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Profile: Candice Michelle
Despite not even making the final ten in the 2004 Diva Search, Candice Michelle was nonetheless hired by WWE to participate in occasional bikini contests or pillow fights, initially with the gimmick of a makeup artist on the Raw brand. In early 2005, her stock rose thanks to her appearance in a controversial GoDaddy.com commercial during Super Bowl XXXIX, in which her "wardrobe malfunction" parodied that of Janet Jackson at the previous year's sporting event. Candice began incorporating her "Go Daddy" dance move into her WWE appearances, and began receiving more air time.
In June of that year, she was briefly relocated to SmackDown as part of the WWE Draft Lottery, where she joined Torrie Wilson to feud with Melina and Jillian Hall, before returning to Raw with Torrie in a trade for Stacy Keibler and Christy Hemme. Turning heel, she and Torrie feuded with 2005 Diva Search winner Ashley, adding Victoria to their faction (known variously as the Ladies in Pink and Vince's Devils) while Trish Stratus, returning from injury, joined Ashley in the feud. During this time, Candice began carrying a fairy's wand to the ring and occasionally using it as a weapon.
After losing her first one-on-one shot at the Women's Title in February 2006, Candice blamed Torrie for the loss, and along with Victoria turned on Wilson to eject her from the group. After posing for the April edition of Playboy, Candice lost to former cover girl Torrie at WrestleMania 22 in a Playboy Pillow Fight.
Candice would go on to appear in several backstage segments as Mr McMahon's play thing, before turning babyface against Victoria and Mickie James and teaming several times with former rival Torrie. In early 2007, she would form part of Melina's feud against former Playboy models, and became a top challenger to her Women's Championship in May by pinning Melina in a non-title match.
Having debuted in WWE as little more than eye candy, receiving poor reviews for any in-ring activity, Candice Michelle has shown a marked improvement in her wrestling ability, stepping up her game in a division left in need of new stars following the retirements of both Trish Stratus and Lita in late 2006. Time will tell if she follows in Trish's footsteps, evolving from a bikini contest model to an acclaimed women's wrestler.
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