It is safe to say that everyone draws inspiration from just about anyone and anything when it comes to life influences. That is no different for the WWE Superstars. In a world unlike any other, characters come to life through the Superstars. It is almost like bringing the real world to fans in a sense.
Whether it be Rey Mysterio’s comic book inspiration for WrestleMania, Becky Lynch’s Kill Bill inspired attire, or Finn Balor’s Demon persona (to name a few); the Superstars are offering a piece of their inner selves through the characters.
With cosplay communities growing bigger with each convention, Superstars such as The New Day can be seen with their inspirations in and out of the squared circle. It is no different with Zelina Vega.
Fans who follow Vega on social media are familiar with her admiration for late R&B singer Aaliyah. Aaliyah was a bonafide pop star and actress in the making whose life was cut tragically short in a plane crash in 2001.
Vega’s devotion to Aaliyah is interesting because she could easily pass for the singer. Their looks are eerily similar. Look at Vega’s Instagram profile – Vega’s cosplays of Queen Akasha (Aaliyah’s lead role in Queen of the Damned) are sweetly haunting as she mimics the moves like a snake. Vega also shares her Aaliyah-inspired attire that she wore to the ring accompanying Andrade.
Vega’s NXT debut saw the petite beauty channel the iconic fashion from Aaliyah’s number-one single, “Try Again”. The debut also took place in her hometown of New York City.
Ironically, Vega’s career has been similar to Aaliyah in terms of a slow burn. The singer exploded onto the pop music scene in the late 90s, however she got her start in 1994 at the tender age of 14. She established a following as her career continued to grow.
Vega is no exception, especially when she competes in the ring. Also, Vega’s assistance to ensure Andrade’s success has been nothing short of amazing. She was the missing piece the former NXT Champion needed to go to the next level. For Vega, her striking beauty along with fierce attitude doesn’t go unnoticed by anyone who dares to cross the duo.
This past weekend, Vega paid tribute to Aaliyah by recreating some of Aaliyah’s most popular music videos. Vega was also present at Madame Tussaud’s in Las Vegas for the unveiling of Aaliyah’s wax figure.
Aaliyah was exotic and ahead of her time. She was described as “street but sweet”. Vega’s dedication to keeping the singer’s memory alive is the perfect antidote for her legacy. Seeing Vega draw inspiration from someone like Aaliyah fits so well with wrestling – being able to adapt just like a chameleon.
