CJ Perry, also known as “Lana” on E!’s hit show, “Total Divas,” is a multi-talented wrestler, model, actress, dancer, and singer. Best known as a WWE superstar, CJ is being internationally recognized for making waves for being the first of her kind to have a hand in so many angles at once.
Last year, Perry landed a role in Bruce Willis’s latest project Cosmic Sin, playing “Sol”, a role which was originally written for a male. Co-written and directed by Corey Large and Edward Drake, and produced by Large (The November Man, It Follows) Cosmic Sun will release this March. Past acting credits for CJ include Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2 and Another Version of You.
In 2013, CJ was selected out of thousands of female applicants to be one of five that were signed. As an actress, Perry has appeared in television shows such “The Game,” “Banshee,” “Adam Devine’s House Party,” “Fresh Beat Band” and “Big Time Rush.” As for feature films, she has appeared in Universal’s “Pitch Perfect” & “Pitch Perfect 2,” WWE’s “Interrogation,” and a leading role in the indie “Soul.”
Perry is also widely known for starring on E!’s hit reality series “Total Divas” during the 6th, 7th and 8th seasons. CJ Perry has since built a huge social media presence with over 3.8M followers on Instagram and over 1M on Twitter. She has partnered with numerous lifestyle brands including Pretty Little Thing, Fashion Nova and more. Her electric personality, relentless determination, and endless capabilities are what set her apart from all others. Perry continues to advance her career in various industries and is recognized as a strong inspirational figure.
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with CJ Perry, world-leading media personality, American professional wrestler, professional wrestling manager, actress, dancer, model, singer, and brand ambassador, she talks about her fitness routine, diet, exercise and the success story.
Namita Nayyar:
You are born in Gainesville, Florida, and spent your childhood in the Latvian SSR. You attended the Riga Choreography School and began dancing with the Latvian National Ballet at the age of 14. From Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, Florida you did your major in dance and acting and later took start your career in modeling. You relocated to Los Angeles and this propelled your modeling career to the height where you have been at the top of the world of fashion and glamour modeling. You later excelled as a singer, actor, and WWE Superstar. Tell us more about your professional journey of hard work, tenacity, and endurance – What is your motto and what words do you live by??
CJ Perry:
Never Give Up. Passionately and resiliently purse your dreams. Don’t take “no” for an answer, just make a different path to get to your destination.
Namita Nayyar:
You moved from Latvian, United States, and Europe for your professional career. For a model and actress adjusting to new countries with their own cultures, it must be difficult and then to adjust with modeling and acting career in the new foreign land, what advice you can give to fellow models/actresses in a similar situation?
CJ Perry:
Pre-pandemic, I would say, go out and experience the food, culture, sights, art and nature of that foreign city and country you are in. I would say, dive into the world you don’t know and understand. Challenge your mind to have new life experiences that are foreign to you and try to understand the world from a different point of view. This will only help oneself grow as a human being and as a storyteller. I believe this is a crucial life experience to have. Models, actors, professional wrestlers, dancers and influencers are all stories tellers. The more challenges and life exposure we have, the better of a story teller we become. Doesn’t matter what wrapping the storyteller tells their story in, the deepness comes from exposing yourself to foreign things and experiences.
Namita Nayyar:
You are a world-leading media personality, American professional wrestler, professional wrestling manager, actress, dancer, model, singer, and brand ambassador. How do you manage such a remarkable multi-dimensional lifestyle?
CJ Perry:
By saying my affirmations every morning. I try and make a vision board every year before the New Year. I write down my goals, dreams and timelines I want to achieve. I try to always find the silver lining and count my blessings.
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
As a WWE SuperStar, give us an insight into what your exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine that you may wish to share?
CJ Perry:
Right now, I downloaded the app Workouts by Katya and I have been doing her 8 week booty workout. It is 5 days of week for 30-45 minutes. I love it. Besides the work outs by Katya 5 times a week, I also do 4 days a week cardio for 45 minutes – 60 minutes. I feel the cardio always breaks up any soreness from wrestling; it keeps the body super toned as well and helps my stamina and endurance for matches. If people are trying to quickly drop weight, tone up or just feel more in shape, I would advise doing 45 minutes of cardio 3-4 times a week.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
CJ Perry:
I eat 3 eggs in the morning with oat meal and avocado toast, grilled fish and rice for lunch and usually fish, or meat and rice, veggies and a salad for dinner. If I want to have something sweet, I eat something sweet. I try to always eat healthy but if I’m craving something, then I eat it. Tomorrow is a new day where I can start fresh again. I struggled a lot with eating disorders in high school, so I have to set boundaries for myself so I don’t trigger bad habits.
Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Share with us your hair care and skincare routine.
CJ Perry:
Thank you so much. I use Cetaphil. I am a huge advocate of the VI Peele. I feel it’s very affordable compared to other lasers but the results are incredible. You need about 8 days off but layers of skin peel off. It helped with my acne, scarring, discoloration, and texture and gave me a glow. I couldn’t believe how dull my skin looked prior to the VI Peel.
The key to gorgeous hair is to know the limits for your hair. I have melted my hair off 3 different times and I have had every type of extension and they all ripped my hair out, except for clip ins and sew in weave. Now, I wear wigs if I want to do platinum or crazy cool colours. My hair is thick and healthy again because I have just been letting it grow. I know we don’t want to hear this but the secret to having great hair is to not change the color every other week, don’t use a lot of heat and be patient.
Namita Nayyar:
You have stared on the E!’s hit reality series “Total Divas” during the 6th, 7th and 8th seasons.. Tell us more about your experience working in it.
CJ Perry:
I made some incredible bonds with women like Natalya and Trinity. I had my dream wedding on the show. I learned so much about storytelling. That show really gave me the desire to move into the role of a producer and learn more about that. I want to be in the storytelling business for the rest of my life. I might not always want to be in front of the camera telling the story, but I know I am going to want to produce and direct stories. I was always so impressed by the executive producer, Russell James and Nikki Bella. By working with them, I know that is what I want become one day. I know that I want to go back to school to learn how to produce and direct.
Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding fashion model and acting girls, who all are your fans and shall like to know from you for their climb to the ladder of success in the field of modeling and acting?
CJ Perry:
Dream big. Passionately and resiliently chase your dreams. Be grateful and count your blessings because the law of attraction is a real thing.
Namita Nayyar:
In Bruce Willis’s latest project Cosmic Sin, you are playing “Sol”, a role which was originally written for a male. Tell us more about this endeavor of yours?
CJ Perry:
Sol is the best sniper in the galaxy. She is out to prove that no man is a better sniper than her. And she saves the day. She is a bad ass. Something I aspire to be.
Namita Nayyar:
You have done bold photo shoots with RIDGID Tool Calendar, Matrix, Red Bull, Pretty Little Thing, Fashion Nova, and many others. How you are so body confident and advise to your compatriots?
CJ Perry:
Daily affirmations to yourself. Remember words have power. We only have one body, soul and mind. Sometimes the hardest thing we will ever do is love ourselves and our flaws. But we have to go on that journey.
Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about your experience of working in the “Survivor Series” An interesting event you wish to share from the same?
CJ Perry:
Survivor Series represented my life story. Every single member of my team bullied me. They told me I didn’t belong on Tea Raw even though I was the only person out of the 5 members that actually earned her spot. All I wanted to do was get in the match and wrestle and contribute. But my teammates bullied me into standing on the stairs. I truly just was trying to be a team player. Ironically, by standing on the stairs, that genius plan is how we won for Team Raw !! People want to hate on me, that I didn’t earn that win. But the bottom line of the Survivor Series Match is to be the Sole Survivor. It’s not how hard the punches hit, or how fancy the flips are. All that matters in the end is who the Sole Survivor is. I was the Sole Survivor. I proved my hates and naysayers wrong.
Namita Nayyar:
How did it feel to take fans behind the scenes of your life in your most recent documentary with WWE Network “WWE Chronicle”?
CJ Perry:
I was really nervous and scared. I felt like it was the first time that I opened up my real life with no filters. I felt like it was the first time that I showed CJ and not just Lana. On Total Divas, I never felt like I gave the world CJ. I was always Lana. I didn’t even go by my real name. I felt in “WWE Chronicle Lana” that was the first time I started to show the unfiltered version of who truly defines Lana……CJ Perry, the girl who had really big dreams and chased them resiliently and never took no for an answer. I really hope my story inspires people to chase their dreams no matter what age they are. That we are never too old or young to chase our dreams. And have the audacity to dream big dreams! I never, in my wildest dreams, would have thought I would have been the Sole Survivor at Survivor Series. Watch my journey up to that match and how I chose to defy all my odds. It’s also my first time that I ever opened up about my own struggles with mental health. I hope to encourage others that they are not alone and that it’s ok to not be ok.
Namita Nayyar:
What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
CJ Perry:
Write down your goals and dreams.
Write 10 goals down every day for the next 30 days and watch your life change!
Namita Nayyar:
Today social media plays a vital role in putting your message across to your followers and fans. What is your message for the 3.8 million followers on Instagram @thelanawwe?
CJ Perry:
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR OUR DREAMS !
CJ Perry Social media presence
- Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thecjperry/
- Twitter @LanaWWE
- WEE resource https://www.wwe.com/superstars/lana
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness