Inspiring WWE Superstar uses her platform to promote LGBTQ with her new clothing line
Sonya Deville is a multi-talented, inspirational and busy WWE Superstar, and her latest effort -- following a WrestleMania moment under unique circumstances -- is her new clothing line “Rainbow Love.”
The inspiration behind the line is LGBTQ forward with strong emotional messages on the clothing.
Deville, 26, is from Shamong Township, a small farming city in Southern New Jersey.
As a talented WWE Superstar, “Total Divas” on E! Season 9 co-star, former MMA fighter, and former co-host of the YouTube series UFC AfterBuzz -- as well as an LGBTQ activist, an actress, a model, co-host of the popular YouTube series Damandyz Donutz and now a fashion designer of an inspiring clothing line -- Deville is the most famous person globally from Shamong.
She is also a businesswomen and entrepreneur. Maybe one day we’ll see her on ABC’s “Shark Tank.”
Growing up, Deville played softball at Seneca High School in nearby Tabernacle, New Jersey but stopped to begin training in MMA at age 16.
Deville moved to South Florida at age 18, right after her high school graduation. She continued training in MMA with the established and well respected American Top Team organization and then in the late summer attended Palm Beach State College. She was not suited for college, opting instead to pursue acting (landing heightened extra type roles on “Burn Notice” and “The Glades,” both filmed in South Florida) while pursuing MMA.
After competing on WWE “Tough Enough” Season 6 in 2015, she signed with the sports entertainment company a few months later.
In just two months, she debuted for WWE with NXT, wrestling Nia Jax.
On “Tough Enough” is where Deville came out, thus later becoming WWE’s first openly lesbian superstar.
That was such an important part of her journey, being true to herself. Any thoughts of animosity, disharmony or persecution were quickly dashed. WWE supported her and fans supported her, including some who were inspired by her forthright attitude.
With her emotional and mental state in check, Deville now focused on the physical -- her training at the WWE Performance Center, which features a stellar groups of coaches in Orlando. During her growth process in the ring in NXT, Deville wrestled some other solid talent, too, i.e. Aliyah, Carmella, Nikki Cross, Rachel Evers, Lacey Evans, Billie Kay, Ember Moon, Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott, and Peyton Royce.
By the end of 2017, Deville’s hard work and determination paid off as she earned an NXT women’s title match against Moon.
Shortly after, Deville found herself on the main roster. She joined Mandy Rose and Paige in the group Absolution on Monday Night Raw on the USA Network. At WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans, she participated in the inaugural WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal.
In 2018, Paige retired from in-ring action because of neck injuries. Deville and Rose continued as a tandem and were drafted to SmackDown, which is now Fridays on FOX. She competed in WrestleMania 35 in 2019, once again entering the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal.
Through her adventure with WWE, Deville joined the cast of Season 9 of the popular TV series “Total Divas” on E!.
Away from the ring, Deville and Rose are friends. They co-host and produce a weekly donut show on YouTube, titled “Damandyz Donutz.” They sample and critique donuts from places they visit across the nation, while on tour for WWE.
Check out that and more at: https://damandyz.com and https://damandyz.com/pages/youtube-series.
A former MMA fighter, Deville -- as Daria Berenato (birth name) -- co-hosted the YouTube series UFC AfterBuzz.
Deville recently participated in WWE’s WrestleMania 36 at the WWE Performance Center training facility in Orlando. Because of coronavirus concerns, WWE moved its biggest show of the year from a sold-out 75,000-plus seat Raymond James Stadium in Tampa to an empty PC across I-4.
It marked the first time WrestleMania was taped as well as conducted on two nights with no crowd. Both nights were streamed via the WWE Network, FOX Sports app, FITE TV and pay-per-view.
A WrestleMania moment, Deville accompanied WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler in his match against Otis of Heavy Machinery. Rose -- upset that Deville sabotaged her love life (part of a script, not reality) -- attacked Deville and low-blowed Ziggler to help her new boyfriend, Otis, win.
In my audio interview with Deville, she discusses WWE, farm living in Shamong, a unique WrestleMania, moving to South Florida, MMA, American Top Team, Ronda Rousey, LGBTQ, coming out, her new clothing line, donuts and more.
Deville even models, like her new clothing line “Rainbow Love.”
More about Deville
Sonya Deville can be seen displaying her talents on “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” on FOX and Season 9 of “Total Divas” on E! as she paves the way for a more diverse and accepting world.
A former pro MMA fighter known for her power, speed and dedication, Deville is a diverse athlete and entertainer.
As an athlete, businesswoman, entertainer and LGBTQ activist, she can share her insight and thoughts on:
- Effective workout and nutrition tips of a WWE Superstar.
- Experiences in cities around the country with colleagues as the first openly gay female wrestler in WWE history.
- Daria is also an actress and real-life Wonder Woman.
- Building a lucrative business empire.
- Advice to women and girls on how to pave their own path in career and life.
- Her unique and empowering fashion style and new clothing line “Rainbow Love”
Registering for the WWE reality competition show WWE “Tough Enough” Season 6 in 2015, she competed with 11,000 women for 13 top spots. She made the cut and appeared on that weekly TV series, boosting her career and changing her life.
That’s where she came out as gay on national television. After her elimination from the series in week three, Deville met her future WWE tag team partner Mandy Rose.
As both share an East Coast background and love for wrestling, they became inseparable on-screen and off.
Together, the duo produces a weekly YouTube donut show called “Damandyz Donutz,” in which this famous duo shares their latest reviews on donuts from places they visit across the nation, while on tour for WWE. They are in search of America’s best glazed donut but try many others, too. Friend Liv Morgan, also from the East Coast and a WWE superstar, sometimes appears on Damandyz Donutz, too. Who doesn’t like donuts?
Deville and Rose recognize that women are put under extreme pressure to look a certain way, while eating a restrictive diet. They combat these stereotypes to demonstrate that you can be in excellent shape while enjoying the pleasures of life, i.e. delicious donuts.
Because we care...
(Deville’s recommendation: Meche’s Donut King - Lafayette, Louisiana https://www.rickeymechesdonuts.com/?utm_source=tripadvisor&utm_medium=referral )
(Writer’s South Florida recommendations: Mojo Donuts - Pembroke Pines and Miami http://www.mojodonuts.com/ ;
The Salty Donut - Wynwood https://www.saltydonut.com/ ).
(FYI: We agree WWE Referee John Cone is the Donut King of Kansas City https://donutkingkc.com/
and https://www.thepitchkc.com/wwe-referee-john-cone-makes-his-dollars-in-doughnuts-and-pro-wrestling/ ).
When Deville is not traveling the country for WWE SmackDown Live year-round or tasting each city’s best donuts, she spends time supporting LGBTQ initiatives and working on her fashion line.
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Deville Launches Clothing Line “Rainbow Love”
- WWE Superstar Sonya Deville is working with Clif Chason from Affliction clothing and Bobby Schubenski from Black Craft clothing on their new line called Heavy Heart. One of the first collaboration lines of “Heavy Heart” will be Deville’s line “Rainbow Love”
- All six items from Deville’s collection “Rainbow Love” are now available on https://www.shopheavyheart.com/collections/rainbow-love
- The inspiration behind the line is LGBTQ forward with strong emotional messages on the clothing.
- The “Rainbow Love” collection features a powerful shirt “you are not alone” that lists the Nation Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number.
Social Media
Instagram: @sonyadevillewwe https://www.instagram.com/sonyadevillewwe/?hl=en
Instagram: @heavyheartshop https://www.instagram.com/heavyheartshop/?hl=en
Website: https://www.shopheavyheart.com/
Her Main Projects
- “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” on FOX airs Fridays at 8/7c
For more info on “WWE Friday Night SmackDown”:
https://www.foxsports.com/watch/friday-night-smackdown/video
- WWE Superstars Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose bring you Damandyz Donutz, a weekly YouTube series where they critique / review donuts from places they visit across the nation, while on tour for WWE.
For more info, click: https://damandyz.com and https://damandyz.com/pages/youtube-series.
- E!’s “Total Divas” Season 9
For more info on “Total Divas” and to re-watch episodes, visit: https://www.eonline.com/shows/total_divas
- Sonya Deville’s “Rainbow Love” collection from Affliction’s new clothing line “Heavy Heart”
For more info, go to: https://www.instagram.com/heavyheartshop/?hl=en
Deville’s “Rainbow Love” Collection
via “Heavy Heart” Clothing Line
Deville is modeling her new clothing line.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/smackdown-superstar-sonya-deville-wwe-journey
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This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 3:32 PM.
