What Are the Bella Twins Doing Now? All About Nikki and Brie Garcia's WWE Rise and Life After Wrestling

Mar. 15, 2025

Nikki and Brie Garcia as the Bella Twins at a WWE event. ; Brie Garcia and Nikki Garcia at the 75th Creative Arts Emmy Awards on January 7, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Photo:A&E/YouTube/JC Olivera/Variety/Getty Images

Brie Garcia and Nikki Garcia at the 75th Creative Arts Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live on January 7, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images)

A&E/YouTube/JC Olivera/Variety/Getty Images

NikkiandBrie Garcia, formerly known as The Bella Twins, have been open books since they burst onto the WWE scene in 2008 with their “twin magic.”

After growing up in Arizona, the sisters moved to Los Angeles and were officially signed to the WWE as The Bella Twins in 2007. Since then, the siblings have made their mark in the wrestling brand’s history asDivas Champions. In 2021, they were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, which Nikki described as a dream come true.

All the while, Nikki and Brie have been each other’s biggest support systems through the highs and lows. On Aug. 29, Nikki’s husband of two years,Dancing with the StarsproArtem Chigvintsev, was arrested and booked ona charge of corporal injury to a spouse. Although it wasn’t explicitly confirmed, Nikki was presumed to be the spouse in question and a rep later confirmed to PEOPLE thatshe filed for divorceon Sept. 11.

Nearly one month after his arrest, the Napa County District Attorney announced that Chigvintsev would not face criminal charges on Sept. 24. A day prior, Brie gave an update on how her sister was doing amid her divorce during an episode of their podcast.

“Nikki isn’t here because, as you all know,she’s going through something personalin her life,” she said. “But she sees all the support and love and we’re always grateful for all of your love and support, so thank you all for that.”

From their childhood to their WWE break and what they’re doing today, here’s everything to know about twins Nikki and Brie Garcia.

They grew up on a farm

Nikki Garcia and Brie Garcia as children.Nikki Bella Instagram

Nikki and Brie Bella

Nikki Bella Instagram

Born Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace and Brianna Monique Garcia-Colace, Nikki and Brie were welcomed on Nov. 21, 1983, 16 minutes apart.

Before stepping into a ring and starring in Hollywood projects, the siblings grew up caring for animals on their family farm in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“We were raised with horses, cows, and chickens,” Brie toldMuscle & Fitness. “We’d have to wake up before school and feed the animals, come home and feed the animals, and then go straight to soccer practice.”

She also recalled their mom,Kathy Colace Laurinaitis, keeping an eye on how they spent their free time.

Nikki was almost recruited for a professional soccer team in Italy

Nikki Bella attends as the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) presents the 47th annual Gracie Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on May 24, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California.Araya Doheny/Getty

Nikki Bella attends as the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) presents the 47th annual Gracie Awards at Beverly Wilshire

Araya Doheny/Getty

Speaking toMuscle & Fitness, Nikki and Brie revealed they both had a natural talent for soccer, with the former walking onto San Diego’s Grossmont College team.

Nikki eventually helped them win the Pacific Coast Conference championship, according to the outlet. She was also named the MVP,Forbesreported.

Although it was an exciting opportunity, Brie convinced Nikki to audition with her for the WWE Divas instead.

“When Brie started showing me what the women were doing at WWE, that’s my calling!” Nikki toldForbesin 2017. “I get to be athletic, and I get to entertain, and be larger than life and be this character. And I get paid for it? It was like God came down and said, ‘This is it!’ ”

They were initially rejected as WWE Divas

Brie Bella and Nikki Bella attend “This Means War” Los Angeles Premiere Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on February 8, 2012 in Hollywood, California.Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Brie Bella and Nikki Bella attends “This Means War” Los Angeles Premiere

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

In a 2017 interview withForbes, Nikki and Brie recounted moving to Los Angeles in 2005 to pursue their dream of getting into a wrestling ring together — but it took time and effort.

The sisters only had one car, so they had to coordinate auditions while juggling their day jobs. Nikki and Brie worked waiting tables, modeling for brands and landing small acting gigs to pay their bills. Still, when the duo got the chance to participate in the 2006 WWE Divas Search contest, producers weren’t interested in a twin act and passed on them.

Instead of accepting the rejection, Nikki and Brie asked for another opportunity and were officially signed to the organization in May 2007. “They flew us [to the developmental center] to see what we were like,” Brie toldMuscle & Fitness. “Sure enough, we got into the ring and fell in love with it.”

“He was a writer for WWE, and I feel like the writing team didn’t know exactly what to do with identical twins,” Brie said onThe Kelly Clarkson Showin 2020. “This was before social media existed, so the secret of being twins was something special.”

She continued, “Freddie’s like, ‘We’re gonna have one debut, one hide under the ring, they’re gonna do a twin switch at the end of the match, and then the fresh twin under the ring wins the match, but we’re gonna trick the audience … until we decide to debut the twins.’ Freddie came up with this genius idea that worked for months.”

They have wrestled each other

Brie Bella and Nikki Bella attend WWE’s First-Ever Emmy “For Your Consideration” Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, California.Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Brie Bella and Nikki Bella attend WWE’s First-Ever Emmy “For Your Consideration” Event

Jon Kopaloff/Getty

In 2014, Nikki and Brie were pitted against each other in aWWE storylinethat saw Nikki turning on her sister at a SummerSlam event, claiming that Brie never cared about her and always stole her spotlight.

Their feud played out on the small screen, with bothJerry SpringerandStephanie McMahongetting involved. Brie eventually lost a Hell in a Cell match to Nikki, which led to herbecoming Nikki’s personal assistantfor a month. They “reconciled” when Brie helped her sister to defeat A.J. Lee in a2014 Survivor Series match.

“It was a little hard [playing enemies] because Brie is so good at giving that sad face,” Nikki toldMuscle & Fitnessof their fictional rivalry. “When I was in the middle of the ring saying the most hurtful things, she was making me feel bad. I guess she was doing her job right!”

When asked if the storyline was difficult or cathartic in aHot Onesspecialcalled “Truth or Dab,” Brie chose to bite a spicy wing rather than answer the question.

They welcomed babies less than 24 hours apart

Nikki Bella and Brie Bella with their kids.Brie Bella Instagram

Nikki and Brie Bella with their kids

Brie Bella Instagram

Nikki gave birth to her first child,Matteo, on July 31, 2020 — only one day before Brie welcomed her second child,Buddy, on Aug. 1, 2020. (Brie also shares daughter Birdie Joe, born on May 9, 2017, with her husbandBryan Danielson.)

A few days later, Nikki posted about the happenstanceon X(formerly Twitter), writing, “I can’t believe Brie and I had boys less than 24 hours apart! … I can’t wait for our Bellas Boys to grow up together!”

Fast forward, in a July 2022 episode of theirThe Nikki & Brie Showpodcast, they revealed theirchildren had trouble telling them apart. Brie’s son Buddy often confused them, calling Nikki “Mama” instead of her nickname “Dodo.” But he would also call Brie “Dodo,” and she would have to correct him.

According to the twins, there are several tricks to identifying them. “I have two beauty marks on my chest, and our faces are shaped differently," Brie toldWWE Magazinein 2009. “We joke that I have more of a banana head, and Nikki has an apple head.”

In addition, the sisters have different body shapes. “I carry way more curves than Brie,” Nikki added.

They have overcome serious obstacles

Brie Bella and Nikki Bella attend the Entertainment Weekly & PEOPLE New York Upfronts Party on May 13, 2019 in New York City.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 13: Brie Bella and Nikki Bella of Total Bellas attend the Entertainment Weekly & PEOPLE New York Upfronts Party on May 13, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly & PEOPLE)

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Throughout their lives, Nikki and Brie have experienced different chapters together and leaned on each other during difficult periods.

The siblings opened up about some of their deepest and most personal struggles in their joint 2020 memoir,Incomparable. In the book, Nikki revealed that she had been raped twice as a teen.

“When that happened to me, I immediately just felt so ashamed and blamed myself, and that’s what made me want tokeep it such a secret,” she told PEOPLE in 2020.

The entertainer revealed that she ultimately decided to share her experience to help other women. “You can overcome this. You can be strong, you can be empowering, you can be free of your past,” she said.

As for Brie, she detailed the loss of her high school boyfriend, Bear, who was killed in a car accident. “Death is such a profound thingthat can happen to people,” she explained. “People come into your lives and they change you, and he did that. He changed me, spiritually.”

Of their shared pain, Brie later told PEOPLE, “It was crazybecause you’ll see from our perspectives, when life felt good. And then all of a sudden, we both, in our own personal lives, went through something really heavy and deep, but it got us to WWE.”

In her divorce petition, Nikki requested legal and physical custody of their sonMatteo, with Chigvintsev being allowed visitation rights. In response, Chigvintsev filed his own documentsseeking joint legal and physical custodyof Matteo as well asspousal supportfrom Nikki.

After she filed for divorce, a rep for Garcia told PEOPLE that “she continues to ask for privacy for her and her family at this time.”

They’re in the WWE Hall of Fame

Brie Bella and Nikki Bella attend SiriusXM’s Town Hall With The Bella Twins at SiriusXM Studios on November 19, 2021 in New York City.Mike Coppola/Getty

Brie Bella (L) and Nikki Bella attend SiriusXM’s Town Hall With The Bella Twins at SiriusXM Studios on November 19, 2021

Mike Coppola/Getty

In March 2021, Nikki and Brie were inducted into the prestigious WWE Hall of Fame.

“Dreams do come true,” Nikki captioned a photo of herself at the ceremonyon Instagram. “Never give up. Believe in yourself. Stay fearless. Stay humble. And empower and inspire along the way #halloffame.”

Brie shared similar sentiments on her Instagram Stories, writing, “Speechless. Grateful. Cloud nine. Are just some of the feelings I’m feeling!! So overwhelmed with emotions!!”

Nikki and Brie dropped their stage names in 2023

Nikki Bella and Brie Bella on the set of ‘Busy Tonight.'.Jordin Althaus/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

BUSY TONIGHT – Episode 1058 – Pictured: (l-r) Guest Nikki Bella and guest Brie Bella on the set of Busy Tonight – (Photo by: Jordin Althaus/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

Jordin Althaus/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Nearly 16 years after joining the WWE as The Bella Twins, Nikki and Brie announced in March 2023 that they were dropping their stage names and embracing their roots.

“Today we are officially, from here on out,the Garcia Twins, Brie and Nikki Garcia,” Nikki said in an episode of their podcast,The Nikki & Brie Show.

As Nikki explained, the decision, which came in the wake of their departure from the WWE, signaled a new chapter in their lives. “Let’s see what Brie Garcia is going to do next,” Brie added.

Since then, the twins have shifted their focus to several entrepreneurial endeavors, including taking their audio show on the roadwith live appearances. They also launched an offshoot of their podcast focused onLove Island USAcommentary,Spill the Tea.

In addition, they expanded their wine brand Bonita Bonita with new releases and opened theBonita Bonita Speakeasy Tasting Roomin Nashville, Tenn.

On-screen, Nikki and Brie have teamed up to host the Amazon Prime Video reality dating series,Twin Love. In the same vein, Nikki’s hosting duties on USA Network’s game showBarmageddoncontinued for a second season.

“We’re in this place of reclaiming our powerand making our own decisions," Nikki told PEOPLE in November 2023 about their time away from the ring.

source: people.com