Life at OU

The Post: Where are some of your best memories from OU?

Valerie Waugaman: The dorms. Living in a coed dorm was awesome. It was really fun to have the dynamic of guys and girls and the whole stresses that you go through when you are in your first and second years of college. There were lots of times at the dining hall with friends eating endless bowls of cereal after we ate our meals. I don’t know why we did that, but I remember those things.

Post: What dorm did you live in?

Waugaman: Boyd Hall on the West Green, I think it was.

Post: Where were your favorite places to hang out?

Waugaman: Yeah, um, I am trying to think of the names now. It begins with a C. The C.I. maybe? Was that what it was called? I loved that place. I think that was my favorite … And I loved Pita Pit … After you’d go out and you’d drink a little bit, you’d got to have some food, and that would help fill you up and you would feel better, so we would stand in line at 2:30 in the morning eating Pita Pit.

Fitness girl

Post: How did you get into professional bodybuilding and fitness modeling?

Waugaman: (My restaurant associates and 1) went to the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio. It’s the biggest sporting event in the world. It was the first time I had ever seen a figure competition and it was sort of a new category because they’d had fitness and they’d had bodybuilding but figure was brand new … as soon as I saw those women on stage and how fit they were and how ripped they were I was just like ‘Wow, I want to look like that.’

Becoming Siren

Post: How did you become a gladiator?

Waugaman: I became a fitness model, still competed as a pro and that’s what led me to the Gladiator thing. The Gladiator company called me and said, ‘Would you try out for Gladiators?’ I didn’t even know it was coming back ... After I auditioned, there were interviews that followed and then they flew me to L.A. for the final audition process where you go through a lot of testing, and they picked me.

Post: What did you have to do for Gladiators tryouts?

Waugaman: We had to do a fitness test where how many pull ups can you do in a minute or 30 seconds and some speed tests but most of that I think was interview. I mean, they could see that I was strong, and with my resume, with the competitions, and you know, my sports background. But they wanted people who were comfortable in front of the camera, and because I had been competing on stage in basically a bikini and high heels, you get comfortable in front of a lot of people under pressure.

Post: Did you used to watch the show?

Waugaman: Oh yeah. I loved it. As soon as they called me I was like ‘What? It’s coming back? Heck yeah, I’ll try out.’ I always thought I could be on that show. So, it was kind of a natural path for me.

Post: How did you feel about being cast as Siren?

Waugaman: Basically, our characters were really us just amplified to the 10th power … They hired us because we already had characteristics of characters, and they kind of just tried to pick names that would suit our characters ... For me they picked Siren, and I liked it. That’s not what I picked originally, but I felt like I’m bold. I’m outgoing. Um, you know, I kind of create my own way of doing things … I’m loud and I’m sexy but I am also powerful and strong and confident and that’s to me what Siren is all about. So it works for me. Plus, I do have red hair.

Post: What was the original name that you had picked?

Waugaman: Charge, because I read a book a couple months back called Rhinoceros Success, and it’s all about charging through life like a rhinoceros — going after your goals. Don’t let things get in your way. Just keep charging and don’t be a cow like most people and let life pass you by and let things happen to you and be slow and sit in the pasture.

Post: Did you have a favorite event?

Waugaman: Yes. I actually thought that I was really not going to like doing Powerball, which is sort of football like where the contestants have to run and put balls into baskets and we try to tackle them … but when I was in it, my adrenaline got so pumped up and when I was tackling it was so fun. I couldn’t wait to do it again. Plus, it’s a team event so there’s a lot of energy.

Post: What was it like to work with show host Hulk Hogan?

Waugaman: I would have to tell you, he is really a cool guy. I mean just a wonderful person and he had to work hard … He basically developed a character that excited the crowd and got fans to watch and be involved, and he was helping us develop our own characters ... He didn’t have to do that, you know?

Achieving success as a collegiate athlete

George Mauzy, a media specialist with University Communications and Marketing, remembers Waugaman from his time when he was director of media services and athletics.

“Valerie always stood out. She worked hard. She was a gritty player. She was a tough player.

“She’s had a meteoric rise in figure modeling because she hasn’t done this very long, and this just falls in line with her career and will allow her to gain worldwide notoriety and bring some pride to Ohio University.

“It’s great that she’s been recognized. I’ve read a little bit about American Gladiators and what they were looking for and obviously they were looking for people in great shape but people who were also athletic and had charisma. People who they could sell to the public … who would create interest amount their viewing audience … there are thousands of people who have great bodies … but for her to be someone that they recognize as … special is outstanding … It will get her national attention and from here on out she’ll be a famous person forever. She’s been an American Gladiator. There are only a handful of people who ever had that recognition.”