This the 45th post in our Celebrity of the Day series.
This sexy Illinois wrestler was born in 1982 and always wanted to be a star. When she was three she began taking dancing lessons and kept them up for 17 years. Guess that’s why she’s so light on her feet in the ring, but that probably was not what Mom and Dad had in mind when they paid for all those lessons.
In 2004 she got her first break on the reality show Outback Jack, she failed to win but did make it to the final three. It was probably for the best because later in 2004, she entered the $250,000 RAW Diva Search. She was eliminated sixth, but she lasted long enough for WWE and her fans to see her potential, so WWE hired her anyway.
Maria is now a constant figure on the WWE as an announcer, interviewer and most recently, a wrestler. She has competed in many RAW wrestling matches and even the Women’s Championship, but she has yet to win any major fights. In 2008, much to the dismay of her lover Santino Marella, she appeared on the cover of Playboy.
Maria continues to be a major player in many of the WWE story lines.
You can learn more about Maria Kanellis at TV.com and Celebopedia.
