Some people wait for permission to take up space. Others build the space themselves.

For Alisha Smith, stepping into professional wrestling was never just about performance. It became proof that she was capable of more than people expected from her.

Based in Chula Vista, California, Alisha’s story is rooted in belief, resilience, and the power of representation.

“What pushed me to take pro wrestling seriously ,was a conversation I had with my mother in which she told me,’there’s nothing you can’t do’, not as a moment of motivation, but rather her own personal realization after seeing me take on this sport along with many off skills.”

Professional wrestling demands physical endurance, discipline, and mental toughness, but there’s also an invisible side to the work that audiences rarely see.

“What people do not see behind my performance is the unseen work that I constantly put in. I study wrestling outside of training for several hours at a time ,but this is something kept away from the physical aspect of wrestling.”

Like many athletes carving their own path, Alisha has faced moments designed to shake her confidence. Instead of allowing doubt to define her, she transformed it into motivation.

“A moment that tested me mentally was when I was still early into my experience with pro wrestling, approaching my first test, one of the coaches approached me and told me he, along with many other do not think I’ll pass. Being told this 4 days before my test was very discouraging but rather than focusing on proving him wrong, I switched my mentality to prove myself right instead.”

Right now, her focus is bigger than titles or validation.

“I am currently working toward achieving peace. I’ve been seeking peace for a long time ,and I’ve been diligently working for it ever since”

Representation remains central to everything she hopes to see in media and culture moving forward.

“Something I wish I saw more of in media is black women. I wish more black women were in every single piece of media because without representation, it’s difficult for younger generations of black women to build up the courage to at least attempt something new”

That same sense of purpose is what drew her to Orbit Utopia in the first place.

“I want to be featured in Orbit Utopia because as a black woman, I love supporting other black women especially those who are starting something new. The caption on the video I saw also resonated with me. I believe the action of building your own space because you cannot find a space for yourself is very powerful and opening your space to others such as myself is even more powerful.”

Follow Alisha Smith’s journey here:

https://www.instagram.com/phroqz