New WWE.com Photoshoot: Nikki Bella - Engagingly Fearless

This ‘shoot from Nikki just prior to Wrestlemania was such an amazing departure form almost anything we’ve seen her do before! I applaud the unique vibe of this set; it’s hungry, gritty, dirty…and yet, unlike other divas’ we’ve seen explore this type of setting, she still manages to interject a shot of high fashion into her styling. It creates this wonderful cataclysm of slick polish and grimy, relentless effort. The lighting in this shoot ranges through various shades of red, blue and lilac and is completely gorgeous! I’m especially a fan of the lilac shade – it gives a super cool electric, neon energy and beauty to the shots.
Her first look might be my favorite – although it’s got some stiff competition! :) She pairs an artfully ripped and knotted lace-up tank in a light heather gray with charcoal knit shorts. The gray shades work brilliantly with the lavender light, and convey the steely, focused vibe of the ‘shoot perfectly. She throws us the first of her couture curveballs at the finish, though, by completing this look with heeled ankle booties. I love the textured leather and the sheen, as well as how she connects them back to the vibe of her outfit with striped socks! She also get Fierce points for the practical but powerful braids that make her look like a warrior princess!
Next up is a striped brassiere set beneath a torn mesh tee. I find the latter piece distracting, which is unfortunate because I love the look of the brassiere! I might have gone with simpler cat-scratch style tears to for a less complex visual, even though it would have hidden the brassiere more. I’m wild over her safety-pinned shorts, though! Done in her trademark red, they convey intensity and a Rocky-like determination to rise and succeed, in spite of worn-to-shreds gear. Her military-style boots accentuate this vibe flawlessly, adding the perfect exclamation point to this outfit.
Her next offering is a bodysuit, again in her signature shade of flame. I’m borderline on the cut of the front, but from there on, I’m all in! The open-cut back is so hot! And her suede, hardware-embellished booties? Yes, please! She adds even more edge and attitude with a wide, black leather choker. I'm intrigued by her use of the body harness - leaving it open adds movement and softens the overall effect in an interesting way. I would have been interested to see how it compared if done in black instead of natural. Her poses in this section are A+, adding a driving artistry and insistent fashion industry vibe to the basement-gym theme.
Her last outfit expands on that theme. The monochrome look combines a bodycon romper with lace-up detailing at the sides and over-the-knee boots. The minimalist pairing gets shot of fierceness from its incorporation of an ultra-wide waist belt, a theme which a number of designers explored this spring. The unusual setting and props (how many times do we get to see divas play around on a pair of rings?!) let her push some boundaries in terms of poses, which works incredibly well.
The 'shoot is cohesive, despite its four separate looks. The theme is clear and communicated fantastically well, melding sport, sultriness and style in a surprising and alluring way. Brava.