A WRESTLER who starred in a Miss Swindon beauty pageant as a teenager has organised a live wrestling event in her hometown.
Nadia Sapphire has trained to be a wrestler since she was 15 and became a runner up in a Miss Swindon contest as a 17-year-old.
She pursued her passion for entertaining a crowd by wrestling in matches around the UK, America, and Europe.
Nadia said: "I was obsessed with wrestling, I loved it, it was my passion as a teenager.
"It's great to be in front of crowds and hearing them scream your name. Wrestling has given me amazing opportunities to visit lovely countries and meet new people from all over the world.
"My walk-on music is Vanity by Christina Aguilera and I play a 'heel' character, a baddie. She's a beauty queen who loves herself and is really cocky.
"That comes full circle from my Miss Swindon days. I had always been curvy and I was a size 14 while the other girls were size 8 so I was body-shamed.
"I put on a smile for the photoshoots and catwalks, but as I got older, I've learned to love my body and myself."
This year, Nadia became the first solo female wrestling promoter in the UK, sorting out the logistics, booking wrestlers, arranging the venue and ring, planning the marketing and advertising, and looking after the finances - all while still taking part in the matches.
After organising Wrestling Society events in Portishead and Cardiff, she held her first Swindon event at the Boom Battle Bar in Regent Circus in April.
The next one will be at the same venue this Saturday, with Joel Redman, Saime Sahin, Nadia Sapphire, RJ Singh, The Saint, James Mason, Chantal Jordan, Nightshade, Lion Kid, and more.
Nadia added: "Our old place in Forefront Wrestling closed down after Covid and I wanted to keep everyone together so I started running the events.
"It's been really stressful but very rewarding. We're hoping to bring back regular wrestling events in Swindon with local and international talent.
"My parents wanted to get involved in wrestling for the first time when I started my business, so they help with the merch and tickets, which is lovely."
The Live Wrestling at Boom Battle Bar begins at 4.30pm on Saturday. Doors open at 4pm. Tickets are £6 if booked in advance at www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/wrestling-society-uk-39780577343 and slightly more at the door.
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