WWE.com’s “Total Divas” Q&A’s continue with an exclusive sitdown with JoJo. Here’s what the multitalented newcomer had to say in her first-ever interview!
WWE.com: When did you know that being a Diva was right for you?
JoJo: I knew from the first day that I got in the ring that that’s where I was meant to be. I fell in love with it. I was like, “This is home.”
WWE.com: Who was the first Diva you met and what was that experience like?
JoJo: I first met Natalya, and it was like, “Whoa,” because she’s a veteran, and she is where I am trying to be. She’s so helpful, and she knows so much about the business, so it is really an eye-opener. You’re just in awe when you meet her, and you respect her right off the bat.
WWE.com: Of that entire process, and out of all the possible Divas and all the new Divas who are in the Performance Center and in NXT, how did it come to be that you and Eva Marie were the ones selected to be on “Total Divas”?
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JoJo: I honestly had no idea that I was going to get chosen. I just showed off my personality, and I think I brought something to the table that they enjoyed. We didn’t know what to expect or what anything was about. We went in, showed who we were, and apparently they loved it.
WWE.com: Viewers get the sense that “Total Divas” features a lot of drama, but what kind of wisdom are you absorbing from the process and from the other Divas?
JoJo: This whole show has really taught me how to deal with this business in general. This is my first time away from home, so constantly being on the road is a whirlwind. I’m learning from all the other Divas, how to respect each other and how to respect all the Superstars — how to shake their hands, to make yourself known in a respectful way and how to deal with this whole traveling thing in general. One of the most difficult parts of the job is traveling. Each day, you just learn how to be yourself and how to incorporate it into your work. Slowly I’m learning, “Oh I might be good as this or I might be good as that.” [The other Divas] have really helped with that.
WWE.com: What are some of your personal goals that you’d like to accomplish in WWE?
JoJo: Besides the Divas Championship, to entertain. As long as I’m entertaining members of the WWE Universe, and people really enjoy what I bring to the table, that’s my goal. Whether it’s singing, dancing, getting on the mic or in the ring, I just want people to look at me and go, “Wow, that girl has it. She’s talented,” and they enjoy watching me. That’s really what I’d like to accomplish.
WWE.com: You mentioned the Divas Title. This is actually the five-year anniversary of the Divas Championship. What does it feel like to be a part of this division at such a critical moment?
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JoJo: It is such a blessing. I’m a religious person, so I pray and I thank God every day. I’m so young, and I’m in this position that people are dying for. I’ve worked so hard for it and to know that all my hard work is paying off, and to be in the presence of all these incredible talented people is so amazing and so incredible and unbelievable. Sometimes I pinch myself, like, “Oh my God, am I really here!?” I’m really just so blessed to have this opportunity.
WWE.com: Who’s the one Diva in history that you would want to compete against in the ring?
JoJo: I’ve met Evebefore, actually. I think that she’s a great performer and a great in-ring performer as well. I would love to get in the ring with Natalya. She’s just so great at what she does, and to have the honor to wrestle her would be amazing.
WWE.com: What makes you unique in the Divas division, and what do you think that you and Eva Marie would bring to the division that’s never seen before?
JoJo: Well first off, I think we have a certain look, that people will really look at us and say, “Wow, they’re someone.” We’re powerful, with Eva’s red hair — that’s fire. Or with my crazy big curly hair — that’s wild. That alone brings something, but then our personalities; we’re both so fun, and we’re both so talented. Eva’s incredibly athletic, as am I. I’ve played sports my entire life, and, on top of that, I sing and I dance, and that’s something that Divas haven’t really done. The Funkadactyls dance, but singing and dancing together, I think it’s something I could bring and people would be like, “Wow that’s really cool. That’s different.”
| Fiery new photos
New Diva JoJo helps introduce Tons of Funk.
WWE.com: We’ve seen you sing on WWE Main Event before. Have you had any formal vocal training?
JoJo: I have never been formerly trained. I was in a singing group. We were called Little Miss. All four of us had different voices. I was the crazy power singer; one was very soft, and one was a rapper. Being in that group helped me find my voice, because I would have to match with them, and I would have to sing songs that I’m not used to. It really helped me find out how I love to sing and what I love to sing. I literally have video tapes from when I was two years old singing on the pool table to En Vogue, Tupac. I was legit rapping to “Hail Mary” by Tupac and stuff like that. I was a mess. All my life I’ve been trying to find my voice, and I think I found it now.
WWE.com: What are some of your go-to songs?
JoJo: I have so many. When it comes to music, I can’t choose one. I can do three. Each one of them has a different meaning. “Speechless,” by Beyoncé, because it’s very soft and then it gives you that craziness. I’m a huge Beyoncé fan, by the way. I love her. I love “You Put a Move on My Heart” by Tamia, because it’s just got a wide range and it shows off your voice. A third one I would say is “Dangerously in Love,” by Beyoncé as well. Part of the reason why is because that song relates to so many people in my family, even though you can’t take the words so literally. When I love someone, I love them with my heart. I’ll sing it to my mom; I’ll sing it to my brother — things like that, or from this person to this person.
WWE.com: Can you tell us a secret about you that nobody knows about?
JoJo: Growing up, I went from having it all to having nothing. I think that’s part of the reason why I drive, and I’m so passionate about what I do and working hard because I’m determined to help my family out and I’m determined to make my dreams come true. A lot of that will be shown on “Total Divas.” A lot of what I went through in my past and a lot of things involving my father is all going to come out on the show. Nobody really knows that about me, [but] I feel like everything in my past has made me a stronger person and I don’t see it as a negative thing.
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WWE.com: If you were to make a prediction right now, how long is it going to be before JoJo is holding that Divas Championship in her WWE career?
JoJo: No more than a year. This time next year, hopefully, I want to be holding that Divas Championship at least once.
WWE.com: Is there anything you want to add?
JoJo: With the show coming out everyone’s going to see how I am. A lot of people don’t know that I’m quite athletic or I’m quite the entertainer. As I show my personality and as I show who I am people are going to like me, hopefully. I’m just here to show people how I roll.
