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I don't think there's anything exhilarating at the moment as performing in front if a live audience.

How difficult has the transition from WWF Women's Champion and Playboy model to working actress and model been?

Do I find the transitions difficult? No, I don't. I find it to be very challenging in a lot of ways. And when you're challenged, you set goals for yourself, you make accomplishments, and you feel like you're rewarded.

Do you feel the lawsuit and publicity surrounding your departure from the WWF has been one of the challenges you've faced? Has that stigmatized you at all?

I don't believe that was a challenge at all. I think that people see there was more to me than just the wrestling character that I played. They saw me, personally, as a woman that had very strong beliefs and stood up for herself.

We've seen you on television recently--and you've been gracing a number of magazine covers, too. Tell us . . . What is a day in the life of Rena Mero like?

Well, it depends on the day. First and foremost, I'm a wife and a mother, so a lot of my days begin that way. If I'm on the road traveling or working, I will usually go straight to the set, whether I'm modeling or shooting a segment for television or working on someone's movie. In fact, this weekend I have "Inside Edition" to film a segment with me, so I'm preparing for that. I am working on a comic book as well. It's called "The Tenth Muse." And I am going to be in Prague very soon to begin working on a movie.

Let's tackle those projects one at a time. Tell us first about your upcoming comic book.

It's called "The Tenth Muse," and I am very excited about it. You know Zeus' daughters, since this is Greek Mythology, and I am the tenth muse.

Actually I was contacted by someone who wrote this specifically for me, patterned after the person he believes me to be--who has the same characteristics as the character in the comic book.

Did you have any editorial say over whom the writing team or art team will be for this project?

Oh, yes. I have a lot of control over this magazine. I wouldn't say control, we have all been in agreement. We haven't had to . . . no one has had to pull strings and have "control" over it. We've all been in total agreement. I do have a say as to what goes into the book, and I'm very pleased with the project. The comic book will be coming out in November.

In October I'll be flying to Prague to film a movie called "The Forgotten Kingdom." It's going to be about wizards and sorcery. We're going to be filming in Prague, which is known for its landscape, its beautiful castles. We'll be riding horses. And I'll be battling evil. It's an action-adventure [film].

Our understanding is that you came from a fairly humble upbringing. Give us some insight into your life prior to shooting to international fame.

I had a very troubled and very hard childhood, and I moved out of home at a very early age. I got married very young. You know, I had to really make my own way in this world. When I left home at 15, I've never been back, so it has been a difficult road. But it's been a great learning experience for me. I'm very, very happy with where I am in my life today. It could have gone either way. Luckily, I chose the right path. It's all about choices you make in your life, and I think I've made some great choices.

What do you do to ensure your daughter has a different childhood than you experienced? Is that hard to do being on the road so much?

<laughing> You know, I think I do just the opposite of what I had, although there is no way that my childhood in any way could be compared to my daughter's childhood. But, you know, I'm in a position where she's my only child, and I want her to have the most wonderful, memorable childhood that she has special thoughts of when she grows up. But I think that sometimes when you come from a place where you don't have very much you tend to overcompensate in some ways to your own children, and it's very easy to do that. It's a learning experience, another learning experience in life. No child comes with a manual, and you just do the best you can. But we are just very aware, and we really try to keep her as humble as we are and make her realize you really have to work hard in life. Things aren't just given to you. Be a very responsible, productive person when you grow up.

The publication date for your autobiography, "Undefeated," has been moved back. Please give our readers and your fans insight into that decision and the book itself.

The book is an autobiography, my life story. It's called "Undefeated: The Rena Mero Story." It's a great book, and I'm very excited about it coming out. Right now, we're in the process of waiting. We want it to be released later in the year--just for personal reasons.

Will it touch on your experience with Playboy?

Oh, sure. That was a part of my life. It touches upon every aspect of my life from childhood to my teenage years to my early adult to where my career is now. So definitely--that was a big, very exciting, wonderful part of my life, and I'm happy to share that.

What is it like to make Playboy history as the only woman to be on the cover twice in a calendar year?

Very excited. It was, like I said, a wonderful experience. Everyone at Playboy is so professional, but to be given that honor . . . and I was named "Sex Star of the New Millennium." Both of those things happened to me in one year, breaking history like that. And I will go down in history. It is just a wonderful feeling. There's nobody that can ever take that away from me, and what an honor that is. It's also very humbling because it makes you think about where you came from in life and where you are now.

Well, Playboy approached me two years prior to me actually posing for the magazine. At the time I was approached originally, I had no interest in it. As time went on, and I felt like I was being known more as a person, myself, not only the "Sable" character but Rena Mero as well, I felt like it was a good time in my career to do that.

I never thought that it was something that I would want to do. And I just didn't feel like it was the right time in my career. It was the first time . . . It was right after I came from living in Jacksonville and just burst onto the scene. That's when I was approached. And, you know, if I was going to do it, I wanted it to mean something.

Do you feel that the pictorials were poorly timed in that they coincided with your sexual harassment lawsuit against the WWF?

Well, the first one (pictorial) was the fastest-selling magazine in history. And I was with the WWF at that time and was having no problems. The second one I actually shot before the demise of our relationship. And I don't feel it was bad timing at all. I think if anything, it received more publicity and it was also one of their best-selling magazines ever. So, absolutely, I think it was perfect timing.

I am still in contact with Playboy. I made some friends while I was working there. There's always the possibility. It was a wonderful experience, and if I ever had the opportunity to do it again, I'm sure I probably would take them up on it.

Everything you've ever thought or heard about the Mansion, it's true! It's true! <laughing> It's just a great experience. You know, it's something that, as a little girl growing up, I remember seeing Playboy magazines and now to be a part of that entire world and empire Hef has built, it's an honor. It's like I said, something I have that not many people can say and nobody can ever take that away from me. It's a lot of fun--and everything you've ever heard about the parties, it's true! He's first class all the way, and everyone just goes and parties and has a wonderful time.

Through your Playboy pictorials and wrestling exposure, you live a very public life. How do you keep some of that "private"?

We do have a very private life. We live in a very private neighborhood in a very rural area. We choose not to live in LA for that sole purpose. I want my daughter to have as normal of a childhood as possible, and I think this is the best place to do it. I live in Florida, and it's just wonderful here. This is where I grew up, and I think she's having a great childhood. I think we have all the privacy we need. But, if we don't, and for some reason we're out in public and we are recognized, it's wonderful that you have fans. Those are the fans that have made you who you are today and [gotten you] where you are today. I have a lot of respect for them. I will definitely . . . if they ask me to sign an autograph or speak to them in any way, it's not a problem to me at all. I enjoy it. One of the best parts of my job is doing personal appearances or public appearances because I get to talk to the fans and meet new friends.

Right now I hear running water. I'm wondering what you're doing and how you integrate work and your personal life.

<laughing> I'm actually laying out by the pool and that is my fountain. Today was a nice, relaxing day. That's one of the reasons I scheduled the interview for today. This was a good day for me to just stay home and catch up. It's a lazy Monday.

Well, I will be going to Prague. I have a magazine coming out the 21st of October called "Muscular Development." It's a cover and a pictorial. It talks all about me, my daily lifestyle, and my workout routine and my diet and things such as that. It's a healthy lifestyle. That will be editorial and the November issue of "Muscular Development" comes out in October. The "Tenth Muse" comes out in November and will be in all comic book stores everywhere. I will be in Prague the months of October and November shooting "The Forgotten Kingdom." And, of course, you can always check me out at my website www.RenaMero.com --and that will tell you everything I have going on and more. Everything you ever wanted to know about me!

Lastly, when the opportunity presents itself for you to return, what are the chances we'll see you back at ringside or in the ring?

You know, I had a wonderful time in wrestling. It was a great three years. It opened a lot of doors for me, and I never say never. I still am in contact with some people in the wrestling industry. It wasn't all bad. And I really had a good time. Never say never. Sometimes life goes full circle.