WWE NXT Superstar Zaria has fans doing a double take this week after a resurfaced interview revealed what the Australian powerhouse looks like without her trademark face paint — and social media is absolutely losing it.
The interview, shared by WrestleZone on their official YouTube channel last year, shows Zaria (real name Daria Hodder) in a rare, stripped-back appearance — no dramatic paint, no heavy eye streaks, and no plaited war-ready hair. Just the woman behind one of NXT’s most striking characters.
Zaria’s facepaint has been a defining part of her presentation long before she first appeared in NXT vignettes back in October 2024 – when WWE fans were first introduced to her fierce, tribal-inspired aesthetic and fiery in-ring style. When she made her NXT debut later that month, she instantly stood out from the pack — a bruiser with the presence of a warrior and the look to match.
Before joining WWE, the Sydney-born star wrestled across the Australian independent circuit under the ring name Delta, where her battle-ready appearance and raw athleticism earned her a cult following. But even her longtime supporters were surprised to see her natural look surface online this week.
The YouTube comments under the resurfaced WrestleZone interview quickly filled up with stunned reactions, with one person writing: “So this what she looks like.”
“She is sooooo beautiful without her makeup,” another added, with a third writing: “OMG she’s gorgeous without that crazy make up.”
“Wow, Delta/Zaria looks so different than her character!! I would have never known,” commented a fourth.
For fans used to seeing Zaria’s fierce, paint-smeared war goddess persona — with bold lines across her lips and eyes and her signature side-shaved braids — the softer, make-up-free appearance was a complete transformation. Check out the interview below:
The timing of the clip’s resurgence couldn’t be more fitting, either. Zaria has been making waves on WWE television in recent weeks, as her partnership with NXT North American and Speed Champion Sol Ruca has quickly become one of the brand’s most unpredictable yet entertaining tag teams.
The duo — affectionately dubbed “Zaruca” — have embraced their odd-couple chemistry, with Ruca’s athletic surfer energy clashing perfectly with Zaria’s grounded, warrior-like presence. Despite some hints of miscommunication between the pair, especially given Ruca’s busy double-champion schedule, the team scored a massive win last week on SmackDown, defeating The Secret HERvice to make their case for a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, currently held by Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair.
Featured image credit: Instagram/wweaustralia/zariawwe_ (Screenshot)
