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WWE's Women's Division has been handed a substantial facelift over the past few years, since the Women's Revolution has seen the company focus more on the in-ring talent of their women for the first time.
Women in the wrestling industry have historically been seen as eye candy in the company, that delivers a much-needed break from the action for the male demographic of the WWE Universe.
In the early 2000s, WWE would focus on hiring models and actresses rather than trained wrestlers which led to the company unveiling the first-ever Diva Search back in 2003. This competition saw several women from all over the world competing for a chance to win a WWE contract on Monday Night RAW worth $250,000. This ran until 2007 when WWE decided to scrap the idea.
The Diva Search was later brought back in 2013 as an online system that allowed the WWE Universe to vote for the women who should be included in the first season of Total Divas.
Over the years there have been several women added to WWE's roster following the Diva Search, but interestingly, none of these women are part of the company anymore.
#5. Jamie Koeppe - WWE Diva Search winner 2003
The first-ever WWE Diva Search was unveiled back in 2003, but the company hadn't announced that the winner would receive a WWE contract worth an impressive $250,000 at that point.
Instead, the winner of the 2003 Diva Search was handed a photoshoot in an issue of WWE Magazine. The Diva Search took place almost entirely online with fans voting for their favorite from a final which included Jamie Koeppe, Terri Mitchell, Paige, and Marsha.
In the end, it was Jamie Koeppe who won the vote and was handed the photoshoot in the company's monthly magazine. Unlike many of the women on this list, Koeppe never appeared on WWE TV and went back to her regular life as a fitness model and personal trainer.
The star also has a background in acting and has appeared in several movies in recent years but is now retired at the age of 40. Interestingly, the former winner looks to have remained off the radar since becoming the first-ever winner of the annual competition.
#4. Christy Hemme - WWE Diva Search winner 2004
The 2004 RAW Diva Search was the start of a whole new competition for WWE and included many famous faces. Despite not winning the contract, the likes of Michelle McCool, Maria Kanellis, Joy Giovanni, Amy Weber, and Candice Michelle all began their WWE careers as part of this Diva Search.
Carmella DeCesare, Amy Weber, and Joy Giovanni were the finalists along with eventual winner Christy Hemme. Several women were then added to the main roster on Monday Night RAW and Hemme was even handed a WrestleMania Women's Championship match against Trish Stratus the following year.
Merely months after WrestleMania, Hemme was released from WWE and made the move over to IMPACT Wrestling. Hemme became a popular face as a wrestler and ring announcer for the decade that she was with the company, before departing in 2016.
Hemme married back in 2010 and has since welcomed five children with her husband Charley. In 2015 the former WWE star welcomed her first daughter called Charlie, before later welcoming quadruplets in 2018 on her daughter's birthday.
Most recently, Hemme has been part of the "KAYFABE" wrestling show alongside Lita and Gail Kim which launched in 2020.
#3. Layla El - WWE Diva Search winner 2006
The 2006 Diva Search was where both Rosa Mendes and Maryse began their WWE careers, despite not winning the competition. Brooke Adams and The Bella Twins were also hired by WWE following the tournament despite not making it to the finals.
The Miz began his hosting career as part of this Diva Search and it was where he met his future wife, Maryse. Layla El was the winner who was announced by the company and later went on to become Women's and Divas Champion.
Layla came to WWE with a dance background which helped when it came to learning the craft. This allowed her to become one of the more successful former winners. But the British star opted to retire from the business back in 2015.
Layla went on to marry former NXT star Richard Young, who was known as Ricky Ortiz, following her WWE departure and has since moved on to a career as a real estate agent.
After remaining off the radar for several years, Layla has since reappeared on both Instagram and Twitter.
#2. Eve Torres - WWE Diva Search winner 2007
Unlike previous WWE Diva Search contests, 2007 saw much of the voting take place online and many of the segments were pre-taped for TV. Taryn Terrell began her WWE career as part of this Diva Search and would later become known as Tiffany.
Eve Torres was the announced as the winner from the final televised Diva Search and was then added to the company's roster. Torres made quite the impact in the Women's Division and went on to become a three-time Divas Champion before leaving the company in 2013.
Torres has since focused on her family and her career as an instructor for the Gracie Women Empowered Self-Defense program. Torres has also become an Ambassador for WWE and has taught several classes to up and coming stars at WWE's Performance Center.
Torres has made several appearances for WWE in recent years with the most recent coming back in 2018 as part of the kick-off show for Evolution. Torres is one of few former WWE stars who haven't made their return in a wrestling role as part of the Women's Revolution.
#1. Eva Marie - WWE Diva Search winner 2013
After a six-year hiatus, the WWE Diva Search made its return back in 2013, but this time the contest was completely unaired and featured the likes of JoJo Offerman, Alexa Bliss, Lana, and Devin Taylor as part of the competition.
Eva Marie was crowned the winner of the competition and went on to be handed a place on Total Divas which launched later that year. Marie was also promoted to the main roster without any official in-ring training.
Eva Marie remained as a part of Total Divas until season 6 when she was released from WWE after violating their Wellness Policy. Marie has since focused on being a fitness model and even dipped her toe into the acting pool, but most recently the star has been linked with a sensational return to WWE after an almost four year hiatus.
Jojo Offerman was also added to Total Divas despite not winning the Diva Search but left the show just a year later to focus on her in-ring training. Offerman has since left WWE after welcoming two children with fellow WWE star Bray Wyatt.
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