Daily Diva Search Blog By Ashley June 21, 2006
So today is Wednesday and I’ve just arrived here in L.A. I’m at the Ritz hotel and it’s absolutely gorgeous. I’m so excited to be here and I’ve been thinking a lot about how nervous these girls must be because I remember how nervous I was when I first arrived in L.A.

Tomorrow is the big day when they’re all going to get to see each other and meet us, of course. I know that day for me was particularly nerve-racking because the moment that I stepped foot off that elevator onto the ground floor of the hotel and saw 100 long-legged, beautiful, drop-dead gorgeous girls running around all in one place, I got on the phone like to my guy friends from back home and was like “yo, you would die if you were here, I didn’t know what I am doing here this might not go as planned.” 

I remember I was just dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe there were so many hot chicks there. You don’t feel as big and confident and strong as you do when you walk in that door, you’re not going to feel that strong confidence, but what I’m telling the girls is don’t let it trip you up because I felt the same way, and look where I am now. And who knows, I didn’t think when I walked in that door the first day of the casting that I was going to win the competition. I didn’t think I was going to get chosen for the top eight, and I almost didn’t, but the slightest thing can change a mind. Jonathan Coachman said it last year, I didn’t almost make the first cuts, and when I came back the second day, they decided they loved me. It just goes to show you that you should be yourself, be natural, have fun with it and don’t get discouraged because I know how it’s going to feel walking in that first day. Casting is pretty brutal; they want to make sure that you can do this. I feel for them, but I’ll be there cheering them on and scrutinizing people, I will be scrutinizing, trust me.

TUESDAY, JUNE 20
Today is Tuesday and I’m at the arena for the SmackDown taping, and I’m getting ready for my big trip out to L.A. tomorrow with The Miz to start the preliminary eliminations for the casting for the Diva Search Competition, which I’m really excited about. It’s going to be nice to be on the other side this year. But I feel for those girls, because it’s definitely a brutal completion. More than anything else, though, it’s fun. That is the key. You have to have fun and don’t over think things. I think that when I get there, if I get the chance to talk to them, which I’m sure I will at some point, that I am going to tell them that the key is to relax and have fun with it.

I’m also excited that The Miz is going out there, and that I’m going to be his co-host. He’s a lot of fun to work with. He hosted our bikini contest last week. He’s got a lot of energy, personality and charisma. And he’s fun. I know it’s going to be a good time.

It’s only Tuesday, so I have a couple more days. It’s going to be at the Ritz this year. I’m really excited about that. I also want to get down to it and see what we got. I’m excited to see what kind of possible future talent we might have from that group of girls. From what I understand there are quite a few that are going to be there, about 100. But be sure that I will do my share and my responsibility to bring you eight worthy competitors. And they will not only be smoking, but also athletic and I must get the sense that they can fight because we need some tough chicks.