Nikki Bella had a shot at joining the Baywatch reboot — but she walked away before it went any further because she didn’t feel confident enough to take on the role.
Speaking on The Nikki and Brie Show, Nikki Bella opened up while answering a fan question about confidence and self-image. During the conversation, she revealed she had been offered the chance to audition for a Baywatch project, but ultimately decided not to move forward once she thought about what the role would require.
Bella explained that the reality of wearing a swimsuit regularly made her rethink the opportunity.
“I had an audition for Baywatch. I ended up not doing it because I knew that I would not be comfortable wearing — or if I was to get it, I would not be comfortable wearing a red swimsuit, 24/7, because I am not confident yet in a swimsuit, so I didn’t do it.”
Instead of forcing herself into a situation where she felt uneasy, Bella said she chose to focus on environments where she feels at her strongest — including inside the wrestling ring, where she built her career and brand.
She made it clear that confidence plays a major role in how she approaches opportunities.
“It’s certain things that what I’ve learned is I have to put myself in positions of like, where I feel most confident. When I’m walking down that ramp and I’m in my Nikki Bella gear, I am so confident.”
Bella also addressed the reality of dealing with public comments about her appearance, revealing that recent criticism didn’t shake her confidence — even when people made remarks about her body. She shared how those reactions helped reinforce her mindset rather than break it down.
“Someone made a comment about me last week, like, she didn’t even say thick in a good way, like — she got bigger. And they could say all they want. The comment didn’t even affect me. It affected me because I felt so damn good. So I just think you have to get to that place where you just are like, this is me. This is my beauty.”
The Baywatch reboot Bella referenced is currently in production as a 12-episode Fox series scheduled for the 2026–27 television season. Filming is taking place in Venice Beach and at Fox’s Century City lot, with Matt Nix serving as showrunner and McG directing the first episode.
The cast includes Stephen Amell leading the series as Hobie Buchannon, alongside Shay Mitchell, Noah Beck, Livvy Dunne, Brooks Nader, Hassie Harrison, Jessica Belkin, Thaddeus LaGrone, Luke Eisner, Charlie McElveen, Ashley Moore, and Kylar Miranda. Original Baywatch stars David Chokachi and Erika Eleniak are also set to return.
Even though Nikki Bella passed on the opportunity, her comments offered a rare look into the decision-making process behind turning down a major project — especially when confidence plays a role in the choice.
Would you have tuned in to see Nikki Bella on Baywatch? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.