Tori Green: Who are you? What do you do?
Noelle Giorgi: Noelle Giorgi, I am a professional wrestler and model
Tori: What was your first business(including running your own business)? How long did this last or are you still involved in the same business?
Noelle: Probably just figuring out how to market and manage myself when I was modeling and decided to do a reality tv show. A lot of people don’t know how much planning that went into it because since it was a naked reality show I wanted to make sure I was coming off a certain way. In the end I think I wound up getting bumped off the show because I was getting along with everyone and wasn’t sleeping around or getting drunk and causing drama so I was too boring for a reality show but in the long run I think it was for the best. I was also much more shy than I am now. I am no longer in reality tv, I would do a show again if it was the right one but I think I’m too old now as well.
Tori: Biggest challenge? How did you get through it?
Noelle: my biggest challenge was definitely just confidence. It was really hard for me to just be comfortable in my own skin and accept who I was. Especially when I lived in LA I became so insecure that everyone was judging me all the time that I didn’t really talk much and it was hard for me to sort of find my crew and make friends. I still face these challenges because it’s really hard for me to not compare myself or my path to other people or feel like I’m not doing enough for my career etc. But compared to where I was a few years ago I’m a different person and am probably the most comfortable and confident being who I am. I think wrestling also gave me a boost of confidence because it’s something different and wrestling accepts all body types. Before wrestling I wouldn’t even wear a crop top to the gym, it was strictly baggy clothes that covered everything. Now I’m 30 lbs heavier and wear crop tops every day
Tori: What is something that you wish you could go back and tell yourself before starting this journey?
Noelle: Fucking relax I was always so stressed I wasn’t doing enough or if someone did something that I wanted to do then I was failing. There’s no rush! I was so burnt out all the time and was putting so much more pressure on myself and it’s all going to work out. Everyone’s path is different and I just need to take a chill pill.
Tori: What did you do before owning your own/running your business?
Noelle: I was a ballerina full time which is crazy enough. I moved to nyc when I was 15 so I could do school online and go to Joffrey ballet school and train full time. Was then traveling around the world and dancing in ballet companies
Tori: What/who made you take the first leap?
Noelle: Probably my mom. She’s always been so supportive about any decision I’ve ever made. She used to always tell me “grab life by the balls!” I’m so thankful she’s always been supportive because she’s given me the push I’ve needed to get to the next step in my career. Even when I was on the fence about leaving the house so young she asked me what was stopping me. I think she could sense it was just fear and she never let me turn down opportunities due to fear or being nervous
Tori: Who was the first person to believe in you and give you real support (financial/sweat equity)?
Noelle: My mom. A lot of my friends and family did not approve or thought it was insane for me to move out so young but my mom really helped me block them out and do what I really wanted to do.
Tori: Was this your dream job? If not, what was?
Noelle: I thought it was, at the time ballet was my life but it was all I knew. When I got to a certain age I realized I was just doing it because I did it for 20 years and it was just routine but I didn’t actually love it. My body would fight me on so many things and I became so much happier/healthier once I decided to stop dancing.
Tori: Why did you get into this field?
Noelle: Wrestling kind of fell into my lap. I was modeling in New York when I stopped dancing and everyone kept telling me to move to LA since I was doing mostly fitness stuff so I did but modeling in LA was MUCH different and it wasn’t fulfilling enough for me. I missed performing and the athleticism of ballet but not the actual rehearsal and class process. I was contacted by a reality show for WWE, it was sort of like an all female competition show and the winner would get a wwe contract and I was like ugh that would be SICK!! I made it to the end of the casting but they wound up not going through with the show and I was really disappointed. I started researching how to get into stunt work & professional wrestling but it seemed like there was no clear direct path, a lot of people get wwe tryouts without having any ring experience at all so it was very confusing to me. Then a few weeks later I saw a casting on LA Castings for WOW-women of wrestling and I was like holy shit I need this. So I show up, be myself, and I get booked and start training next week!
Tori: What is your biggest failure that you turned into success?
Noelle: This actually happens to me a lot where I don’t get something but then it’s for the best because something better comes along. I was suuuper bummed when covid hit and my wrestling company in LA stopped but if it never did I wouldn’t have made the leap to move to FL to train with bigger companies and be where I am today.
Tori: If you could change one thing about your life today for the better, what would it be?
Noelle: Financial freedom. Not just for me, but for my family in general. I thought by 30 I’d be paying back my parents for the 20 years of ballet training and support they’ve given me but I’m just now getting on my feet. I’m pretty comfortable right now, I don’t stress about money the way I used to but I also have like three side jobs in addition to wrestling so I wish I could just make a living solely on wrestling. It’s coming though!
Tori: How is your life/work balance? Body, mind, and soul weekly routine?
Noelle: It’s honestly pretty hectic. When I plan ahead and write myself out a schedule & meal prep it all goes so smoothly but sometimes I forget or I’m just so tired and it all goes to shit. I usually have to keep my sundays very strict and meal prep all day and plan ahead but I usually work from 9-4 and work is an hour away and then I have training from 5-9 and then I also have to go to the gym and stream for 3 hours a day so it’s a lot to plan ahead for. Packing my bag for training, making sure I have enough food & snacks, and drinking my full gallon of water. Because if not, the only food I have available at work is blaze pizza so it just throws me off if I’m eating pizza and then going to training because it makes me so tired if I’m not properly fueling my body.
Tori: Do you say/write out affirmations?
Noelle: The short answer is no, I don’t but I wish I did. I was at my best place mentally when I was doing yoga and meditating regularly. I always see things on Instagram that I save or repost but it never goes further than that.
Tori: When was the last time you tried something new/stepped out of routine?
Noelle: Somehow every day and also never haha I try to say yes to everything but I don’t go looking for new things at the moment because I feel like I don’t have enough hours in the day but certain things I force myself to do just to step out of my comfort zone. Even flying out here I was supposed to shoot with playboy and I was so nervous but really excited and it wound up falling through which was sad but I feel like doing a nude shoot with this new confidence and I’m 30 now so it would’ve been the perfect time but everything happens for a reason so maybe it’ll happen in the future, who knows!
Tori: Favorite book that changed your life?
Noelle: I honestly do not read haha I am super dyslexic so reading is torture for me. School was such a struggle, I’m so glad it’s over I just get so distracted when I’m reading. I’ll literally read a whole page but be thinking about something completely different and not know what I’m actually reading.
Tori: Do you think your gender gives you an advantage or disadvantage in today’s world?
Noelle: In wrestling specifically I think I have more of an advantage because there’s less women in the industry but also there’s a disadvantage because most Women’s wrestling is terrible so the guys don’t take us as seriously. People will give backhanded compliments like “oh you’re really good for a girl”. Like that’s not a compliment. People expect me to be bad because I’m a girl.
Tori: Have you experienced different treatment from your peers of the opposite sex?
Noelle: Yeah, even just like socializing with the guys backstage I try to keep my distance because being a woman in the industry is tricky. Everyone sleeps with each other and there’s so much drama so I’m friendly with everyone but I also keep everyone at arms distance.
Tori: Thought on the glass ceiling?
Noelle: I think it’s amazing and Women’s wrestling has come soooo far over the years. I mean ten years ago women were having bikini competitions and pillow fights in the ring and now they’re main event is wrestlemania. I do think we still have a long way to go though. Most big companies only have one Women’s match on a 2-3 hour episode so we still have some work to do there.
Tori: What advice would you give your children/future children about succeeding in a patriarchal society?
Noelle: Just to take it one day at a time. Be very aware of it and stand up for what you believe in but don’t let it consume you. Worry about the things you can control.
Tori: If you could talk to a young boy/girl from your hometown who aspires to have your career/job/focus what would you tell them? Advice.
Noelle: Focus on you. Don’t compare your journey to someone else’s. Everyone’s path is different and people will get opportunities before you. It doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t working hard or it’s not going to happen for you. Stay focused and keep going. Also invest in a school with the proper training. So many wrestling schools range in price but you get what you pay for. Do your research. Another thing is find out what makes you unique/stand out and run with it. It’s so hard to stand out in an industry like this. Find your niche and times it by ten.
Tori: Fun fact about you?
Noelle: Probably my sexuality. I’m weirdly just like not attracted to people. I look at people and I’m like oh they’re pretty but I’m not attracted to them. It really goes off of personality for me and then after I really get to know someone then I become attracted to them. For the longest time I thought I was categorized as A Sexual but I think people who are A Sexual don’t have much of a libido at all so that wasn’t me I think if I had to choose a label I’d be closer to being pan sexual because I really don’t have a preference but even just looks wise I don’t find people hot, I’m so weird. I’m like the biggest hype girl for my friends on Instagram and stuff when they post their hot girl pics but I’m not attracted to them. I’ve had a crush on a few of my girl friends after I got to know them but it’s not until we are already friends. That’s why dating apps never worked for me.
Tori: Number one piece of advice you remember?
Noelle: Just stay disciplined. I think being in ballet really helped me stay disciplined with the days that I’m like ugh I really don’t want to go to class today or I don’t want to go to the gym. I think my mom always would tell me like it’ll be worth it, remember what you’re working towards. And that really helped me on the lower days.
Tori: Anything else to add?
Noelle: Not really just honored you asked me to be a part of your podcast!
Tori: Anything coming up for you that you want to talk about?
Noelle: Well the whole reason that I’m in LA right now is that I’m filming a new season of WOW - Women Of Wrestling and I have a lot of great matches coming up so I’m super excited about that!
Tori: Where can we find you online?
Noelle: My Instagram is @mafiosa.valentina and my twitter is @mafiosarossi
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