “Just do what you want to do and believe that you can do it and you will do it.”

Maryse is a 10-year veteran of modeling and performing, and a two-year veteran of sports-entertainment. The idea to be a part of WWE came from her friends, when one day they were all sitting around a pool, sipping margaritas. She had started wrestling with her brother at a young age, but never thought it would lead to competing in the 2006 Diva Search.

“When I finally got to Los Angeles, there were so many girls,” she said. “You have to come with character and personality. You’ve got to be ready.”

After making it to the top eight in the competition, Maryse was signed in August that year, following a week of observing training at Ohio Valley Wrestling. She worked at OVW as both an interviewer and a wrestler, and in September she made her debut on SmackDown. Eventually, she would work her way up to joining former WWE Tag Team Champions Deuce & Domino, accompanying the duo to the ring.

Whether it’s wrestling, makeup, modeling or fashion, entertainment has been the passion driving Maryse since she was young. She does it for herself, and will continue to do so no matter what anybody else might think.

“I do the best I can do and I’m passionate about it. If people like me, they like me. If not,” she says, “too bad for them.”

• Where to buy Maryse’s bikinis:

Opera Swimwear
Opera by Sueli Costa
OperaSwimwear.com

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Where you intrigued by Maryse’s discussion of the language barrier or where you left confused by it all?
[poll=112]

The last of Jillian‘s Summer Skin batch have been posted, and above anything else, I’m flabbergated that she’s only given 2/3 the amount of photos that the other Divas received. Is it a measure of her (lack of) popularity or poor quality of photos? Either way, I can’t say it surprises me. Jillian’s never been one of the WWE’s bigger Divas. She’s usually been relegated to jobbing on Heat (back when it existed) or doing some stupid and embarrassing singing skit to segue to that oiled-up fat dude dancing in a thong.

Now I may be wrong, as there’s another day until the next Summer Skin Diva makes her debut and they may still be working on Jillian, but my complaint stands. Jillian tends to get crappy treatment in all areas, not just WWE.com.

What about you, dear readers? Do you think Jillian’s getting the short end of the stick in all matters – not just inconsequential photoshoots?
[poll=109]

The latest photos are at the end of the gallery.

More photos from Jillian‘s Summer Skin photoshoot have been posted, and I have to say that they’re miles ahead of the last batch. I love the bikinis she’s wearing, especially the paisley-patterned one (see top left). As long as she lays off the trout pout, Jillian could really pull off an interesting shoot. Oh, and why are they shortchanging us with these photos? Jillian only has 14 so far, whereas the other Divas had about 20 at this point. Me thinks there’s a bit of a Jillian prejudice going on on WWE.com..

The latest 7 photos are at the end of the gallery.

[poll=105]

It’s Jillian Hall‘s turn to debut her Summer Skin photoshoot, and I have to say that may hopes were dashed. I was hoping for – after the lackluster start to Summer Skin – that Jillian would deliver. This was definitely not the case. Jillian looks like she’s going for the Donatella Versace look – pin straight blonde hair, orange skin, heavy makeup, and droopy lips. It kind of upsets me, because Jillian was quite beautiful in her early WWE days, before she felt the need to pump her lips with half the world’s supply of saline. I don’t mean to bash her, because I truly like her, but Jillian looks downright confused in half of these photos. What’s going on? I think I’m as confused as she is..

To read Jillian’s interview, view the video of her shoot, find out “how to date” her, and see where she bought her bikinis, follow the cut.

• View the video of Jillian’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Jillian Hall

• “A Hit Diva”
by Katie A. Raymond

As Jillian Hall’s self-sung entrance theme “Sliced Bread” plays in arenas throughout the world, the sultry songstress watches two of her childhood dreams — singing and wrestling — intertwine into one reality.

Before age 8, Hall knew that wrestling was the right path for her. Her uncle, a devoted fan of the craft, encouraged Jillian and made sure sports-entertainment was part of her life. It was from this encouragement Jillian discovered Miss Elizabeth.

“I wanted to be just like her and dress like her,” Hall recalled of the woman who inspired her. “I just thought she was the coolest person ever.”

Jillian grew up in a small town in Kentucky. Her days, when not spent watching sports-entertainment in her uncle’s basement, were spent four-wheeling and swimming with her cousins. The community was close-knit, and the houses were less than a mile from each other.

In high school, the blonde bombshell was an active cheerleader. As a team, the squad won regional, state and national championships, an accomplishment and memory Jillian will never forget.

Jillian gave college a try, but decided to leave after one semester in order to focus on her childhood dreams. Fortunate enough to have conveniently grown up in Kentucky, Jillian joined nearby Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2003. By 2004, she had a WWE contract and in the summer of 2005, Jillian debuted on SmackDown.

Her penchant for singing began at early age too, as she recorded her first album at 13. The CD featured mostly covers of Whitney Houston songs, which her mother “loved.” Looking to make even more of a splash in the music business, Jillian formed a band — the Icicle Popsicles — with her cousin, Misty, performing for family and friends.

Jillian debuted her WWE singing career at No Way Out 2007, belting out one of her originals. But the idea of singing for our fans had been brewing in the singer’s head for a long time.

“The crowd at No Way Out was huge. I had never sung in front of so many people! But I felt like I was in front of my family or my friends,” said Jillian. “It’s just natural to me. I love the reaction of the fans realizing how great my singing is, that’s what you look for.”

Now, she is strongly committed to her singing career, and wants to be a mainstay in the industry. But you won’t find her taking in concerts for other artists.

“I like my own singing better. With a voice like mine, why would I go and see anyone else?”

And her lyrics are one-of-a-kind as well.

“Where do you think ‘Sliced Bread’ came from?” the tone-deaf Diva said, rolling her eyes at the question. “Heck yeah, I write my own songs. That is my favorite song ever, by anyone.”

The songstress wants to be multi-dimensional as well. Instead of just one genre, Jillian sees herself stepping into the world of hip-hop, channeling rappers like Lil’ Kim. “I’m a really good singer already, so I know I could pull that off pretty well,” she added with a smirk.

The Diva’s first major album was released in December 2007 exclusively on iTunes to celebrate the holiday season. A Jingle with Jillian featured the songs “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “The Christmas Song” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The album reached No. 20 in the UK Holidays Top 100 shortly after its release before climbing onto the Top 50 albums on iTunes.

“It was inevitable that my first album would be a huge success,” she said as she fixed her hair for the next photo shoot. “And it’s inevitable that the follow-up will be a hit, too.”

• Where to buy Jillian’s bikinis:

Opera Swimwear
Opera by Sueli Costa
OperaSwimwear.com

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Where you moved to song over Jillian’s musical aspirations, or was this whole thing sorta tone deaf?
[poll=105]

The final 7 photos have been added to Kelly Kelly‘s Summer Skin gallery, and might I say I’m glad that it’s over. This whole Summer Skin business has been rather dull so far, but I think Kelly has taken the “boring cake” with her pictures. These new ones don’t help to liven up things, either. Bleh.. Hopefully the debut of Jillian‘s photoshoot tomorrow can help spice things up.

The newest photos are at the end of the gallery.

[poll=100]

I know it may be hard to tell, but Kelly is not actually a statue. That’s not to say she’s statuesque – she just looks so boring in these new Summer Skin photos that I wouldn’t be surprised to find a few pigeons perched on her shoulders. Not only are the bikinis blah, but she just continuously stands around like a mannequin. I don’t get it – didn’t she used to be a model? I think I need to grab a coffee to wake myself up from this..

I know I complain about Kelly a lot, but that’s because I cannot find, try as I might, any reason she deserves to be on the roster. There’s nothing special about her. I’m not bashing, I’m just flabbergasted. Kelly fans, please let me know what’s so special about this girl! I feel like I’m missing out on something.

Look below to check out Kelly’s full Summer Skin gallery so far – the last update is coming tomorrow. Check out the rest of her feature here.

[poll=100]

Kelly Kelly was discovered by WWE officials in a swimsuit catalog, so isn’t this “coming full circle”, in a way? Well, okay, it’s not that monumental, but it’s her turn in the Summer Skin lineup, so feast your eyes on RAW’s newest acquisition! Her photos really seem plain to me. I don’t think Kelly’s ever been too good at variation – it’s almost as if they pasted the same face on different poses. It’s all extremely boring if you ask me.. Maybe her next photos will be a tad more exciting.

To read Kelly’s interview, view the video of her shoot, and find out “how to date” Kelly, follow the cut.

• View the video of Kelly’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Kelly Kelly

• “A Girls Who’s So Nice, She Says Her Name Twice”
by Mike Burdick

Some people have a natural restlessness deep inside that allows them to reach for the stars. That degree of healthy agitation is sometimes the only way they can truly grow up and be happy in their life. This has definitely been the case for Kelly Kelly.

As a child, Kelly was always acting out to get attention. “I was a hellion,” she explained about herself. “I was a cry baby. I remember holding my breath until I would pass out and turn purple. After a while, my mom just got used to it and let me do it.”

Looking back, that was just one of many instances where Kelly showed the signs of a dynamic personality screaming to get out. Although it might not have been clear at the time, Kelly was serving notice that she wanted the spotlight to shine her way. And she was ready to showcase what she was capable of to each and every person in her life.

Kelly’s ongoing pattern of mischievous expression could often make something as simple as going on a family outing into a parental challenge. “We would go to the mall or an amusement park and I would just take off,” Kelly recalled. “They had those little leash things they would put on your arm. But, I knew how to get out of it.” This sort behavior turned out to be practice for the girl destined to go to even bigger places once she grew up.

Throughout her teenage years, Kelly continued to act out for a while. But, what she phrased as “a little stage of rebellion” was soon put in check when she started working to chase down activities that expressed her passions. Not surprisingly, besides being a very good student from the start, she chose to dedicate herself to extracurricular activities that reflected her commitment to excellence and her ability to dazzle the crowd. “I was a gymnast for 10 years. I was very dedicated. That was my thing.”

However, despite her incredibly ambitious nature, her very lofty goals of gymnastics glory were never able to be fully realized due to an early setback. “I wanted to go to the Olympics. But, I broke my tailbone when I was 10, which ruined my chances of doing that.” But, Kelly was not one to let a few bumps stop her from making herself into a success.

Kelly quickly got back on the horse, continuing to find enjoyment in areas that allowed her to entertain her community. She got involved in cheerleading in addition to having a very successful stint as a high school anchor person. Eventually, this led to her enrolling in Community College in Jacksonville, Fla., where she studied journalism, setting her sights on becoming a professional anchor woman.

During this time, she also continued to find her spotlight during her summer breaks, developing a talent that would be very useful in her future career. “I got in touch with Hawaiian Tropics,” she remembered. “I started doing bikini contests everywhere, about three times a week. That’s how I made my money.”

Kelly gained additional exposure by signing on for magazine photo shoots. Eventually the combination of these opportunities developed into something even better. She soon found out, through her agent, that WWE was interested in her. She had loved sports-entertainment as a kid and instantly jumped at the chance to get involved. However, Kelly quickly learned that the opportunity of being a Diva was not going to come easy. “I went to Georgia and trained for a week and threw up every day after.”

Despite these hardships, Kelly stuck with the initial process and before she knew it, she was on her way. “It was worth it. After a week, they called and asked if I wanted to go further. I packed my stuff up and moved to Louisville, Ky., and started training.” Eventually her dedication paid off when the young go-getter earned her way to the big time, becoming part of the premiere episode of the new ECW, making her the youngest Diva on the WWE roster. The rest is history.

Although Kelly didn’t hesitate to leave school when she saw a chance to do something extraordinary, that did not mean she was done learning and growing as a person. When she looks back at everything she has done in a short time, she is amazed at how much more comfortable she has become with herself. “When I started I was 19 years old. Now, I feel like I’m finally growing into being the Diva I want to be. I’m growing up as a person and as a Diva too.”

Though she might not have fulfilled her first childhood dream of Olympic Gold, Kelly’s desire for attention has earned her the experience and ability that will allow her to realize who she truly is. Furthermore, it has given her a solid direction for her passions and the means to follow it. “I always wanted to open my own gymnastics and cheerleading gym. So hopefully in a few years, I will be able to do that. It’s always been my dream.”

Even though the spot light will probably always be calling her, Kelly has also learned what things make her happy once she steps out of it. “I’m such a family person. I love spending time with my family, helping my sister get through her teenage years.” Best of all, Kelly no longer has to hold her breath to get the family’s attention. “My mom’s my biggest fan. My family, including my grandmother who’s 80 years old, watches every week.”

Overall, Kelly Kelly is a dynamic person who will always seek out new ways to utilize her charismatic personality. She has grown into a happy and successful woman who is comfortable in who she is.

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Did Kelly’s perseverance inspire newfound respect, or were you left feeling bored?
[poll=100]

Okay, so I’ll confess something – I wasn’t aware that WWE.com made 3 updates each for every Diva’s Summer Skin feature. So, needless to say, I’ve missed out on a ton of photos. But never fear! I have full galleries for the three Divas represented so far – Michelle, Mickie, & Candice. Check ‘em out below, and do forgive me for my tardiness.

Michelle:
[Gallery not found]

Mickie:
[Gallery not found]

Candice:
[Gallery not found] ]]> http://www.diva-dirt.com/2008/07/14/playing-catch-up/feed/ 5 http://www.diva-dirt.com/2008/07/11/candice-returns-with-her-summer-skin-photoshoot/ http://www.diva-dirt.com/2008/07/11/candice-returns-with-her-summer-skin-photoshoot/#comments Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:02:51 +0000 Erin http://www.diva-dirt.com/?p=871

To read an interview, view the video of her shoot, see where Candice got her bikinis, and find out “how to date” Candice, follow the cut.

• View the video of Candice’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Candice Michelle

• “A Definition of Beauty”
by Andrew Rote

“Guys dig chicks with scars.” It’s one of the many mottos that WWE Diva Candice Michelle now lives by.

Many of the Sexiest Women on TV had long, tough roads to achieve their place in WWE, but few have had as many obstacles as the Diva who defines beauty. The first challenge came just after she was hired, shortly after Candice fell short in the 2004 WWE Diva Search.

“When they called me back, I was really surprised and excited,” she said. “I realized that if I wanted to be taken seriously, I had to do something on my own. So I started training in Los Angeles. I think everybody saw the passion I had.”

Her passion drove her to become much more than simply eye candy. On her way to becoming Women’s Champion at Vengeance 2007, Candice proved herself as one of the toughest ladies on the roster. This was nothing new for the Go Daddy spokeswoman. She claims she has always been able to kick anybody’s butt when it comes to most sports.

“I was totally a tomboy, growing up,” the former Playboy cover girl said. “I had a Hulk Hogan doll growing up. I didn’t have Barbies. I hated Barbies.”

WWE was in Candice’s life long before she joined the company. Watching wrestling was a favorite activity for her and her stepfather.

When she wasn’t watching WWE, Candice’s life was occupied with skating. Her first job was working at a roller skating rink as a teacher, disc jockey, and concession stand server. While she was working there, the John Robert Powers modeling agency held a contest at the rink. Candice competed, won a scholarship to modeling school and never looked back.

The opportunity landed the Wisconsin native in Los Angeles, where she soon discovered her love for acting. She studied theater at Santa Monica College and said goodbye to her previous desires to be a model and a lawyer.

Soon, the chance to be a WWE Diva came, offering the perfect combination of acting and athleticism. Despite being eliminated from the 2004 Diva Search, Candice knew she was made for this role.

“It was such a hard journey for me when I started wrestling. I had to earn respect from everybody,” she said, citing hardcore WWE fans who sometimes view Diva Search competitors as models and not true Superstars.

Candice was eventually able to win our fans over and take control of the Divas division, earning the Women’s Championship in 2007, becoming the first Diva Search contestant to achieve the prize. But all of a sudden, it was taken away from her. She suffered a broken clavicle that led to the end of her reign as Women’s Champion and a lengthy absence from the ring.

“It was really hard for me because I worked so hard to gain the respect of being a wrestler and I was really living my dream,” she said. “It got swept out from under me in an instant. I went through a dark place.”

Candice was not ready for her dreams to be taken away, but after some acceptance and regrouping, she prepared herself for another run in the squared circle … only to break her collarbone once again.

“The transition of going through something like that made me realize it’s a blessing in disguise and God has a purpose for everything,” Candice explained. “I need to have faith.”

The Diva got her first tattoo after that initial injury – the word “faith” scripted on her wrist.

“I got this tattoo because faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. And it faces me because it’s an affirmation for myself.”

What she loves most about the tattoo, though, is when she turns her hand around. When she flashes our fans a sign of love, “faith” displays right side up for everyone to see. She attributes much of her success to their support, recalling all of our fans who stood behind her for each of those injuries.

“I think God has put me in a great place to be a role model for other people. Nobody thought I’d be a contender in the ring and be the first girl from the Diva Search to ever become Women’s Champion. Dreams do come true if you fight for it and go for it. So have faith.”

Candice calls her “faith” tattoo her first tattoo. The second, though, is not a traditional piece of body art.

“When the bandages were ready to come off after my second injury, it was like getting a tattoo. The scar is part of me. It defines me. It defines a turning point in my life of becoming a whole new person, so I just let it shine. I’ve earned this battle wound and I’m going to come back and I’m going to show it off and show people that I’ve had a transformation.”

For Candice, the scar is not a blemish that needs to be covered up with turtlenecks or makeup. It’s part of what makes her beautiful.

“I came back with this new slogan, ‘defining beauty,’ and people might look at it and think it’s because people think I’m beautiful, so I’m defining beauty,” she explained. “But that’s not it; it’s being in a huge black hole and being depressed because my dreams were shattered. It’s being at home with the pain and then injuring my collarbone a second time and having it shattered and going through surgery. It’s about coming back.”

Faith builds who Candice is. It defines beauty and it defines her.

Because of all of the changes she has been forced to go through, Candice’s goal has changed. Initially, she hoped to prove she was a true Superstar and that her heart and passion was in WWE. Now, her new goal is to make a mark in this business. It’s to be a part of WWE’s evolution.

Candice’s evolution is something out of storybooks. She has faced every doubter and every obstacle in her quest to achieve her dream and there is no denying that she has done it with grace and beauty on the way to achieving her special place in WWE history.

• Where to find Candice’s Bikinis

Blue Sky Swimwear
blueskyswimwear.com

Body Glove
bodyglove.com/girl

Opera Swimwear
Opera by Sueli Costa
operaswimwear.com

Kitsch ‘n’ Kouture by Femme Metale
kitschnkouture.com

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Did you feel inspired by Candice’s comeback story and awed by her hot bod, or were you left feeling less than impressed?
[poll=94]

Continuing with their Summer Skin feature, WWE.com has added Mickie James‘s photoshoot, along with a video of the shoot, Mickie’s men preferences, and info on where to purchase her bikinis.

I have to say that I like Mickie’s shoot much more than Michelle’s – it’s a lot more exciting. Mickie seems to mix it up a lot, pose-wise, and her bright and bold bikinis pair well with her bubbly personality. Not to mention, she looks like she’s having fun. I also love that she doesn’t have the “Sport Illustrated” bikini model body. She looks gorgeous, but doesn’t blend in with the rest of the pin-thin girls.

To view the video and see what Mickie looks for in a guy, follow the cut.

• View the video of Mickie’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Mickie James

• Interested in finding out where to purchase Mickie’s bikinis? Look no further!

Body Glove
bodyglove.com

Opera Swimwear
operaswimwear.com

[poll=90]

To read the interview, view the video, and see what Michelle looks for in a guy, follow the cut.

• View the video of Michelle’s photoshoot.

• How to Date a Diva – Michelle McCool

What she wants in a man:
“You have to be honest, you have to be true to yourself and you have to be who you are. If you’re being someone you’re not, and the girls fall for it, eventually the truth is going to come out anyway. Be confident, be honest.”

Her turn-offs:
“Cheesy pickup lines, those kill me. Just be yourself. Don’t come with a stupid line like, “Are you from Tennesee? Because you’re the only 10 I see.” And have manners. Open the door. Chivalry is not dead.”

Where to take her:
“Personally I like someone who’s a little into sports. I love it when someone takes me to a baseball game or a football game.”

• “Teaching Her Way to the Top” (Er.. Sounds waaayyy too close to “sleeping”.)
by Andrew Rote

Whether she is with seventh graders and it’s science, or she’s her own student and it’s wrestling, Michelle McCool is a teacher all the way.

The All-American Diva signed a contract with WWE shortly after she participated in the 2004 Diva Search where she emerged as one of the finalists. In the course of just over three years, Michelle left the classroom and worked her way all the way up to becoming the top Diva on SmackDown, as voted by our fans.

“I grew up watching wrestling with my dad and my pap pap, my grandfather,” she said. “My dad actually took my brother and my cousin to the first WrestleMania, but thought I was too young.”

Michelle never let her father live that down. When she was six years old, the future Diva finally attended a live event and fell in love.

Growing up, the All-American Girl was always outside and playing sports with her family and neighbors.

“It was all boys,” she said. “People liked to beat me up a lot.”

It’s no wonder how she grew to fit the mold of a WWE Diva, finding that special combination of being rough, but elegant.

“I was a girly girl, but I wasn’t. I wanted to be outside in the dirt, but cute at the same time.”

Michelle is no different today, entertaining our fans as one of the Sexiest Women on Television, but unafraid to take on the toughest of competitors in the squared circle.

The All-American Girl’s career in sports-entertainment began in 2004. During her tenure as a school teacher, Michelle caught an episode of Raw advertising that year’s Diva Search competition. Her desire to be in the ring was nothing new, however. WWE helped her family bond when she was a child.

“My pap pap passed away seven months before I got into the business,” she recalled. “I would have given anything for him to be able to experience this with me.”

Michelle was living her dream for two years. Then, she unexpectedly reached the most challenging time in both her career and her life. In November of 2006 while touring Europe with the company, Michelle was diagnosed with a sodium deficiency that landed her in the hospital for 16 days.

“I have the Superstars and doctors to thank for keeping me alive,” she said.

She would dedicate the months that followed to getting back in the ring.

“It was a horrible time for me. I hated seeing my family and friends see me suffer like that, but it makes you really cherish the moments you have and be thankful for what you’re blessed with.”

Michelle credits faith for much of her recovery. Her beliefs helped her through her illness, allowing the All-American sweetheart to bounce back, and even reach a level in WWE that she never thought possible.

“I attribute everything to faith,” she said. “God put me here with a purpose and I believe that I’m going to achieve my dreams. I’ve got faith that I’m going to climb to the top and I believe that I’m going to do just that.”

The former school teacher has already tasted the peak of the mountain, recently winning a competition to earn the label of top Diva on SmackDown.

“That’s what it’s all about – going out there and putting smiles on our fans faces and inspiring them to chase their dreams,” she explained. “I’m just a small town girl who’s making it happen and if I can do it, anyone out there can. The fans made me the top Diva on SmackDown and I can’t thank them enough.”

Like any great teacher, Michelle devotes herself to giving back to the community that provided much to her. The first students she taught enter their senior year of high school in 2008. But just because the Diva traded in her classroom for a ring doesn’t mean she has completely left the kids she educated. Michelle still visits often, attending sports events and other activities to support her former students. And if any of those kids want another lesson from their old teacher, all they have to do is watch SmackDown on Friday nights to learn how having faith in oneself can help a person accomplish anything.

“Everything that I put my mind to, I have gone after,” she said. “You don’t always succeed, you don’t always get what you want, but I’ve always had faith that I can at least get out there and try.”

The past four years have been a roller coaster ride for Michelle, but she cherishes each day and lives as if each morning was her last, refusing to take any day for granted.

“I think one of the best things about my job right now is I get to be who I am,” she said. “I’m an all-American girl who’s a tomboy at heart, who will take no prisoners or let anyone get in her way, but at the same, look good doing it. It’s the perfect combination of sex appeal and athleticism.”

With her toughest learning experience behind her, earning the honor of being SmackDown’s top Diva and her attitude, Michelle’s future is as bright as ever.

“I came back stronger,” Michelle said, remembering her return after weeks in the hospital and months of recovery. “I came back with more passion and desire. I’m not going to let a near-death experience hold me down.”

So, what did you think? Gather your opinion of the whole feature – not just the photos. Were you fascinated with Michelle’s advice of “being yourself” and touched by the tales of her illness or are you left wanting more? Tell us below!
[poll=87]

America’s birthday just got hotter than ever before. Forget the fireworks, barbecues and beaches. You’ll be aching to get back to your computer to see the sultry, seductive Divas of WWE make your computer screen sizzle, as WWE ushers in the rising temperatures on July 4 with Summer Skin.

Set your heart on fire with the steamiest photos, the sexiest videos and the most provocative stories ever revealed about your favorite WWE Divas.

“I love it. I think it’s awesome,” said Women’s Champion Mickie James. “I hope we do something like this more often.”

Freedom will ring on Independence Day and every Tuesday and Friday thereafter, as one Diva will show off sensual sides of her no one has ever seen before. All summer long, a different Diva will be featured until our fans have seen every single member of the Sexiest Women on TV.

“I’m extremely excited,” Maria said. “This is the first big shoot that I’ve done since Playboy.”

Each exclusive story will allow you to get personal with the Divas, presenting the gorgeous girls on a whole new level. Think you can date a Diva? Keep your eyes peeled to WWE.com as each beauty reveals what they look for in a guy and unveil intimate details of life outside the ring.

“There are so many different aspects to [this company], and this is one of them,” said the eye-catching Brit Katie Lea Burchill, who you can get to know closely for the first time when Summer Skin is unmasked.

Check out the Divas on the beaches of sunny San Diego, in mansions, botanical gardens and other hot spots, all exclusive to WWE.com to make you sweat.

“I’m excited about all the different bikinis,” Jillian said. “I’ve never done a shoot on the beach before.”

Maryse compared the Summer Skin experience to her trip to the Bahamas for its relaxing, stress-free ambience. The shoot is sure to bring out the best in each of the lovely ladies.

“I have more confidence now than when I first started,” said Melina. “I think you’ll be able to tell the difference.”

Don’t miss a side of the Divas you’ve never seen before. Celebrate July 4 and the rest of the summer with the most beautiful women in the world, only on WWE.com.

Watch a sneek peak below:

Now I don’t want to judge too much until I see the photoshoots and such, but what the frig is up with Candice’s hair? Did a poodle land and die on her head?

The annual (well not so annual anymore), WWE Divas magazine is going hi-tech! Ah yes, as we fans spend more and more time on the Internet, WWE is ditching the presses and DVDs and evolving with us! This year, WWE is launching a new Divas web page at WWE.com called “Summer Skin” and because I am too lazy to explain, allow WWE.com’s writer-me-bobs to do it for me:

On July 4, WWE.com will be launching Summer Skin, a site that features beautiful, brand new photos of each Diva, posing in swimwear on the beach and at other sights in San Diego. In addition to a great deal of photos spread out in multiple photo galleries, each girl’s Summer Skin page will contain an in-depth story on that individual Diva, letting our fans get to know the Divas and see a side of them they’ve never seen before. Also, Summer Skin will feature plenty of video packages, including interviews with the Divas, highlights from their photo shoots, and a review of the Summer Skin experience. Also included in Summer Skin will be an auction page with items from the shoot and a mobile page offering downloads.

Colour me intrigued! However, without my beloved Torrie Wilson, I can’t say I’m checkin’ for these pictorials and such as much as I have in previous years. But it shall be fun to write derogatory comments about critically analyse the Divas’ photos. WWE has already released a few preview shots… talk about hot messes! Check out preview pics of Maria, Michelle and Mickie below: