Charlotte Says Ric Flair’s Reputation Is A Burden And An Asset

In an interview with That’s Magazine, Charlotte spoke about being in her father Ric Flair’s shadow, including if his reputation was an asset or a burden. Here are highlights:

On if Flair’s reputation is an asset or burden: “Both. Being a generational kid is hard. I couldn’t just, you know, show up one day as a 5’10” blonde and [have] the crowd view me however they wanted to. I already carried a last name they knew, so I from day one was compared to him. That’s kind of what’s driven me to where I am today. I want to be known as his daughter, but I also want to be known for my own work as well. So that’s a mixed blessing.”

On if there was pressure to become a wrestler like her father: “My brothers did. Both my brothers wanted to be professional wrestlers. I’m continuing my little brother’s dream, that’s why I started. And I definitely, I think, wanted to be where I am because I hated the pressure that they put on themselves and that they always wanted to live up [to], or just wanted to be like my dad and they couldn’t, so I feel like I’m doing it for them as well.”

On how much of her character is based on her real personality: “Not that I’m not confident, but when I first started, I played sports my whole life so I wasn’t comfortable with doing my makeup and dressing up and being this image of what used to be called a diva. I had to learn how to carry myself in a different way and to be in front of the camera and [deal] with criticism. So I took all of that, and when I walk through that curtain, I find that confidence knowing that I’m playing a character. It’s everything I want to be in real life and sometimes I am, but you know, everyone has self-doubt [and] that character has that, I don’t know how. But it’s also having to have thick skin as a female in this business because you’re constantly under scrutiny due to social media.”