Trish Stratus Says Vince McMahon “Hounded” Her to Pose for Playboy, But She Always Refused – WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus revealed that she was repeatedly asked — and even pressured — to pose for Playboy magazine during her career, but she never had any interest in doing so. Appearing on the Pod Meets World podcast, Stratus discussed her decision and made it clear that her on-screen persona didn’t reflect who she really was.
“No, it’s just not for me,” Stratus said. “I’m like a tomboy, even though I am known as a sex symbol, I suppose. That is not me. That is my character. It was not even an option. ‘That is not me.’ Even when I had to do lingerie stuff, it just wasn’t me. It was very put on.”
Stratus went on to explain that even during WWE’s annual Divas Magazine photoshoots — which were often done in swimwear — she was hesitant to participate in the more revealing shoots.
“One time, they had these annual magazines called the Divas Magazine, which was our Swimsuit Magazine, where we would go to exotic locations. I don’t know if it was budget cuts or ‘horny writer storylines,’ but suddenly, instead of the annual bikini issue, they wanted a lingerie issue, and I was like, ‘Eww.’ I didn’t want to do it. It felt so silly to me, so I made this whole sports lingerie look.”
When Playboy approached her, she immediately declined — despite constant pressure from then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.
“When Playboy came along, I was like, ‘Absolutely not interested.’ Vince (McMahon), oh my God, hounded me like crazy. He’s like, ‘It’s a great opportunity.’ I was shown during that time, ‘If you turn this down, we’re going to give your opportunity to her. Are you sure?’ ‘No, I still don’t want to do it. Thank you.’ They came to me for years and years, and I was like, ‘No.’ I do not regret it. It’s just not my thing. Now that I have a kid and everything, I can’t even imagine. That is my decision, and I stand by it.”
Trish Stratus, whose final WWE match took place at Elimination Chamber 2025, continues to stand firm on that choice — one she says fully aligns with her values and who she is outside the ring.
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Trish Stratus Says Vince McMahon “Hounded” Her to Pose for Playboy
