Nikkita Lyons knows exactly what some people say about why she has a spot in WWE, and she’s heard enough of it. Instead of getting dragged into arguments with her critics, Lyons plans on proving them wrong right in front of everyone.
During her appearance on Booker T’s Hall of Fame podcast, Lyons addressed criticism that her body and appearance are the reason she has been given a platform in WWE. She acknowledged those assumptions directly while promising that fans are going to see her continue evolving as a performer.
“Expect the unexpected, first of all. I’m always going to do my best to come with something different, come with something new. You’re learning while I’m learning. This is a whole evolution happening in front of people’s eyes.
But all the little assumptions or whatever, like, ‘She’s just here because of her body. She’s just here because of that.’ You can go ahead and think that, but I’m going to prove to you what I’m really here to do.”
For Lyons, those comments aren’t exactly new territory. She revealed that people have been judging her body since she was a kid trying to make it in the entertainment industry, long before WWE entered the picture. Lyons recalled being just 12 years old and already hearing that she was too tall or too thick for certain roles. She was even told that her appearance meant she would never be cast as the “hot girl.”
“There were many struggles growing up in the entertainment industry, especially as a thicker girl. It’s always been like, ‘You’re too tall for this role.’ I’ve been 5’8″ since I was 12 years old. ‘You’re too thick for this role. You should dye your hair. You’ll never be the hot girl.’
All this stuff going in my 12-year-old brain and on. There’s definitely bullying at school, a lot of online bullying, which still happens, but your girl has built that rhino-thick skin now.”
That criticism apparently hasn’t disappeared now that Lyons is in WWE, but the way she deals with it certainly has. After years of hearing what she supposedly looks like, what roles she should have and what she shouldn’t be capable of, Lyons seems far more interested in letting her work decide what people think of her.
Do you think Nikkita Lyons can prove the critics who say she’s only in WWE because of her appearance wrong? Let us know what you think in the comments.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
