"I love the traveling, I love sitting so close to the fights and it's an honor having people want your autograph and want your picture. That's very exciting
I can definitely see why celebrities don't go out as much I guess. I don't have a problem with it because it's not like I'm some huge, well-known person. It's usually when we are at the fights and then all of the fans are either staying at the same hotel or eating at the same restaurants and it's crazy. You never think it would be you," stated Natasha Wicks, the newest UFC Octagon girl. Check out what she had to say about her new life as part of the UFC family.
PC: How is everything going Ms. Wicks?
NW: Really good. I'm just waking up, eating some breakfast and getting my day started.
PC: I have to tell you, I love the wild golden locks, so keep that in mind.
NW: Oh, awesome, thank you. I like it too (laughing).
PC: Did they make you tame it a little during the event, because I saw it was different from the wild weigh-in look?
NW: No, not really. They approved it. That was my first time wearing it curly and they said I could wear it curly or straight, whatever I want. But I did a photo shoot on Saturday before the fight, so instead of redoing my hair and having them do it all over again, I just left it the way it was. I intended on wearing it curly to the fight. I just didn't get around to doing it. Next fight, I will wear it curly.
PC: I appreciate that. Your first two UFC events have been first-time visits for the organization, first Philadelphia and then Portland. How were those trips for you?
NW: I absolutely enjoyed myself. I love traveling and that's definitely a big perk with joining the UFC family is that I get to travel. Philadelphia was way cool. It reminded me so much of New York. Both places actually, both Philadelphia and Portland, were full of characters. Everything is just original. The people were very friendly and the weather was always nice. A lot different from this freaking Vegas heat that we got going on here. So much fun though, I'm having a blast.
PC: What's your story Natasha? Were you like the high school cheerleader or am I way off base with that guess?
NW: Oh, waaay off base (laughing)! Anybody that knew me in high school are like, "What? This is crazy!" I was an athlete. I never wore trendy clothes; I was never on dance team or a cheerleader or nothing like that. I was a runner, cross country track. I never went to parties or nothing in high school. I was very focused. I worked. I was very plain. I never wore makeup. I was just a normal girl; nothing crazy out there.
PC: After winning the Maxim contest, did you think you would get the call from the UFC that soon to be a part of an event?
NW: I was not sure. It was a combined search with the UFC and Maxim. Maxim helped the UFC find all of the girls and they put it on. I was hoping it was going to be soon. It was like a month after I first won when I was doing my first fight. I was ready the day that I won because it was UFC 100 and I was like, "I'm ready to work. Throw me an outfit and I will walk in that freaking Octagon!" (Laughing) I was super excited about it. Yeah, it couldn't have come sooner for me.
PC: Was this a nerve-racking competition for you or did you just play it calm and let the chips fall where they may?
NW: It was exactly that. My whole outlook on life is you put it out there that you want something, but never be disappointed because if it doesn't work out, something else was supposed to happen. Everybody has amazing gifts and purpose in life, so it's just about being patient and waiting for it. I was like, if I won, great and I would be super excited and if I didn't, awesome for the girl that won and something different was going to happen for me. I wasn't nervous really at all and when it did happen, it was like overwhelming and very exciting.
PC: Have you had any star-struck moments yet?
NW: Um, honestly, I'm not a star-struck person. I don't know. I can't even explain that. I definitely had a moment when I met Dana White where I felt kind of crazy actually. I was like, "I don't know what to say." I think the best way I can describe it was I felt like Will Ferrell in I believe it was Blades of Glory when he was like, "I don't know what to do with my hands." It was just kind of awkward like that. I was very excited. It was more like, "I'm the new Octagon girl and I hope he approves. I hope he's happy with the decision kind of a thing." But ever since then, he's been so nice.
PC: Not to take anything away from you, because I think you're a very attractive girl, but with so many beautiful girls in the same room, did you ever look around like, "Damn, she has this and she looks like that?"
NW: There were freaking beautiful girls; all 40 of us where very attractive girls. It was a very intense competition. I don't like to compare myself to other people. I don't consider myself better than anybody. I didn't know what they were looking for, but I tried to stay true to myself. I didn't come with a ton of makeup and straight glossy beautiful hair. I went as myself and the way that I felt most comfortable and honestly, I still look back and it's amazing to me. When I was standing in that room with 39 other girls and they were going over like what the winner would win, I'm thinking like, "This is anybody's competition." It was so close. But I really didn't look around and think anything less of myself or anybody. It was just like, "Okay, we'll see. What they're looking for is what they're going to get." It was a wide variety of beautiful girls there.
PC: What do you enjoy most about your job with the UFC and if anything, what do you see as a potential problem or something that could annoy or frustrate you?
NW: The most exciting thing
um
oh, that's a hard one to pinpoint. I love the traveling, I love sitting so close to the fights and it's an honor having people want your autograph and want your picture. That's very exciting. I love the girls, Arianny, Logan and our Octagon mom Leslie. I love the whole thing. Every time one fight is over, I'm like, "I can't wait until the next one." It's just very fun. I honestly can't think of anything annoying or frustrating. I have nothing negative I can say about it. I love everything about it.
PC: When it's your turn to display a round, do you get any butterflies or no?
NW: No. I'm sure I would be terrified if we were wearing heels, but because we're not, I have nothing to worry about. Actually, no, that's a lie. I tripped at this last one. They didn't show it of course, but there was this cable from one of the camera guys (laughing) and I sort of tripped over it. That was pretty funny. I would hate to fall, but if I did, it would be pretty funny. I would just laugh. I don't take myself too serious.
PC: We have to get him fired. Just kidding. What do you have going on outside of the UFC?
NW: Well, I'm a model locally here in Vegas and I also go-go dance at XS, which is a club here. I don't know if you know
where are you from?
PC: I am a long ways away from Vegas. I live in Louisiana.
NW: Oh, okay. We have a fight coming up there, right?
PC: I wish.
NW: I think, because there is one on September 16th.
PC: Oh yeah, that's in Oklahoma and then Dallas a couple days later. But I will be in Dallas so I hope to meet you out there.
NW: Oh, okay! Yes, absolutely! But yeah, I dance at a local club here. I love dancing. I could do cocktails and all of that stuff, but I totally prefer dancing over anything else. I love it. It keeps me busy. Dancing is Friday through Monday, so I'm there and throughout the week, I just do random modeling and stuff. I try not to keep myself too busy because I like to enjoy life and get outdoors. I'm only like 4 hours from California, so I try to make it out to the beach as much as possible. I'm a water baby all the way.
PC: Does your modeling and dancing revolve around the UFC now?
NW: Oh, absolutely! I definitely put the UFC before anything else. If they need me to work a convention coming up or a big gig, it definitely depends on if I'm working for the UFC at that time because that comes before everything else.
PC: You say it's an honor to take photos and sign autographs, but how has this all changed your life, if any?
NW: It's funny because I still feel the same. I can definitely see why celebrities don't go out as much I guess. I don't have a problem with it because it's not like I'm some huge, well-known person. It's usually when we are at the fights and then all of the fans are either staying at the same hotel or eating at the same restaurants and it's crazy. You never think it would be you. You never think it would be you that people want pictures with and autographs of and finding you on Facebook or whatever. It's definitely a change.
PC: Yeah, I have to fight them off too, so I know exactly what you're saying. I'm only kidding (laughing).
NW: There goes Percy. Get him (laughing)!
PC: Yeah, right. More like, "There goes Percy. Who cares?" (Laughing)
NW: (Laughing)
PC: And do you get hit on a lot and if so, does it bother you or is it something you've grown used to?
NW: It doesn't bother me. It's more of a flattering thing. And I don't think highly of myself. Nobody has been inappropriate or mean or anything. People tell you you're beautiful and things like that and it's definitely very flattering. You can't complain about that. Nobody can complain about people finding them attractive. If they do, then they
they
yeah! That's them (laughing).
PC: I have to ask you for my male readers are you single and are you looking?
NW: I am single and I never look. I'm not a girl that looks for a relationship. If something happens, then it happens. I enjoy life. I enjoy being single. I enjoy being in a relationship, but I never go looking for anything. I try to take it day by day, but yes, I am single and I don't have a type. Put that in there (laughing). I like real people. Real down-to-earth guys, fun guys, all sorts of guys.
PC: What is your workout and diet regimen? There's a fee if you say you eat chocolate and still look like that.
NW: Oh, I definitely eat chocolate. I think me and Logan are in a competition every time we're at the fights. It's like, "We need chocolate!" But I definitely workout. It's definitely a plus that I am active and I love to workout because I love eating. So it weighs itself out. I love running. I definitely get in the gym and do weights and stuff. You can't tell right now. I'm coming back from an injury so I lost a whole bunch of muscle. I broke my foot and I was out for like 3 months. I rock climb and surf or whatever and have never broken anything and then I miss a step walking down 2 little stairs and broke 3 metatarsals in my left foot. That was about 6 months ago.
PC: Are you okay now. Is everything back to normal?
NW: Oh yeah! I'm running again and everything. Nothing keeps me down too long (laughing).
PC: I've taken up a lot of your time, so I will get you out of here with this question. How would Natasha Wicks fair in a fight?
NW: How would I fair in a fight? Good question! Honestly, I have never been in a fight. I'm more of a lover than a fighter. But I think I can be pretty crazy. I think I could hold my own.
PC: I appreciate your time. I have to thank my boy SanSan for putting me in touch with you. I love your personality so stay a sweetheart. Is there anything else you want to say in closing?
NW: No, I think we covered everything. Thank you!
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]