WWE superstar Sonya Deville on coming out as lesbian to Triple H on live television
WWE superstar Sonya Deville has opened up about the moment she came out as gay in front of the whole world on TV in front of Triple H.
The SmackDown Live star has become one of the biggest faces in the women’s division since debuting on the main roster a last year.
But 25-year-old Sonya, real name Daria Berenato, is proving to be much more than just an inspiration inside the ring.
And it all started three years ago after she was given an opportunity by WWE on Tough Enough.
Speaking to , she said: “During the preliminary taping of the first premiere episode, they asked me if I was in a relationship. I had a girlfriend at the time.
“Not only was I not expecting that question, I was in a bikini in high heels in front of Triple H and other WWE executives inside the ring!
"The other girls had spray tans and their extensions in, and they looked beautiful – and I was just like this MMA fighter chick.
“I felt so out of my comfort zone when they asked me that question. I thought ‘what do I do… well, tell the truth, right?’
"So I said, yeah, I have a girlfriend, but she’s not my wife yet.
"I got nervous, and they all started smiling. I said, 'oh my god, I just came out on national television'.
'BIG DOG HERE' Reigns makes first public appearance since cancer shock
"And Triple H replied, 'yeah you did!' I just came back with, 'oh well, that's that!'"
Some people believe the announcement may have been planned, but Deville insists that was not the case.
LATEST WWE NEWS
And she is now revelling in her status as a role model to LGBTQ people across the globe.
Deville added: “It was one of those spontaneous moments.
"It truly wasn’t planned, but I’m so grateful that it happened because after that, it not only gave me a new realisation of what it means to be open and true to myself.
"I feel like it helped me inspire other people.
“If you're scared to do it, my advice would be 'do it', because it was the best thing that ever happened.
“I'm not saying there's not going to be trials and tribulations along the way, but in the end, the best life you can live is the life where you're true to yourself.
“My goal in talking about my sexuality publicly is just so that a scared little girl or little boy can see me do it and think, 'wow, if she did it, then maybe it's OK that I do it'.
“It's to encourage people to be themselves. Equality for all is what we should all want, between race, religion, gender, sexuality... it doesn't matter.
"We're all equal and we should treat each other as such.”
Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts bares all about being conceived in rape and how he was molested as a kid
WWE legend Jake “The Snake” Roberts has revealed all about how he was conceived in rape and molested as a child by his own stepmother.
The Hall of Famer shot to stardom during the wrestling boom of the late 1980s and early 90s but has been battling addictions to drink and drugs throughout his life.
Now 63, the Snake Man is finally overcoming his demons thanks to the friendship with former WCW world champion Diamond Dallas Page and yoga.
But Roberts, real name Aurelian Jake Smith Jr, briefly returned to his traumatic childhood in an explosive and open discussion.
And he revealed he began drinking and snorting cocaine as early as 11-years-old as an escape.