Growing up as a huge fan of World Wrestling Entertainment (also known as WWE), I can say that the female roster is more impressive than ever. Twice a week, I sit down without fail and watch as the biggest names in women’s wrestling jump off the top turnbuckle of the ring and execute difficult moves with ease, entertaining thousands of fans in packed arenas. Put simply: their athleticism is off the charts.

While I’m in complete awe of their wrestling abilities, I also love the fanfare of it all. Alongside New Year’s Eve-worthy pyrotechnics and incredible theatrical outfits, beauty plays a huge part in the storytelling, too, whether it’s subtly opting for a deeper shade of lipstick when a character turns ‘heel’ (meaning they’ve become something of a villain) or diamond-encrusted hairstyles that sparkle under the spotlight.

One person who knows the importance of aligning all aspects of their ‘look’ for the ring is Charlotte Flair. A 14-time world champion, winner of the 2025 Royal Rumble and set to headline the women’s main event at this year’s Wrestlemania (the Super Bowl of the wrestling world). Flair’s most notable and recognised nickname is ‘The Queen’, and this comes through the moment she steps into any arena.

Following a severe knee injury in December 2023, Flair was forced to take a year out of the ring in order to undergo surgery and recover. So, when I get the chance to interview her, there’s only one question I want to start with: how is she doing? There’s a short moment of silence as she thinks before answering: “2024 was probably the most challenging year that I’ve had since my little brother died in 2013,” she says.

“It really kicked my ass. But, it gave me perspective, time and clarity, and it made me realise that I still would choose [life as a wrestler] again and again and again.” While she acknowledges that some fans might’ve thought she’d come back ‘less than’ after a year out of the ring, that was never going to happen; she refused to give up. Just scroll through her Instagram page and you’ll see snippets of the gruelling process of recovery she went through.

When it came to re-entering the ring earlier this year at one of WWE’s most iconic premium live events, Royal Rumble, Flair worked with her glam squad to try different make-up finishes and techniques and see what worked best. “The look has been very basic and consistent since my first ever debut – not over the top, though I love winged eyeliner. But since I’ve been back, I’ve really made the effort to add a pop of colour.” Just look at the incredible diamond-encrusted winged liner on Charlotte’s WrestleMania promo poster.

“On my first night back, I really wanted to try more lightweight make-up because I prefer no make-up when I’m outside of the ring. I did a lightweight foundation but realised I was very dewy on camera. So, as the weeks have gone by, I’ve literally tried something different every week, like adding a pop of colour or more highlighter.

“What I’ve come to realise is that what I really like is a matte look with a pop of colour on the eyes specifically. Also, I love sparkle, especially when paired with the gear and the robes. Oh, and I love an ombré lip.” So what products does Flair rely on to achieve a matte finish that, vitally, also won’t budge when she’s in the ring?

“Setting powder,” she says, like the One Size Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder. Citing additional brands like Nars, Mac Cosmetics, Charlotte Tilbury, Dior and Chanel, Flair also stresses that her make-up artist’s kit covers both higher-end and more affordable products, as the most important aspect of her beauty looks is finding what works best. “I love the Kylie Cosmetics High Gloss,” she says, adding that she’s wearing it right now. “I have to use a setting spray because I get so oily, and in my job, I sweat a lot. My glam team uses the Morphe Continuous Setting Mist when my foundation is still ‘wet’, so before any powder. I have a bottle of it at home that I use myself, too. And then at the end of a glam session, [I use] the Kryolan Fixing Spray.”

Flair is instantly recognisable in the ring, thanks to her long blonde hair. Behind the camera, though, she jokes that she’s known for being “a little messy and disheveled”. “I really wanted to come back with a different look, and so I opted for this ombré finish [to my hair colour],” she says. “This is not the final form. I have sew-in extensions, and it has been a nightmare to get them to match, but it’s a process. I’ll see where [the colour] ends up.”

While Flair is clearly involved in the process behind her in-ring beauty looks, what strikes me most is how much she comes alive when discussing skincare. “I’m a skincare junkie,” she proclaims. But as any skincare expert would attest, Flair believes that the most important step to any routine is consistency.

“I use retinol, and some days, my make-up artist points out that I’m peeling slightly. If I’ve overdone it, I’ll sleep in Eucerin’s Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm, and I often do it the night before a show. You know in Mrs Doubtfire, when he puts the pie on his face? That’s what I look like when my face is smothered in Aquaphor. But it really does the job and helps with the flaking, and I know my make-up artist appreciates it.

When I ask Flair about her absolute skin non-negotiable, she answers quickly: “Oh, I have to wash off my face. I have sensitive skin and always carry Alastin’s Gentle Cleanser, which I have used since I started making money. I know it can be expensive. If I’m opting for something affordable, it’ll be Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser Wash. For moisturiser, I love the one in Olay’s Total Effects range or Alastin’s Skin Nectar. I’m also really into oils right now. I buy rose seed oil or vitamin E oils and apply them under my moisturiser. At first I was worried that the Aquaphor and oils would break me out, but no. If anything, it keeps me hydrated.

“Another brand I swear by and always have in my bag is SkinCeuticals – I swear by it, especially the SkinCeuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair, because my lips get really dry from drinking lots of coffee and travelling a lot for work.”

Speaking of travel, I ask Flair if she has any go-to products for long-haul flights between shows and premium live events. “Oh my gosh, the Sisley Black Rose Face Mask. Even though you should wipe it off after 15 minutes, I put that on once I sit on the plane and just sit in it for eight hours. It’s perfect when your skin feels dry or dehydrated. I also think my lifestyle helps; I probably drink a gallon of water a day. I love wine, but I don’t drink much soda.

“There’s also the SkinCeuticals Biocellulose Restorative Mask. It’s pretty expensive and I wouldn’t put it on before make-up, but it really does the job post-make-up.” Another step Flair is conscious of before make-up is dermaplaning. “It just helps the make-up melt onto skin, and it applies so much smoother,” she says.

Flair’s skincare knowledge goes far beyond products. She tells me that she has recently started doing facial exercises and relies on a morning gua sha session to promote lymphatic drainage. “People forget that your face is a muscle. I run the gua sha along my cheekbones and my jaw line, then from the ear down my neck to flush away any fluid. I feel like I get puffy from all of the travelling I do, or if I only get three or four hours of sleep. So this helps me and stops my face from feeling tight. I wish I had started all of these skincare steps at 30, but it has really made a difference.”

While I could easily sit and chat about beauty all day long with Flair, I get the signal that our interview time is drawing to a close. But before I let her go, I have to ask: with everything she has achieved already, what does she want her WWE legacy to be? “I hope to inspire women and women in any industry to never settle for anything less. Know your worth, what you stand for, and stay true to your brand. If it’s something truly you want, don’t make excuses, just get there. And also, to be the greatest of all time.” I’d say she’s already there, but here’s hoping 2025 sees her become a 15-time champion, too.

WWE is available to watch on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, including RAW, SmackDown, NXT, all Premium Live Events and the WWE archive. WrestleMania 41 will take place on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 April 2025 and can be streamed live via Netflix.

Images: courtesy of WWE; brands