Arianny Celeste, recently named to the prestigious Bounding Into Sports top 10 list of hot ring girls in the fight business, is sadly retiring from that role.
Because, as the ladies and Aretha Franklin know, it’s all about respect.
Spell it for us, Reverend Al …
Celeste is hanging up the bikini and has taken her last walk as a ring girl for the UFC. In exchange, she’ll take on a new role with UFC in the form of a new travel show. A show she hopes will bring her some of that, as Sharpton said, R-E-S-P-I-E-C-T-X-Y-Z.
“I think there comes a time where you’re just like, ‘OK, I’ve been doing this for, man, like 18 years almost, 20 years. So what’s next? What can I do within the company that’s going to make me valuable, but also catapult me to where I’m a little bit more respected in the community, maybe?” Celeste told MMA Junkie.
“Yes, it’s cute to walk around in a bikini, but can I do that forever and still be respected?” she said before adding, “obviously I like to keep it classy and sexy, but there just comes a time where you’ve got to move on, I think.”
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Arianny Celeste: I Outgrew The Ring Girl Thing
Arianny Celeste’s career as a UFC ring girl took off in 2006, quickly establishing herself as a prominent figure in the field.
She earned the title of “Ring Girl of the Year” at the World MMA Awards for four consecutive years from 2008 to 2011. She would go on to win twice more.
But, she indicates she’s matured beyond just being a ring girl.
“I feel like I outgrew the whole ring girl thing and I became a woman – I became a mom and I was like, ‘There has to be something that I can do that’s a little bit more fulfilling within the company,’” she said.
We’d like to just add one quick note – Being a woman and a Mom never stopped her from being really good at what she did before.
Just sayin’.
Arianny Celeste’s quest for respect comes following a dustup between Luke Barnatt, a former UFC middleweight fighter and current MMA commentator, and UFC content creator Nina-Marie Daniele.
Barnatt insisted Daniele didn’t need to lower her standards by promoting the fact that she’s attractive. Daniele told Barnatt to essentially, GTFOH.
“I don’t think posting sexy pics tarnishes my brand at all,” Danielle told Barnatt. “Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot post? If you don’t like my content. Block me.”
Here are Danielle and Celeste together. Because why not?
Could She Return?
To some degree, Arianny Celeste is taking the advice of Barnatt by choosing to seek respect in the UFC community rather than simply being ogled by fans.
Still, she provided a glimmer of hope to the men.
“I wouldn’t mind (one final time as ring girl),” she told MMA Junkie. “I still feel great in a bikini and I work out all the time, so it’s not a matter of if I’m ready.”
“But I guess if the fans would want to see it, they have to ask the boss.”
