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Sass, class, and badass: Meet Chelsea Marie, the first transwoman pro wrestler in Southeast Asia
Gone are the days when women were seen as just prim and proper.
Today, women go the extra mile in professions that were once thought of to be unusual, go through life with an extra pop in our steps, and live as unapologetically who we truly are—and look fabulous while at it.
Enter Chelsea Marie, a model, rapper, dancer, trans activist, and the first transwoman pro wrestler in Southeast Asia under the Manila Wrestling Federation (MWF).
A true stereotype breaker, the Cavite native aims to show society that trans women should not be put in a box.
Chelsea said it perfectly herself. "I am sass and class but can kick some ass."
"We're not just, you know, pageant girls or girls who care about their looks. I mean, I still do, but at the same time, I want them to show that we can also be what you don't expect us to be," she told GMA News Online in an exclusive interview.
Starting out
For Chelsea, wrestling is a childhood dream that she never expected to happen.
She is a fan of watching wrestling, as well as action films and combat sports.
"I like the idea of badass women. And wrestling, when I first saw it, there's action, there is drama, there is branding. And girls are like—they look good and they could also fight. So I love that," she said.
As someone who is highly against violence, Chelsea saw wrestling as the middle ground for fighting and showing action and doing these safely despite the risk of getting injured.
Before Chelsea started training with the MWF, she has a background in taekwondo, volleyball, and has been a dancer her whole life.
"I only have to hone it again and train again," she said. "But the thing is, not just because I'm athletic, doesn't mean I'm good at pro wrestling right away. It's a different type of sport. So I had to learn the basics."
Being in a male-dominated industry, Chelsea admitted that she expected some judgment, but the total opposite happened. Right away, she was welcomed and treated like an equal.
"MWF isn't like that," she said.
Chelsea recalled a story of their head coach and current MWF champion Fabio Makisig.
"He told everyone that, 'there will be another trainee coming in. And [if] you have an issue with like, trans people or the LGBT community, then you leave,'" Chelsea said.
"That's how he tried to tell everyone that that's how it's going to be. That's the rules here. And I was surprised when I heard that he said that," she added.
Aside from the physical exercises, Chelsea would watch wrestling videos and would go to training with the mindset that there are always possibilities of pain and injury.
"I wouldn't [want to] sound like I'm bragging but for me, I was able to adapt easily," she said.
Being Chelsea Marie
When she successfully moved past the training stage and debuted with the name Chelsea Marie with the MWF, the celebratory announcement caused the crowd to go wild with Chelsea almost being moved to tears.
"I think it's the adrenaline of the moment. I knew what was gonna happen after winning. But I didn't know that [the overwhelming] amount of support [from] the crowd and tying with the announcement—it's just surreal, I would say my world stopped a little," she said.
And despite it being sports entertainment, Chelsea reminds everyone that wrestling is not fake. "The feels are real, the injuries are real."
Following her debut, Chelsea Marie heads into the ring in her red and gold gear, reminiscent of the Filipina superhero we all know and love.
"If I would wrestle overseas and they would see my gear, I could say that I'm inspired by the Filipino superhero."
And Chelsea is a hero, in her own way, what with the title of first transwoman pro wrestler in Southeast Asia.
The crazy good title
As the first transwoman pro wrestler, Chelsea admits that there is both pressure and also the honor that comes along with it.
"It's hard to like, try to make people see me as worthy of the title. I don't know why we put so much pressure when we're the first," Chelsea said. "But this is my childhood dream. I never thought I could wrestle and I could be a wrestler. So to be the first one, it's just crazy in one word. It's crazy. Crazy good."
But despite that pressure, Chelsea has been confident her whole life.
"I'm thankful that I have that because other people find it hard to find their self-confidence," she said. "I sometimes surprise myself as well."
"I guess I like challenges. I like proving people wrong. [I especially] like proving [to] myself that I can do things," Chelsea added.
To the young ones
With this crazy good title, she is able to represent the trans and LGBTQIA+ community and is seen as a role model to the young ones.
Growing up, Chelsea did not have role models to look up to. But now that she has made a name for herself as someone who is unapologetic and refuses to be put in a box, Chelsea hopes to be that inspiring figure for young people.
"I think I'm just the type of person that is like, if I don't have it, then I'm going to be one," she said. "So the future girls or future kids who [need] to see themselves in another person, to [gain] confidence and to love themselves—I will be that for them since I didn't have that."
Chelsea added, "I have kids who are not like the traditional trans—who are not in the traditional box of what transgender is—that would look at me and see me and would be inspired and would say that, 'I can do that too.'"
"And that's not just for the LGBT kids. It's also for like, females more especially. Because I'm not just representing the LGBTQ, I'm also representing the women."
For the young ones who are also unconventional and are working towards building self-confidence, Chelsea has this piece of advice, "f--- society."
"F--- society standards. Once you realize that you have the power within yourself, and you step away from the norms, you're gonna be unstoppable," she said. "That's true. I have proven that myself."
She also advised supporting other girls, starting within oneself, and breaking out of limiting beliefs.
"You have to find the strength to be the black sheep among the white ones. Because if you keep trying to be one of the white ones, especially still in today's political climate, you're still gonna be a minority," Chelsea said.
Dream on
Chelsea has made a name for herself as a pro wrestler, and has made several appearances, including an episode of "Family Feud" alongside colleagues Fabio Makisig, Crystal, and CJ Serafin.
Add to that would be how she is a passionate multihyphenate.
"But of course, we can't do everything at the same time, but I would also love to encourage people that if you have a lot of dreams, don't stop [at] just one," she said, adding to manage time and to reach goals.
To watch episodes of the Manila Wrestling Federation, visit manilawrestling.com and subscribe to Gank.
—MGP, GMA Integrated News
