Biographie
In 2006, when the leaders of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) launched a search for the sport's next "Diva," they had no idea what awaited them. Traveling across the United States with camera crews, WWE initiated the Diva Search competition. Out of 20,000 contestants, few expected a stunning, French-speaking fashion model to quickly rise as the sport's femme fatale, gaining rapid one-name fame typically reserved for pop stars. No one anticipated Maryse's arrival, but she has undeniably made her mark.
Maryse Ouellet was born on January 21st in Montreal, Canada, to a renowned master chef and a caring nurse. Yet, something in her makeup destined her to become the toughest beauty on the planet. Raised as a tomboy in Quebec, Maryse frequently competed and played alongside boys. She excelled in sports and developed a love for track and field. At 15, she won a mini marathon, besting over 2,000 adults and becoming the youngest victor in the event’s history. Swimming was another passion, earning her a lifeguard position at an aquatic park during high school. Eventually, her focus shifted from sports to fashion. Maryse earned a Business Administration degree from Collège Montmorency de Laval.
Maryse began her modeling career through beauty pageants, winning Miss Hawaiian Tropic Canada in 2003 and placing second in the 2004 International Finals of Miss Hawaiian Tropic. This new path allowed her to travel worldwide. She modeled for Playboy, appearing in 12 special editions and gracing the cover three times. Her feature in Playboy Vixens sold out within 24 hours on the East Coast. Maryse appeared in hundreds of magazines and newspapers globally and became one of the most downloaded celebrities on www.playboy.com.
In 2006, encouraged by friends, Maryse combined her passions for modeling and sports by auditioning for WWE's Diva Search. Standing 5'8" and holding a black belt in martial arts, the striking blonde stood out among contestants. Arriving in Los Angeles with a dream but limited English, she was eliminated early in the competition. However, she impressed the producers, who recruited her for intensive combat sports training. Joining numerous WWE hopefuls, Maryse trained with top entertainment wrestling professionals. Over two years, she learned English and perfected her signature finishing moves, the "French Kiss" and the "French TKO." Known as the "Sexiest of the Sexy," Maryse's WWE debut led to her first WWE Divas Championship reign from 2008 to 2009. After defeating nine other women, she earned the Diva Champion title, becoming the second-ever holder and the longest-reigning champion. In 2009, Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked her #9 among the top 50 female singles wrestlers.
Maryse is WWE’s fastest rising wrestler, securing a title within six months of her debut. She averages over five million downloads monthly on wwe.com. Her influence spans music videos and video games, featuring in clips for award-winning artists Timbaland and The Hives, as well as the Smackdown vs Raw video games. Mattel, the world’s largest toy company, has produced three dolls modeled after Maryse, all fan favorites. Owning House of Maryse, she planned to launch her jewelry collection in summer 2012. Now based in Los Angeles, Maryse travels globally to compete on WWE Raw, WWE Smackdown, WWE NXT, and WWE Superstars. Her WWE career has also enabled her to support American troops, performing in Afghanistan.
