Rosa Mendes Talks About Why She's Lasted This Long In WWE, Working In OVW, More

Rosa Mendes recently spoke with Channel Guide Magazine to promote tonight's Total Divas premiere. Below are some highlights:

Auditioning for Diva Search in 2006:

I haven't watched wrestling religiously, but I've always loved wrestling. When I would flip the channels, if I would see a girl's match, I would watch. I never knew how to get into wrestling, but I thought, "Wow, it would be so cool to actually be a Diva." I loved Trish Stratus, and she's always been an idol of mine. I used to read a lot of fitness magazines, and before she even became a wrestler, I was following her career. Then I heard about this Diva Search and I though, "I have an opportunity to actually get into this business? That's amazing!" I found out about it ? apparently they had thousands of girls trying to enter this contest. I was picked as part of the final eight, and I came in 4th place, and got a contract, and I trained for 3-1/2 years before I debuted on TV.

Working WWE developmental in OVW:

It was the biggest culture shock of my whole entire life. I'm actually so happy and grateful that I got a contract, because it completely de-spoiled me. I was this model that had everything, I thought I was God's gift. Then I get into this business, where I don't know anything about anything, and I'm like bumping in the ring, and I'm like, "Oh my gosh ? ." Things came easy in my life always. I played basketball, was good at basketball. I got good grades, and everything was very easy. This was the most difficult and most challenging thing in my life. I think that's where passion for it came in, because I thought, "Wow! This is like the hardest thing ever, and it hurts ? ." Being a model and getting into wrestling, you're not going to be welcomed with open arms. That was a challenge, too, and that made me want to fight more. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Why she's lasted this long on the main roster:

I think it's really, really important for people to change. I always change my hair color. I come up with new ideas. Whatever I'm feeling and how my personality is, I bring it to the table, so I think it's really important for a Diva to evolve. You can't stay the same and keep the same gear and keep the same hair. I love trying out new things. Some things don't really work and you learn the hard way, but some things work. I think that what's helped me in my career is that I'm always working hard. I'm always changing stuff, changing it up, and I think that re-excites the audience. I think they see this new person come through the curtain after two years or one year, and they see this new kind of dynamic. I think that's helped me stay in the WWE.