Sonya Deville
A trailblazer in WWE as its first openly gay female superstar, who fought both in the ring and as a savvy on-screen authority figure.
Born 1993 (age 33)·American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist·Birthday: September 24·Millennials
Biography
Sonya Deville first gained attention as a competitor on the reality series Tough Enough, where she displayed her mixed martial arts background. She signed with WWE in 2015 and became the company's first openly gay female performer. Deville initially teamed with Mandy Rose as part of the tag team Fire and Desire. She later shifted to a villainous role, portraying a no-nonsense authority figure who used her MMA skills to dominate opponents. Her in-ring style combined striking with ground-based techniques, giving her matches a gritty feel. After a decade in WWE, Deville left the company in 2023 and joined TNA Wrestling later that year. There she continued to compete, demonstrating that her appeal and skillset reach beyond any single promotion. Born in 1993 in Neptune City, New Jersey, Deville also trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and kickboxing before entering professional wrestling. Her career has been marked by a willingness to confront both opponents and industry norms directly.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Sonya was born in 1993, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sonya Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Sonya's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first openly gay woman to wrestle in a WWE pay-per-view match.
- Won the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship alongside Mandy Rose.
- Served as an on-screen official and authority figure on WWE's SmackDown brand for several years.
Did You Know?
Her real name is Daria Rae Berenato, and she uses that name in TNA Wrestling.
She was a contestant on the WWE reality competition series 'Tough Enough' in 2015.
She has a black belt in Taekwondo and trained in mixed martial arts prior to her wrestling career.
She and Mandy Rose had a high-profile, long-running storyline feud that transitioned from friendship to rivalry.
“I'm not here to be a character; I'm here to be a fighter.”
