Diva-Fierce.com's 2016 Silver Snap Awards: Nominees

It's that most wonderful time of the year again, Fancies: the time when we give the gift of recognition to the very best photoshoots of the year! We pick the nominees, but to narrow it down to the sole, ultimate, number one of the year, your help is required! We need you. We can't do it without you. So, help us choose...The One.
This year presented some unprecedented challenges. First, in the Knockouts category, there were very few full photoshoots at all. We therefore had to make use of a couple that were one-shot 'shoots, which I have always preferred not to include, but this year simply have so few other options that it's the most reasonable solution. In a similar vein, many of the Divas snaps this year were part of combo 'shoots, so I've made the decision to consider each lady superstar's set as an individual 'shoot.  All that being acknowledged, there were plenty of moments which wowed us, inspired us, sent us reeling into transports of delight. Who, may you ask, accomplished all this? I'm thrilled to announce this year's list of Silver Snap Awards Nominees:

Laurel: 1-2 Punch Knockouts
Laurel is brand new to the Knockouts, so I can see the choice of her snap for a year end award being controversial. We have so little evidence to go on: one snap from her only "photoshoot", if indeed it one pic earns that title. She's here, though, because that solitary shot ticked all the right boxes. First, her outfit is stellar. This blue ensemble is polished and pretty gear and exceptionally cohesive and well-designed for a newbie. The color is gorgeous as well. Her single pose is a gem: unique, perfectly executed and evocative of personality. I'm betting that if she'd had more than one snap, they would have been equally well done and, in this narrow field, it's enough to put her into the Silver Snap nominees.
 
Brandi: 1-2 Punch Knockouts Brandi presents a similar difficulty in that she joined Impact late in the year, and a year in which they sort of forgot about photoshoots. Like Laurel, we only have a single pic to evaluate that's an actual photoshoot-type shot. Again, though, it hit the right notes. This gear is completely amazing. She kindly gave a few peeks at the details of it via her Instagram, so we know what incredible fashion it truly is. The coat, the crystals, the snake detail - all the things we didn't get to see in this curtailed 'shoot, we know about and can use in evaluating it. Brandi's hair is gorgeous and her make-up is on point. Her pose is a classic, and she absolutely nails it. We also have her earlier work in WWE that can help us hypothesize the caliber of the photos she would have graced us with had Impact seen fit to give us...oh, say..three whole snaps to choose from (#WishList !). I have no doubt those other currently only-in-our-fantasies pics would have slayed, hence Brandi's inclusion on this list.
 
Maria: Follow The White Light
The only full photoshoot (which I consider as three or more pics) of the year belonged to Maria, which it made it the one certain slot-taker among out nominees. It was her introductory 'shoot for the brand and gave us insight into her character as the First Lady alongside the Miracle. In keeping with the theme of salvation, she chose a white body-con dress with a sexy v-neck. Paired with platform pumps and spiked with flashes of gold, the 'shoot was simple, but effective. Maria highlighted her look with stunning metallic eye make-up, which gave her an angelic quality. Her poses, honed through many years in WWE, were standards handled with a sure hand and a seductive aura. This hypnotic, light-infused competence easily earns Maria a spot among this year's nominees.

Lana: Love Dreams
Lana kills photoshoots so habitually, it really is hard to pick just one of hers for this. I'm pretty sure I could have made it an all-Lana Silver Snap list without trying all that hard. (Maybe we'll do that sometime ;)). But beyond the bikini 'shoots and the New York braids and glam, this set stood the test. It has everything: a romantic backdrop with pretty furniture, hazy lighting, fashion. Oh, definitely fashion! Femininity and frothy embellishment have been two bug themes in style this year and this outfit incorporates both. Lana paired a billowy pink silk cami with a fabric rose-covered mini skirt for one of the sweetest, most ethereal looks of the year. She toughened it up just slightly via gray suede OTK boots that added just enough contrast, without clashing against the soft, seductive setting. And then, there were her poses :). Lana is a posing queen and this concept was made for the dreamy, intimate story she told as she sprayed perfume, fantasized about her lover and reveled in the loveliness surrounding her.
 
Nikki: Carnival Noire
Nikki's turn as a high-flying aerialist in WWE's Dark Carnival was a perfect blend of high fashion and high performance. Marrying stripes, velvet and a standout mask with a fabulous pair of pointy-toed ankle boots, her au courant style choices left little to be desired. Her classic red and black palette was given a curveball of pine green, which provided a lovely and unexpected variation. The fashion set off her poses to perfection: daring, athletic suggestions of flirting with danger created with icy composure, and underscored by deadly serious facials that conveyed her deep understanding of the constant and genuine risks of her chosen profession. With stylish, sultry beauty displaying stoic acceptance and a willingness to challenge life on the edge, how could this fantastic set not find a place among our nominees?!
 
Naomi: Glow Baby Glow
This set was on my Silver Snap list the moment I saw it. We had seen flashes of brilliance earlier in the year from Naomi, but everything came together flawlessly in this 'shoot. Her fashion here, while not likely to find itself in the pages of Vogue, was totally unique. To design and execute ways of making her clothing (etc) glow clearly took tremendous effort and this iteration works brilliantly (no pun intended). It pops off the dark background, which was the perfect choice to set off this neon-themed set. Her poses range from the wildly athletic to dramatic - clearly, Naomi was feeling this 'shoot and that passion busted right through the lens. Her glowing make-up and hair look insanely cool and the glittered fleck floating throughout the snaps give a retro 80's dance-floor vibe to this modern concept. This photoshoot is so incredibly unique that it can't help but earn a place on our list of the best of the year.