WOMEN’S wrestling is having a major moment in sports halls and gyms up and down the country. Call it the effect of Netflix series Glow, or the fact that mainstream companies such as World Wrestling Entertainment and All Elite Wrestling have been forced to catch up with a fast-growing female audience. Every wrestler has a story to tell, and for women who have often been subject to abuse or dealing with mental health issues – wrestling is a way to build yourself up from that. Our three women wrestlers are all friends and each have their own reasons how they came to the sport.
Being leered at and objectified was par for the course. The endings are still pre-determined but the matches are infinitely watchable. Wrestling is a huge growth sport with it’s current reputation is one of serious respect and admiration. All hail female wrestling.
Videography: Jordi Castan
Photograph: Heather Favell
Photograph: Heather Favell
Candy, 19 years old – real name, Amy – is an independent British Professional Wrestler and is tipped for major success. From the age of 15, she was also a full-time carer looking after her mother, who recently passed away from cancer. For Amy, wrestling has been a diversion and also a motivation.
Photograph: Heather Favell
At the age of 18, she travelled to Japan and wrestled for Stardom for 2 months. Recently, she’s performed for the WWE at the NXT UK shows. Her path to success has been a combination of motivation tempered with determination and a whole mix of worlds colliding. Chakara has built herself up to be a fiercesome opponent. She got into wrestling because her mum loved it. Kamikaze, fighting female champion Chakara performed in the last how of the year at The Arthouse, Leicester
Photograph: Heather Favell
Lexi Rose, recently married, is 30-year-old TV producer and says wrestling has helped her come to terms with mental health issues. ‘There’s a lot to be said for women feeling empowered by their physical strength and having the power to throw a male opponent,” she says.
Women’s wrestling previously had an especially bad rap in a historically sexist, hyper-masculine world and with set up matches and dummy moves.
Photograph: Heather Favell
Director: HEATHER FAVELL
Art Direction, Design, Concept: LIZ SHEPPARD
Hair: RICHARD SCORER at PREMIER HAIR and MAKEUP
Makeup: KIM BROWN at PREMIER HAIR and MAKEUP
Videographer: JORDI CASTAN
Film editor: CHRIS BROWN
Lighting: LEE GRUB
Digi tech: LIAM AYOTT
Wrestlers: CHAKARA, CANDYFLOSS, LEXI ROSE
Photographed at: KNUCKLOCKS GYM, BRIXTON
Thanks to: OISIN BYRNE