Leah Van Dale’s Journey from WWE Superstar to Wellness Advocate with Snatch

Leah Van Dale, known to WWE fans as Carmella, has transitioned from the high-energy world of professional wrestling to building Snatch, a wellness brand dedicated to empowering women through motherhood. With a background as a dancer, NFL and NBA cheerleader, and WWE superstar, Leah’s diverse experiences have shaped her authentic approach to her career and personal brand. In this Haute Living exclusive, she shares how her journey inspired Snatch, the challenges of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and her must-have products for new moms.

Photo Credit: Lauren Alexis Rodriguez

HAUTE LIVING: From your early days as a dancer and professional cheerleader to becoming a WWE superstar, how have your diverse experiences in fitness and performance shaped your approach to your career and personal brand?

LEAH VAN DALE: From my earliest days as an NFL and NBA cheerleader to stepping into the WWE ring, performance has always been at the center of my life. What’s funny is that I grew up painfully shy, so being on stage or in front of a crowd became this outlet where I could channel a stronger, more confident version of myself. That love of performing has shaped not just my career but also my personal brand — I learned early on how to carry myself as a professional, represent major organizations, and thrive under pressure.

Now, for the first time, I feel like I get to take all of those experiences and show up as just me. After years of being under a microscope and living within the expectations of huge companies, it’s been liberating to build something authentic on my own terms. Social media can feel so curated and unrealistic, and I want to use the platform I’ve built to share the real, unfiltered side of life. That authenticity has helped me connect with people in a way that feels much more personal and meaningful.

Photo Credit: Courtesy

HL: Snatch is deeply personal, inspired by your journey. What motivated you to create this wellness brand, and how do you hope it empowers women navigating similar challenges?

LVD: Snatch was born out of my own experience of becoming a mom and realizing how overwhelming and isolating that season of life can feel. I remember being up in the middle of the night, Googling every little thing, scrolling through Reddit threads, and feeling more confused and anxious the deeper I went. I thought — why isn’t there one place that women can go to feel supported, informed, and seen?

That’s really what motivated me. I wanted to create the resource I desperately needed: a platform where women could get real, expert-backed information alongside honest, unfiltered stories. Because motherhood, pregnancy, postpartum — it’s not always pretty, and it’s definitely not perfect. My hope is that Snatch empowers women to feel less alone, more confident, and reminded that they don’t have to do it all, or do it all “perfectly,” to be incredible mothers.

HL: Did you feel like this was something missing in the community when you were going through it?

LVD: Absolutely. When I was in the thick of it, I kept thinking, why isn’t there one space that brings it all together? That gap is exactly what inspired me to create Snatch — to fill the void I felt so many women were navigating alone.

HL: What was it like building the brand? Any challenges / key learnings?

LVD: Building Snatch has been both rewarding and humbling. From the start, I knew I didn’t want it to feel clinical or sterile — I wanted it to feel elevated, cozy, and a little indulgent, because women deserve that. The information is real and expert-backed, but the experience should also feel like a treat, not a chore.

Of course, there have been challenges — launching postpartum, running on little sleep, and figuring it out with a baby on my hip. The brand has evolved a lot over the past year. I’ve learned to pivot when something isn’t resonating instead of forcing it, and to really listen to what our community needs. That’s been the biggest lesson: stay flexible, stay authentic, and keep refining.

I’m grateful for the small but mighty team of women beside me who help bring the vision to life, and for the incredible experts who align with Snatch’s values. At the end of the day, it’s about creating something real and supportive for women — and that’s been worth every challenge along the way.

Photo Credit: Courtesy

HL: Balancing motherhood, a blended family, and your entrepreneurial ventures like Snatch must be demanding. How do you manage these roles, and what strategies do you use to prioritize self-care and mental health?

LVD: Balancing motherhood, a blended family, and building a business is definitely demanding — and I’ve learned that the idea of “having it all” is a myth. Not every area of your life can thrive at the same time. There’s always a bit of a dance, and usually one area needs more attention than the others.

For me, it’s about constantly checking in and shifting. If Snatch is thriving and I’m fully present as a mom, maybe I realize I haven’t been prioritizing my marriage or my own self-care. That’s my cue to adjust — whether it’s carving out time for a date night with my husband, a therapy session, or even just a massage to reset. I’ve let go of the guilt that comes with those shifts, because I know that’s what allows me to show up better across the board.

It really does take a village — and accepting that has been key. I remind myself that both the highs and the challenges are temporary, and giving myself permission to pivot has been the best form of self-care. On a practical level, I’ve found that scheduling things like workouts, therapy, or even downtime into my calendar as non-negotiables makes it easier to actually follow through — otherwise they get lost in the shuffle of everything else.

HL: You and your husband, Matthew Polinsky (Corey Graves), are both prominent figures in WWE. How do you support each other’s professional goals while raising a family, and what advice would you give to couples navigating high-pressure careers together?

LVD: One of the biggest advantages for us is that we both understand the WWE lifestyle. Even though I’m no longer on the road, I know exactly what the demands feel like — the travel, the schedule, the pressure — so when Matt comes home and needs to vent, I truly get it. Having a partner who understands the ins and outs of that world has been invaluable.

We’ve always been collaborative when it comes to our careers. We bounce ideas off each other, give honest feedback, and really take an interest in each other’s goals. At the same time, we’ve learned the importance of boundaries. Early on, work conversations followed us home nonstop, and it took a conscious effort to say, okay, home is family time. Now, when we’re together, we prioritize being present as parents and partners rather than talking shop.

As for advice, I’d say the key is communication, support, and knowing when to shut work off. High-pressure careers can take over if you let them, so it’s important to create that separation and make space for real life. At the end of the day, our kids couldn’t care less about WWE or our careers — to them, we’re just mom, dad, and stepmom. And honestly, that’s the grounding perspective we both need.

Leah’s Must-Have Mommy Products: 

The Nanit baby monitor — I’m obsessed. It gives me peace of mind and helps me actually rest when my baby is sleeping, instead of hovering by the crib.

Shop Now, $299

Kindred Bravely Nursing/Pumping Bra — I literally lived in this my entire first year postpartum with my son. It’s comfortable, practical, and makes such a difference when you’re nursing or pumping around the clock.

Shop Now, $52

The MABE Baby Carrier — I love the material; it’s super soft, and my son was so comfortable in it. He loved it as much as I did, and I can’t wait to use it again with my second son.

Shop Now, $129

The First 30 — Snatch’s microprogram to help guide you through those first 30 days postpartum. It’s expert-led and designed to take the guesswork out of that overwhelming first month, giving women the support I wish I had the first time around.