Natalya: "I would love to be a journalist someday"

The Frank Erwin Center has an interview with Natalya here, who was promoting tonight’s live event in Austin. Here are some highlights from the interview:

How old were you when you began training?

Wrestling has been a part of mine and my family’s life since I was a kid. I began training in my family’s dungeon when I was in my teens.

Why did you want to become a wrestler? Did you know at a young age you wanted to do this?

My family had done it for so long and I had been around it since I was little. It really inspired me seeing women like Molly Holly reinvent the word lady wrestler and turn it into the word Diva.

If you were not a WWE Diva, what career do you think you would be doing?

I love journalism, but right now I really love what I am doing. Broadcast journalism is something I think is really fun and something I could see myself doing. I would also want to be a lawyer because I feel like I’m constantly putting people in check.

Tell me how you got involved with WWE?

I’ve been around WWE my whole life with my family but I really started formally training for it when I was 18. I was rejected many times for different reasons. Sometimes it was timing issues or just not the right look they were going for. It took a lot of perseverance to keep going and I finally got my big break in 2007.

Tell me about a typical day in the life of Natalya. What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I love to work out and stay physically fit because that’s what makes me feel good. I also love to spend time with my family and my husband who is also a WWE Superstar, TJ Wilson. I try to balance my free time with my family and loved ones.

What is your favorite part about being a WWE Diva?

My favorite part of being a WWE Diva actually does not involve being on TV. We do a lot of different charity work with Make a Wish Foundation which I really enjoy. You get to meet children who are going through a difficult time and you can use your status to change somebody’s life and help inspire them to fight. You can touch someone else’s life and that’s a really great feeling.

What are some challenges you have had to face as a WWE Diva?

There are so many! I don’t know where to start. The biggest challenge is rejection. This is something we all have to go through. You have to constantly adapt to changes, up your game and never give up.

Tell me about how you became involved with “Total Divas” on E! Were you hesitant at first or have any initial doubts?

I got approached by WWE. They partnered with E! to do the show and I am the type of person to dive on in to something and make it gold. No I didn’t have any doubts. At first you’re nervous with all the cameras, but the people that put the show together make you feel so comfortable that you don’t even realize the cameras are there. It’s a great opportunity to be real. You relate to people who are not perfect, and we keep it real on the show.

As a WWE Diva many people look up to you, but who is someone that you look up to? Why?

I really look up to Stephanie McMahon. She is a role model. We went to a school with underprivileged children and she spent four hours talking to all the kids. She is honestly one of the most down to earth people I have ever met. With her background and status, she has a lot of influence and power but she proves that you can never allow fame, money or your position in life to get the best of you. She is a great example of what being a strong and empowered woman looks like. She has a husband, family and does a great job balancing it all.