Diva Dish: Beauty and brains
By Kara A. Medalis
Written: October 03, 2008

In this week’s Diva Dish, Eve celebrates her brother’s game show victory, Victoria shares tales of her Japan trip, Lena Yada remembers Sept. 11, 2001, Candice Michelle throws a hometown birthday party, Divas Champion Michelle McCool cheers on the home team, and Kelly Kelly films a commercial with Triple H.

Beauty and brains
It seems brains run in the Torres family. SmackDown Diva Eve — a University of Southern California graduate — told Diva Dish her brother, Phillip, recently won $100,000, thanks to putting his smarts to the test on a popular Fox game show.

“My little brother, who graduated from Cornell, was on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?,” Eve explained.

“I was so excited. It was so fun to watch him. He looked absolutely great on camera. He was having so much fun,” she said. “He did win $100,000, so who would have known that two Torres’ in one year would win $100,000?”

The 2007 WWE Diva Search winner said her brother got farther than any other Ivy Leaguer on the show by outsmarting the fifth grade panel. While Eve said both she and Phillip are intelligent in their own ways, she thinks he’s better-suited for the game show circuit.

“My brother is very, very intelligent. I feel we have a different sort of intelligence. He’s very good at trivia. He retains information,” she said. “For me, I’d say I’m smarter in math and science. Those are my strongest points. I think I got better grades than him, if that counts for anything!”

As for his winnings, Eve said her brother plans to splurge a bit on his family.

“He’s going to take out my sister and I for a nice dinner,” she said.

Tokyo tour
Victoria’s recent tour of Japan proved to be an extra-special one for the Diva.

“This whole trip was very surreal because I was following in the same footsteps as my mom and dad. It was a little bit more emotional for me than just work,” she said. “I got to go to Yokota Air Base. Coincidentally, that’s where my mom and Dad were stationed. It’s crazy!” (PHOTOS)

Victoria extended her three-day tour by another two days so she could enjoy Tokyo.

“It’s my favorite place, second to home. Tokyo is like a second home to me,” she said.

While in Japan, the Diva picked up a special kimono and slippers, which she said will soon be up for auction at auction.wwe.com.

“I think it’s sentimental. … I wanted to frame it and put it up, but it doesn’t match my furniture,” Victoria said. “I wanted the fans to experience what I experienced and own a piece of Tokyo.”

Never forget
While Lena Yada may be a resident of Los Angeles, the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy still hit home for the Diva, who was living in Chicago at the time of the terrorist attacks. A close friend was scheduled to be in the World Trade Center during the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, but by chance was not.

“That was the closest thing that ever happened to me — to possibly lose a close friend. So I don’t know how that would have impacted me. My heart goes out to all the people who lost their families and their loved ones,” she said.

To honor the victims of Sept. 11, the ECW Diva visited Pepperdine University’s Alumni Park, where almost 3,000 American flags were on display. (PHOTOS)

“For every person who lost their life, they erected a full-size flag, on a flagpole, in the yard. So at Pepperdine University, the whole front lawn was filled with just about 3,000 American flags,” Yada said.

“I think it was a great cause that the students decided to take this on themselves. All of the money was donated. All of the work was volunteered. It was their way of saying 9/11 was a really hard day, let us never forget that it happened,” she explained.

“I agree we shouldn’t forget about that day. It’s easy to, because it’s in the past and it’s easy to overlook it, but for the families going through the loss, living through the pain of the memories, it’s very real to them. It’s there every day for them. I thought it was a great gesture that these kids from Pepperdine did this.”

Hometown celebration
This past Tuesday, Candice Michelle celebrated her birthday while on tour with WWE. The day was especially meaningful because the Diva’s Wisconsin-based family was able to join her at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wis.

“It actually worked out, where everybody was at one show, and it was in Wisconsin! All of my family drove up and they were there,” the Raw Diva said.

“They made some really awesome shirts with my photo on the front that say: ‘Hotter, better, faster, stronger.’ And we’re going to go out, we’re going to celebrate. I plan to do it big. … I’m going to work hard and play hard,” said the Diva who will challenge Beth Phoenix for the Women’s Championship this Sunday at No Mercy.

The Wisconsin-native told Diva Dish she’s especially excited her hometown team — the Milwaukee Brewers — has made the Major League Baseball playoffs.

“I think they can win it all. They have a lot of confidence,” Candice Michelle said. “They haven’t been to the playoffs in a long time and I think once you get there, and you have that confidence there, you get a re-boost of energy to say, ‘Hey, we might be able to win this thing.’ So hopefully they’ll win!”

Gridiron girl
During a recent break at home in Florida, Divas Champion Michelle McCool cheered on the home team at Palatka High School.

“I always like to catch some high school sports and see some of the students I taught. And it’s football season! I caught a home game in Palatka, Florida, where they were victorious,” the All-American Girl said.

“I watched the game with my godson and his brother. There were a bunch of students I used to teach out there, playing their little hearts out. They won! It was exciting,” McCool smiled. “I’ve got that competitive spirit in me, and I just couldn’t sit in my seat.”

Commercial beauty
Kelly Kelly will star in a commercial to promote the upcoming WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 video game, which is set to be released Nov. 9.

“It was really, really cool,” the Raw Diva said. “I got to work with Triple H and we did a little skit, so we’ll have to see the finished product. It was fun!”

The Diva was sworn to secrecy about what exactly happens in the commercial, although she promises it’s funny, and entertaining.

“I got to do my entrance, my signature stuff,” she revealed.

Watch a preview of SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 and pre-order your copy of SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 at WWE Shop.

Credit: WWE.com