The current Smackdown Women’s Champion, Rhea Ripley, recently discussed the evolution of her WWE character’s appearance during an interview with WWE After the Bell. Ripley revealed that she had been considering cutting her hair for some time, but was hesitant to do so. “I always use my hair to hide behind, but one of the guys at the PC was like, ‘I think you’d rock short hair. Just do it,’” Ripley explained. She eventually took the plunge and gradually went shorter each week until she arrived at her current edgy style.
However, the transformation was more than just physical for Ripley. She also spoke about how she started accepting herself and not caring about others thought. “But I think I just finally started accepting who I was, and not caring what everyone else thought of me,” Ripley shared.
Ripley went on to discuss how her personal growth and confidence are portrayed in her character’s development. “It’s sort of portrayed into my work, and the Rhea Ripley that you see. I narrow it down to confidence, it’s all about confidence,” she explained.
It’s clear that Ripley’s transformation has significantly influenced her success as a wrestler in the WWE. It’s always interesting to learn how athletes and entertainers continue to evolve their personas to stay fresh and relevant in their respective industries, and Ripley is a shining example of this.