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Early career
At sixteen, Candice Beckman, as she was then known, won a modeling competition at her local skating rink.[14] Around 1999, she moved to Los Angeles, California to become a professional model and actress.[15][16] She studied Theater Arts at Santa Monica College and had on camera acting and Meisner technique training at The Piero Dusa Acting Studio.[17] It was during this time that Beckman adopted her middle name Michelle as her working last name.[2][18] She appeared in numerous bodybuilding and car magazines such as FLEX and Lowrider Magazine, as well as being named Cyber Girl of the Week in the June 2002 issue of Playboy.[2][19][20] Candice also worked as a foot fetish and bondage model for FM Concepts, under the pseudonym Mackenzie Montgomery.[21][22][23] During this time, Candice made appearances on television programs such as Party of Five and 7th Heaven, as well as appearing in such films as Tomcats, Anger Management, DodgeBall and A Man Apart.[24] She also starred in a softcore role for the HBO series Hotel Erotica.[22]
World Wrestling Entertainment
Debut and Vince's Devils (2004–2006)
Main article: Vince's Devils
In July 2004, Candice auditioned to be a contestant for World Wrestling Entertainment's Raw Diva Search.[4][25] Despite not being chosen to be in the final ten,[4] she was hired by the company under the gimmick of a makeup artist.[1][8] She competed on Raw in several Diva contests, including lingerie fashion shows and limbo contests, until the end of the year.[26][27]
On June 30, 2005, Candice was moved to SmackDown! where she became involved in a storyline between Torrie Wilson and Melina.[1][28] On July 24, Candice made her pay-per-view debut at The Great American Bash where she served as the Special Guest Referee for the Bra and Panties match between Wilson and Melina.[29] She was then moved back to Raw in a trade along with Wilson.[30] In her next storyline, Candice and Torrie became villains by taunting 2005 Diva Search winner Ashley Massaro, and they joined forces with fellow Raw Diva Victoria to form an alliance known as Ladies in Pink (later Vince's Devils). They continued feuding with Massaro until Trish Stratus returned from a legitimate injury to help Massaro "retaliate" against Vince's Devils.[31] In November, Candice signed on to pose for the April 2006 issue of Playboy.[12] She had her first shot at the WWE Women's Championship in a Fulfill Your Fantasy Battle Royal at Taboo Tuesday but was eliminated from the match by Massaro.[32]
In January, Candice appeared at New Year's Revolution in the first ever Bra and Panties Gauntlet match, where she was eliminated by Maria.[33] After winning a number one contender's Diva battle royal on Raw, Candice got her first singles WWE Women's Championship match, but lost to then-champion Trish Stratus on February 27.[34][35] After the match, Candice slapped Wilson, blaming her, in storyline, for the loss.[35] Vince's Devils later broke up when Wilson became a fan favorite after Candice and Victoria turned on her during Candice's Playboy cover unveiling.[12] This feud led to a match at WrestleMania 22 in which both Playboy cover girls competed in a Playboy Pillow Fight.[36] Wilson won the match, but the feud continued sporadically in backstage segments where Candice was depicted as Vince McMahon's "sex slave".[37]
Pursuit of the Women's Championship (2006–2007)
Candice as the Women's Champion
At sixteen, Candice Beckman, as she was then known, won a modeling competition at her local skating rink.[14] Around 1999, she moved to Los Angeles, California to become a professional model and actress.[15][16] She studied Theater Arts at Santa Monica College and had on camera acting and Meisner technique training at The Piero Dusa Acting Studio.[17] It was during this time that Beckman adopted her middle name Michelle as her working last name.[2][18] She appeared in numerous bodybuilding and car magazines such as FLEX and Lowrider Magazine, as well as being named Cyber Girl of the Week in the June 2002 issue of Playboy.[2][19][20] Candice also worked as a foot fetish and bondage model for FM Concepts, under the pseudonym Mackenzie Montgomery.[21][22][23] During this time, Candice made appearances on television programs such as Party of Five and 7th Heaven, as well as appearing in such films as Tomcats, Anger Management, DodgeBall and A Man Apart.[24] She also starred in a softcore role for the HBO series Hotel Erotica.[22]
World Wrestling Entertainment
Debut and Vince's Devils (2004–2006)
Main article: Vince's Devils
In July 2004, Candice auditioned to be a contestant for World Wrestling Entertainment's Raw Diva Search.[4][25] Despite not being chosen to be in the final ten,[4] she was hired by the company under the gimmick of a makeup artist.[1][8] She competed on Raw in several Diva contests, including lingerie fashion shows and limbo contests, until the end of the year.[26][27]
On June 30, 2005, Candice was moved to SmackDown! where she became involved in a storyline between Torrie Wilson and Melina.[1][28] On July 24, Candice made her pay-per-view debut at The Great American Bash where she served as the Special Guest Referee for the Bra and Panties match between Wilson and Melina.[29] She was then moved back to Raw in a trade along with Wilson.[30] In her next storyline, Candice and Torrie became villains by taunting 2005 Diva Search winner Ashley Massaro, and they joined forces with fellow Raw Diva Victoria to form an alliance known as Ladies in Pink (later Vince's Devils). They continued feuding with Massaro until Trish Stratus returned from a legitimate injury to help Massaro "retaliate" against Vince's Devils.[31] In November, Candice signed on to pose for the April 2006 issue of Playboy.[12] She had her first shot at the WWE Women's Championship in a Fulfill Your Fantasy Battle Royal at Taboo Tuesday but was eliminated from the match by Massaro.[32]
In January, Candice appeared at New Year's Revolution in the first ever Bra and Panties Gauntlet match, where she was eliminated by Maria.[33] After winning a number one contender's Diva battle royal on Raw, Candice got her first singles WWE Women's Championship match, but lost to then-champion Trish Stratus on February 27.[34][35] After the match, Candice slapped Wilson, blaming her, in storyline, for the loss.[35] Vince's Devils later broke up when Wilson became a fan favorite after Candice and Victoria turned on her during Candice's Playboy cover unveiling.[12] This feud led to a match at WrestleMania 22 in which both Playboy cover girls competed in a Playboy Pillow Fight.[36] Wilson won the match, but the feud continued sporadically in backstage segments where Candice was depicted as Vince McMahon's "sex slave".[37]
Pursuit of the Women's Championship (2006–2007)
Candice as the Women's Champion
