I was the Britney Spears of wrestling – my body still hurts but I’m about to make my first million from my new career
LIZZY Valentine’s wrestling career as a Britney Spears lookalike saw her travel the world and enjoy star-studded parties at the Playboy Mansion.
But the model has revealed for the first time how her past life in the fast lane ended up battering her body and felt like a sham.
It was 2001 when Lizzy Valentine first jumped into the ring as an eager, young wrestler in New York.
At the time the 5ft 4 blonde beauty felt lucky enough to be picked up and trained by the famous wrestling champ, Homicide.
Despite her skill in the ring, it was Lizzy’s baby-doll looks that were striking.
Through the years, Lizzy went on to wrestle for the troops in the Middle East and Alaska.
She appeared on MTV’s Wrestling Society X where her close resemblance to Britney Spears catapulted her to become one of its biggest stars.
Even after retiring in 2011, the Las Vegas-based model worked events like Xtreme Pro Wrestling.
Today though, Lizzy pumps most of her time and energy into her lucrative and more relaxing endeavors.
In an exclusive interview, Lizzy told The U.S. Sun: “I’ve made way more money outside of the wrestling industry.
“I earned more being on OnlyFans in one year than I ever earned in my entire wrestling career.
“I haven’t made millions yet, but I’m getting there and it’s much easier on me.
“I love being able to work from home and be in control of my work.
“Wrestling also doesn’t pay as much as people think and especially when you’re first starting out as a rookie.
“At the start, you’re expected to work for free or for as little as $25.
“It’s called ‘paying your dues’ and you’d have to prove yourself to everyone first.
“I don’t regret my wrestling career, but sometimes I wish I’d known what I was getting myself into.
“I was so young and naive. I also didn’t think about how my body might feel 20 years later.
“I never broke anything but did have two concussions from taking the powerbomb move.
“I also got one concussion from a DDT move or a front face lock which also broke my tooth.
“Now, I always wake up feeling stiff, and my body just can’t handle the things it used to.
“It’s hard with all the physicality, traveling, bumps, and bruises
“When you’re traveling over 300 days a year, you must maintain your physique at all times.”
It was 2009 when Lizzy first appeared in Wrestlicious.
Taking on the character of Kandi Kisses, Lizzy’s wrestling profile rocketed.
She was soon traveling the world amassing a massive following.
Lizzy was lauded as the Britney Spears of Wrestling throughout the US, Mexico, and Spain.
“I always loved Britney, so it was an honor to be called The Britney Spears Of Lucha Libre,” she added.
“Funnily enough we both went to the same performing arts school in New York.
“We have a similar appearance including big brown eyes and a ‘good girl’ appearance.
“Wrestlicious was the new version of the legendary GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) show.
“My character was Kandi Kisses, the ‘pop superstar’ so I tried to emulate Britney.
“At the time, she had been doing concerts wearing an Elvis-type outfit, so I got the idea to copy that.”
After finding fame in her industry, Lizzy was even invited to parties at the notorious Playboy Mansion.
She says: “I had a casting call where they make sure you’re pretty enough.
“I went to a few parties there where men paid around $2000 to attend.
“I met stars like FloRida and Chris Brown and saw the Pussycat Dolls perform, as well as P Diddy.
“We weren’t allowed inside the actual house so stayed only in the outside areas and in the famous grotto.
“But I saw people having sex in there.”
After a decade in wrestling, Lizzy decided to call it quits.
Approaching 30, her reasons for leaving were many.
“I stopped mainly because it was becoming really hard on my body,” she said.
“I was constantly in pain and still feel that same pain today.
“There was also a lot of sexual harassment going on.
“It was very hard for me to handle when I first began at 17 years old.
“I had to keep my mouth shut because I would have been shunned if I were to bring any of it to light.
“There was also a bit of hazing that went on as well at that stage.
“The rookies often take a lot of abuse by getting hit extra hard.
“New wrestlers would get their hair chopped off, eyebrows shaved off or their luggage hidden right before a match.
“There were some awful backstage revenge tactics for rookies, including others defecating in suitcases.”
When Lizzy finally left the business, she quickly up as a pole dancer before buying a studio to share her skills.
She created her OnlyFans account several years later.
“When I stopped wrestling I started to pursue other business ventures, ” Lizzy added.
“I became a pole dance instructor because it boosted my confidence.
“This helped me after constantly being critiqued in the wrestling industry.
“After that, I owned my own dance studio and created a mobile app and e-books.
“Everyone retires at different ages in wrestling, so it depends on how your body holds up over time.
“It’s very hard on the body so typically wrestlers retire in their early 40s.
“OnlyFans is a great way for me to keep in touch with my fans.
“I earn extra money and it can be extremely lucrative.
“The wrestling industry is full of many different personality types- some might judge these things and doing OnlyFans, but most don’t.”