Melina Perez

Melina Perez (born March 9, 1979) is a Mexican-American model, professional wrestler, valet, and actress. She is best known for her time with World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Melina. She is a former three-time Women's Champion and a two-time WWE Divas Champion.

Perez started her career as a beauty pageant contestant, winning Miss Hawiaiian Tropics Anaheim. In Perez's modelling career, she has won many modelling competitions such as the Group USA Bridal Show, Group USA Fashion Show, and Ms. California Belleza Latina.

In 2000, Perez began her professional wrestling career signing with the independent circuit, where she began her training at Jesse Hernandez's School of Hard Knocks in San Bernardino, California, and made her official wrestling debut in 2002. In late 2002, Perez auditioned for World Wrestling Entertainment's reality show Tough Enough III, but was eliminated in first round, and was afterwards inspired by Al Snow to continue pursuing her wrestling career.

In March 2004, Perez signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment, and was assigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), WWE's developmental territory, where she began managing Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury, later naming the tag team MNM. In November 2004, Perez managed the team to victory to become the OVW Southern Tag Team Champions. Also in November, while still in OVW, Perez made appearances on WWE's Raw show as part of a Diva lingerie show, and in December 2004, participating in a limbo contest. Back in OVW, MNM dropped the tag titles in January 2005 after a two month reign.

In April 2005, Perez alongside MNM, made their debut to the main roster as part of the SmackDown! brand, where she managed the team to three reigns as WWE Tag Team Champions, as well as Johnny Nitro to two reigns as WWE Intercontinental Champion. The team later disbanded in July 2006. Also in 2006, Perez became Mick Foley's valet, until she turned on him before Vince McMahon's fired him. In February 2007, Perez won her first WWE Women's Championship from Mickie James, until she dropped the title back to James at a house show in Paris, France, but would re-invoke her title rematch clause to win the Women's title for the second time. In May 2007, she lost her Women's title to Candice Michelle at the Vengenace pay-per-view. In 2008, Melina would align herself with Beth Phoenix, until May 2008 when Phoenix turned on Melina, turning her into a fan favorite for the first time in her wrestling career. After returning for an ankle injury in November 2008, Melina continued her feud with Beth Phoenix defeating her at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in January 2009, to become a three-time Women's Championship. In April 2009, Melina was drafted to SmackDown to feud with Michelle McCool, dropping the Women's title to McCool at the The Bash in September 2009. In October 2009, Melina was traded back to Raw, where she won her first ever WWE Divas Championship against Jillian Hall her first night on the brand. In December 2009, having a torn ACL, Melina was forced to vacant the Divas Championship, leading to her rival Maryse winning the title. Melina would return from injury in August 2010 to regain her Divas Championship from Alicia Fox at the SummerSlam pay-per-view, making this her second reign as Divas Champion. At the Night of Champions pay-per-view, Melina dropped the Divas title in a unification match to unify the Divas and Women's title to Michelle McCool in September 2010. In August 2011, Melina was released from her contract with World Wrestling Entertainment.