Candice Michelle Explains Why She Didn’t Win the WWE Diva Search

During a recent interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, former WWE Superstar and Women’s Champion Candice Michelle recalled participating in the original WWE Diva Search in 2004, which Christy Hemme ultimately won. Despite not winning, Michelle still got signed to a WWE contract after appearing in the competition. Below are some highlights:

Candice Michelle on Being Part of the WWE Diva Search

“It was funny. My agent called me, and it’s a modeling agent, so he’s booking me for covers and modeling. He’s like, ‘I’ve had this really weird audition…’ I’m thinking, Oh, geez. And he’s like, ‘I don’t know if you’ll like it, but it will pay you $100,000.’ I am a starving model actress, right? He’s like, ‘WWE is going to have this Diva Search contest, and you’ll win that money, and you’ll get a one-year contract.’ All he was excited about was 10% of the $100,000, but I grew up watching wrestling, and so I’m thinking, this is my dream gig. This is it. I just thought all those days, like every Monday night, I watched Raw with my stepdad, Ken. I remember climbing up on the couch and sitting next to him, and we’re screaming and shouting, and my mom’s in the other room, ‘Turn that stuff off. It’s fake!’ We’re like, What are you talking about?! So getting that audition, I was really excited.”

On How She Still Got a WWE Contract Despite Losing

“That was really hard. In LA, as you know, when you’re auditioning all the time, you get over it pretty fast, or you need to get over it fast. That one, I think I cried for like a month, and I was like, That was perfect for me. I was athletic, I was into boxing and Krav Maga. I was like, I should have got that. I also know there’s a side of the business where I also knew Christie Hemme was perfect role for that spot. I just didn’t know that they would call me back when that contest ended and offer me three years.”

On Why She Didn’t Win

“I think it was just obvious. I just have a different character. I have a different appeal. I need to warm up to an audience. Christy just had that fun, vibrant, bubbly personality. People love her instantly, and I think that’s what the WWE needed at that time.”

Candice Michelle on When She Started Feeling Like a Pro Wrestling and Not a Model in the Diva Search

“Feeling like it and trying to be it I think were two different things. So it started for me where I would get there earlier, like when the refs and everybody was setting up the ring, and I would get in the ring. So I was, that was my training. Is who would be there, what ref would be there, what Superstar would be there, that would be willing to give me any knowledge of how to do that.”

As previously reported, Candice Michelle recently signed with TNA Wrestling to work there in a behind-the-scenes role. Also during her interview with Van Vliet, Michelle spoke about a potential in-ring return, stating, “I don’t know when it’s coming, but it’s coming.”