Kelly Kelly

Kelly Kelly

Born Barbara Jean Blank on January 15, 1987, in Jacksonville, Florida, Kelly Kelly first entered the public eye through modeling before transitioning into professional wrestling with WWE in 2006. She was notably the youngest diva on the roster at the time of her debut, having been signed at just 19 years old with no prior wrestling experience.

Early Life and Path to Wrestling

Blank grew up in Jacksonville with a Jewish father and Christian mother. She spent ten years in competitive gymnastics before an injury ended that pursuit, after which she moved into cheerleading. She studied broadcast journalism with plans to become a television anchor and worked as a bikini model for Hawaiian Tropic and Venus Swimwear. In 2006, WWE official John Laurinaitis spotted her during modeling work and arranged a tryout at Ohio Valley Wrestling, the company's developmental territory. She signed her contract in May 2006.

WWE Career (2006 to 2012)

Even after joining the main roster on WWE's SmackDown brand, Blank continued traveling weekly to OVW's base in Louisville, Kentucky, progressing from ring announcer and referee duties to active in-ring competition. One of her earliest matches was a women's battle royal at the September 2006 television tapings. By late 2007, she was also appearing at Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE's newer developmental system.

During her six years with WWE, Blank appeared alongside several other wrestlers in various media crossovers. In April 2007, she was part of a group including Maryse Ouellet, Torrie Wilson, and Layla El who appeared in Timbaland's music video for "Throw It on Me." She served as a trainer on an episode of Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp in 2008 alongside Mickie James and appeared twice on the British football show Soccer AM. In 2011, she and The Bella Twins were guests on The Price is Right. She was featured on the cover of Maxim in December 2011.

Blank has cited Trish Stratus as her primary inspiration in wrestling and Stone Cold Steve Austin as her favorite wrestler growing up.

Personal Life and Post-WWE Activity

Blank lived in Kentucky during her OVW training, then relocated to Tampa, Florida, followed by a period in Miami before returning to Tampa in 2010. She was in a relationship with wrestler Andrew Martin for two and a half years prior to his death in March 2009.

Her WWE career spanned from 2006 to 2012. Standing 5'5" with blonde hair and green eyes, Blank has maintained a public presence through social media and content platforms following her time in wrestling.