Brooke Adams is not just another pretty face as she’s faced and overcome several obstacles which made her hard working, resilient and even inspiring -- someone deserving to wear TNA Knockouts gold.

Adams -- named Miss Tessmacher, her official TNA Impact Wrestling moniker -- started life with her twin sister in Moberly, Missouri in 1984. Unfortunately, it was not your typical childhood. Her older brother ended up in jail as did her father.

Thinking of her girls and herself, her mom had to get away, had to.

When the girls were 8, she drove them to Texas, beginning a new life, just her and her daughters. Their mom actually let them choose their destination, anywhere. Hmmm, the twins thought horses, so they selected Houston.

Rough it was financially, but they had each other.

They lived in their car, homeless, until their mom worked enough to afford an apartment. Forget about horses, surviving with the basics posed a challenge.

Their mom worked very hard, but it was just enough money to make ends meet, somewhat. No money for after-care or baby sitters. Home alone, they couldn’t play outside. So the twins locked the apartment door, until their mother returned home from her job/jobs.

As she grew up, Adams turned to sports and modeling. A tomboy, she played basketball, volleyball, track and rugby (basically football without pads). A pretty young lady, she modeled. Because she is noted for the Miss Hooters International Pageant and as a Miss Tropicana Texas winner, her athletic background gets lost in the shuffle.

She inked a developmental contract with WWE, after trying WWE’s 2006 Diva Search contest. She worked hard to overcome some stereotypes like being called ‘just a model,’ a girly girl and a cheerleader, which she never was. With the model ‘only’ label and very green to the business, she had her work cut out.

The hardest thing she’s ever done, she nearly quit Deep South Wrestling, WWE’s developmental territory in Georgia. With the Masked Assassin and Bill DeMott running the show at Deep South, it’s no wonder.

She didn’t want any quarter, special treatment, but she did not realize how tough the training routine. She respects DeMott. He treated everyone the same. He made it tough to see who could handle it. It’s not tiddly-winks. It’s pro wrestling.

Her mother made her continue, telling her that she signed up for it, and she was going to give it her all. No regrets.

DeMott told her he saw something in her. She stuck it out and eventually landed on WWE TV in 2007 with WWE’s ECW. Part of Extreme Expose, WWE’s newest diva was known as Brooke, but did more dancing than wrestling. Where her dance-mates Kelly Kelly and Layla evolved into WWE women’s champions, Brooke was best wished.

She had a taste of it on the big stage, and she was determined to make it. An opportunity occured with TNA in 2010, and Miss Tessmacher was born.

TNA Knockout Tara, formerly Victoria in WWE, helped her. She spoke very highly of Tara, especially how she stays in shape and the longevity of her wrestling career. Tara and Miss Tessmacher (TnT) became TNA Knockouts tag team champions.

Miss Tessmacher, like most women in pro wrestling, had to also prove herself in this man’s world. TNA does allow more lee-way for women’s wrestlers to compete in high-profile spots and also have a say. Some of the top ratings on TNA TV stem from the TNA Knockouts matches. Looks help, but the Knockouts can work a match, entertain the fans.