The WWE Diva Search will go down as one of the company's oddest contests. The idea was to audition women from around the world to be the next WWE Diva. Thousands would get whittled down to 10, who would then compete on TV in a series of strange challenges. Fans would vote off their least favorites until one was left standing. Early versions included a $250,000 prize on top of their contract.
Winners included Christy Hemme, Layla El, Eve Torres, Ashley Massaro, and Eva Marie. While they didn't all end up having successful wrestling careers, a few of them did. But we're here to look at those who lost. The girls who failed at the Diva Search and where they are now.
10 Trenesha Biggers
When the ladies made it to episodes of Raw, it came after a lengthy elimination process that narrowed the competition down to around 10. Trenesha Biggers took part in the 2005 iteration of the Diva Search but never made it to television. The furthest she made it was to the top 25.
Biggers didn't let her dream end there. She made it as a wrestler, performing in TNA under the name Rhaka Khan. She competed until 2011 and was most known for her volatile relationship with Kurt Angle. As recently as August, Biggers was one of El Paso's most wanted fugitives for interfering with a child custody case.
9 Leyla Milani
In the mid-2000s, Leyla Milani seemed to be everywhere. Along with her Diva Search run, Milani appeared on Deal or No Deal, True Life, My Fair Brady, and was a referee in the Lingerie Bowl. Her most notable moment in the Diva Search was a wardrobe malfunction about two weeks into the program.
Leyla Milani managed to finish as the runner-up to Ashley Massaro in 2005. Following that, she only made sporadic appearances in wrestling, including a gig co-hosting the short-lived women's promotion Wrestlicious. Milani launched a luxury hair company specializing in premium extensions in 2009. She still runs that brand to this day.
8 Joy Giovanni
Joy Giovanni was one of the most memorable losers of the Diva Search. She placed third in 2004 but still got a contract. She joined the SmackDown brand and became involved in a storyline with Big Show and John "Bradshaw" Layfield. Giovanni even ended up in a WWE video game.
She was cut in 2005 for budget reasons and made a one-off return in a battle royal at WrestleMania XXV. Since leaving WWE, Giovanni has acted in a film and appeared in an Avenged Sevenfold music video. She currently runs a massage therapy business in San Diego.
7 Taryn Terrell
Now we're starting to get into the section of women who have found success in wrestling after the Diva Search. Taryn Terrell competed in the 2007 iteration and made it to the top eight, finishing in fourth place. She still signed a developmental deal in early 2008. Her stint with the company saw her work as the General Manager for the ECW brand.
Following an altercation with her ex-boyfriend Drew McIntyre, Terrell was released. She then had a great run in TNA where she won their Knockouts Championship. Terrell may be out of wrestling today, but she continues to work as an actor and stuntwoman. Her most notable appearances include The Dirt and Daddy's Home.
6 Brooke Adams
A member of the 2006 Diva Search, Brooke Adams failed to make it to the top 8. Still, she received a developmental contract and quickly appeared as a member of Extreme Expose on ECW. Other than random battle royals, Adams rarely competed in the ring and was gone by end of 2007.
Joining TNA and going by the name Brooke Tessmacher, she developed into a fixture of their women's division. She was a three-time Knockouts Champion and held the Knockouts Tag Titles with Tara. Her career has been put to the side as she recently gave birth to two children and is focusing on her family at the moment.
5 Velvet Sky
Velvet Sky is an interesting entry on this list. She auditioned for the 2007 Diva Search but did not make it to the final eight. She was also one of the few notable women to try out while having wrestling experience under her belt. Sky was competing on the independent scene as Talia Madison.
She eventually joined TNA and became one of their most popular and prominent female stars. As a member of the Beautiful People, she was a staple of TNA's roster for years. In 2016, Sky announced that she had retired. However, she returned to the ring as a member of the Allure in Ring of Honor.
4 Michelle McCool
She may not have won the Diva Search, but Michelle McCool made history. She was ousted in the 2004 contest only to sign a three-year deal with the company. Within just a few years, she beat Natalya in 2008 to become the first-ever Divas Champion. McCool continued to shine, winning the Divas and Women's Titles twice each, and forming a memorable team with Layla.
At some point during her time with WWE, McCool began dating The Undertaker. The couple were married in 2010 and have a daughter together. McCool has survived skin cancer and suffered through several miscarriages. However, she competed several times in the past year and a half and looked incredible while doing so.
3 Maria Kanellis
Maria Kanellis is the easiest former Diva Search participant to know about in 2019. That's because she's a current member of WWE's roster. Maria did well in the 2004 Diva Search and joined the company officially shortly after, where she remained a member until 2010. In 2011, she joined Ring of Honor with her boyfriend Mike Bennett.
Maria and Mike eventually married and found success in ROH and New Japan Pro Wrestling as members of the Kingdom. They also did well in TNA before signing with WWE in 2017. Since then, Maria has given birth and is currently pregnant with her second child. She recently made history as the first pregnant woman to win a WWE Title, pinning her husband to become the 24/7 Champion.
2 Maryse Ouellet
Maryse took part in the 2006 Diva Search and was eliminated surprisingly early, not making it past week two. But this was another case of someone still getting signed quickly. Maryse joined the developmental brand and was on SmackDown regularly by the beginning of 2008.
During her time with WWE, Maryse captured the Divas Championship and was a consistent success. She married fellow Superstar The Miz and the two just welcomed their second baby girl. You can see Maryse on their reality series Miz and Mrs. on the USA Network.
1 The Bella Twins
You will find it difficult to discover Diva Search contestants more successful than Nikki and Brie Bella. The twins participated in the 2006 Diva Search but failed to make the cut. They signed with WWE in 2007 and made their SmackDown debuts in 2008. By 2012, they left the company after a couple of title victories.
Returning in 2013, the Bellas had a new focus. They became arguably the biggest stars of the women's division. Their success went beyond the ring, becoming stars on reality TV with Total Divas and Total Bellas. They still film those shows, have their own clothing line and wine brand, and run a weekly podcast.