Torrie Wilson says her road to professional wrestling began during one of the most difficult periods of her life.
During her appearance on the Duke Loves Rasslin podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer opened up about struggling with anorexia in high school and bulimia in college before discovering fitness competitions, a path that would eventually lead her into the wrestling business.
Wilson has long been associated with fitness, dating back to her time in WCW and WWE, but she explained that her interest in training was rooted in an attempt to move away from an unhealthy point in her life.
“When I was in high school, I was anorexic and then I became bulimic in college. And my way out of that was I started admiring these women with very feminine, strong physiques.”
Instead of viewing strength as something out of reach, Wilson said she began following the workouts and eating habits she saw from women in fitness magazines. That soon led her to try competing herself.
“And I started copying their workouts in these magazines and copying what they ate. And then I signed up for a fitness competition and did decently and got some, you know, attention from some photographers.”
Wilson said those first steps began opening doors she never expected. A few photographs in magazines turned into more opportunities, and eventually that momentum carried her into the world of wrestling.
“And that led to a couple pictures in the back of magazines that I was super excited for. And it just, you know, it was like one stepping stone led to the next.”
“And I just kept following this path wherever it was taking me. And uh it was fun and it ended up leading me to wrestling.”
Wilson did not simply participate in fitness competitions. She eventually won Miss Galaxy, though she made it clear that success did not come instantly.
“I did. I won uh Yes. the Miss Galaxy. Um, but you know, in the beginning I wasn’t winning and I was just so enamored by these women and how strong they were and uh wanted to be just like them.”
Wilson also pushed back against the idea that staying in shape has always been easy for her. Now a mother, she said her motivation has changed, but the work still has to be done even on the days when she does not feel like training.
“Even now, the days are, you know, I don’t always feel like working out, but I’ve built such a habit that it just feels weird not to.”
“And I know I I want to for the sake of my baby and uh living long.”
Wilson said people can sometimes look at someone who trains consistently and assume it happens naturally. In her case, she wanted fans to understand that the discipline came from years of effort, not some effortless advantage.
“I think a lot of people that find all of it difficult um just kind of assume that if you are doing it every day that it comes easy to you and something you always enjoy and it’s just you know in your genes and it’s just not.”
“Just like anything it takes work.”
Wilson’s journey into wrestling may have eventually put her on television screens around the world, but it began with a very real struggle that she has never tried to hide. Her story gives fans a deeper look at how fitness became more than part of her image; it became part of rebuilding her life.
What do you think about Torrie Wilson sharing how her struggles with eating disorders eventually pushed her toward fitness and wrestling? Let us know in the comments.
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