
Nikki Bella
professional wrestler•television personality
Also known as: Nikki Garcia
Birthday
November 21, 1983
Birth Sign
Scorpio
Birthplace
San Diego, California
Age
42 years old
Height
5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
About
Nikki Bella is an American professional wrestler and television personality. Born Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace, she rose to fame alongside her twin sister Brie as the Bella Twins, one of the most recognizable duos in WWE history. A two-time WWE Divas Champion, Nikki's second reign lasted 301 days, the longest in the title's history. In 2015, Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked her number one in the Female 50, and Rolling Stone named her Diva of the Year. She and Brie were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021. Outside the ring, Nikki starred in the reality series Total Divas and its spin-off Total Bellas, giving fans a candid look at her life. After a hiatus, she returned to WWE at the 2025 Royal Rumble. She also hosts the game show Barmageddon on USA Network and serves as Chief Margarita Officer for a tequila brand. Her fan base, known as the Bella Army, remains highly engaged.
Early Life & Background
Nikki and her twin sister Brie were born 16 minutes apart on November 21, 1983, in San Diego, California, to Jon Garcia and Kathy Colace. She is of Mexican and Italian descent. The family moved to a farm in Scottsdale, Arizona, where Nikki grew up. During elementary school, she and Brie played soccer for a local Scottsdale club. She attended Chaparral High School in Arizona, graduating in 2002. After high school, Nikki moved back to San Diego and enrolled at Grossmont College, where she continued playing soccer. After one year, she relocated to Los Angeles to pursue entertainment work. She worked as a waitress at the Mondrian Hotel while seeking an agent. Nikki began modeling and doing promotional work, landing her first national television appearance on the Fox reality show Meet My Folks. She and Brie were later hired as Budweiser's World Cup Twins, posing for promotional campaigns. In 2006, the twins tried out for the WWE Diva Search but did not make the finals. However, they impressed enough to receive developmental contracts in 2007. They made their in-ring debut on September 15, 2007, in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), defeating Nattie Neidhart and Krissy Vaine in a tag team match.
Career Growth
Nikki and Brie made their WWE main roster debut on SmackDown on August 29, 2008. Early on, they were involved in on-screen storylines with the Colons, John Morrison, The Miz, and Daniel Bryan. In February 2011, Nikki won a Battle Royale to become the number one contender for the Divas Championship. She won her first Divas Championship in April 2012 by defeating Beth Phoenix. Her second reign began later and lasted 301 days, setting a record for the longest Divas Championship reign. In November 2015, Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked her number one in the Female 50, and Rolling Stone named her Diva of the Year the following month. In 2013, Total Divas premiered on E!, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at her life. The spin-off Total Bellas followed. In 2016, she and Brie won a Teen Choice Award for Favorite Female Athlete. In 2018, she competed in the first Women's Royal Rumble, finishing second. After a hiatus, she returned to WWE at the 2025 Royal Rumble. She also hosts Barmageddon on USA Network and has appeared in over 20 films and TV shows, including guest spots on Psych and The Marine 3: Homefront.
Career Timeline
Public Image & Style
Nikki Bella cultivated a Fearless persona in WWE, known for her charisma, determination, and toughness. She and Brie are credited with helping inspire a new generation of female wrestlers and contributing to the Divas Revolution. Her fan base, the Bella Army, is highly engaged on social media. The Total Divas and Total Bellas reality shows expanded her brand beyond wrestling, making her a mainstream personality. She is seen as a role model for resilience, having overcome a neck injury to return to the ring.
Fame & Fandom
The community surrounding Nikki Bella has always been defined by a fierce, protective loyalty that transcends typical wrestling fandom. Known officially as the Bella Army, this group distinguishes itself through an organized digital presence and a deep emotional investment in the twins' personal narratives, from their reality television journey to their athletic triumphs. Fans actively rally behind Nikki during major life events, such as her post-divorce recovery and business launches, creating a supportive ecosystem that feels more like family than a standard audience. This dedication was evident in how the fanbase mobilized across social platforms to champion her ventures, turning casual viewers into devoted advocates who treat every update as a shared milestone.
Nikki's standing in global pop culture remains exceptionally high, reflecting a career that successfully bridged professional wrestling and mainstream entertainment. Her current prominence is quantified by the 14th most famous person in Reality TV, a position she holds steady within the latest cycle of the iFANN Global Fame Rankings. This placement underscores her enduring relevance as a cultural figure whose influence spans decades of media coverage and consumption signals worldwide.
Interesting Facts and Legends
Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace entered the world 16 minutes before her twin sister Brie, setting the stage for a lifelong partnership. Before finding fame in the ring, she played soccer at Grossmont College in San Diego and worked as a waitress at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles. Her first national television appearance occurred on Meet My Folks, and she and Brie once served as the Budweiser World Cup Twins. She is widely known for her catchphrase "Fearless" and leads the dedicated fanbase called the Bella Army.
Legends of the WWE often retell the intense rivalry between Nikki and Paige, which culminated in a legendary atmosphere at SummerSlam 2016 where the crowd chanted in unison. A pivotal moment in wrestling history occurred when Nikki became the first woman to win the Money in the Bank ladder match in 2017, breaking barriers in the process. More recently, the narrative took a dramatic turn in August 2026 with a shocking heel turn against her sister Brie on SmackDown, an event that quickly became a defining chapter in modern wrestling lore before her eventual retirement announcement.
Notable Quotes
“I am fearless, and I will never give up.”
“The Bella Twins changed the game for women in WWE.”
“I want to inspire women to chase their dreams.”
“My son Matteo is my biggest motivation.”
“Total Bellas showed the real me, not just the character.”
Family & Personal Life
Nikki's parents are Jon Garcia and Kathy Colace. She has a brother named JJ Garcia. Her twin sister Brie is married to WWE star Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan). Nikki has one son, Matteo Artemovich Chigvintsev, born July 31, 2020, with ex-husband Artem Chigvintsev. She has shared that family values are important to her, and she often posts about her son on social media.
Notable Connections
Nikki is best known for her partnership with her twin sister Brie Bella as the Bella Twins. She was engaged to John Cena from 2012 to 2018 and married to Artem Chigvintsev from 2022 to 2024. She has worked closely with Natalya Neidhart and Daniel Bryan (her brother-in-law).
Relationships & Dating History
Nikki dated fellow WWE superstar Dolph Ziggler from 2008 to 2010. She then entered a high-profile relationship with John Cena in 2012; Cena proposed at WrestleMania 33 in April 2017, but they separated in 2018 and called off the engagement. She began dating professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev after meeting him on Dancing with the Stars. They got engaged in November 2019, welcomed a son Matteo in July 2020, and married on September 3, 2022. The couple divorced in 2024. As of 2026, Nikki is reportedly engaged to an unnamed partner, though details remain limited.
- DatedDolph Ziggler2008 - 2010Dated early in her WWE career.
- EngagedJohn Cena2012 - 2018Cena proposed at WrestleMania 33; separated in 2018.
- MarriedArtem Chigvintsev2019 - 2024Met on Dancing with the Stars; married September 3, 2022; divorced 2024; one son Matteo.
Salary, Net Worth In 2026
$10 Million
iFANN Editorial Team estimate
As of 2026, iFANN currently estimates Nikki Bella's net worth at $10 Million. This financial standing reflects a diverse portfolio built over years of visibility and entrepreneurship. Her wealth stems primarily from her tenure as a two-time WWE Divas Champion and her extensive earnings from the reality series Total Divas and its spin-off Total Bellas. Beyond television, she has leveraged her brand through hosting duties on Barmageddon and strategic endorsement deals. Notably, she serves as Chief Margarita Officer for a tequila brand and has expanded into podcasting and merchandise sales. Additional revenue streams include her role in launching a new wine brand alongside her sister. Her net worth has grown steadily since her debut, driven significantly by the mainstream exposure gained through reality television and her successful transition into post-WWE business ventures.
Awards Won (1)
Nikki Bella won a Teen Choice Award for Favorite Female Athlete in 2016, shared with her sister Brie. She was ranked No. 1 in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Female 50 in 2015 and named Diva of the Year by Rolling Stone in 2015.
2016 · Favorite Female Athlete
Total Divas
Known For
WWE Divas Champion
2012 · Wrestler
Total Divas
2013 · Herself
Total Bellas
2016 · Herself
Barmageddon
2022 · Host
Keywords
Sources
Quick Facts
- Profession
- professional wrestler, television personality
- Born
- +1983-11-21
- Birthplace
- San Diego
- Gender
- Female
- Spouse
- Artem Chigvintsev
- Birth Sign
- Scorpio
Personal Details
- Full Name
- Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace
- Height
- 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
- Spouse
- Artem Chigvintsev
- Children
- Matteo Artemovich Chigvintsev (born July 31, 2020)
- Education
- Grossmont College
Filmography
20
Total
5
Film
15
TV
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Nikki Bella's net worth in 2026?
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