Former WWE Diva Eva Marie Says PETA Inspired Her To Become A Hunter

PETA typically tries to discourage people from eating animals. But for Natalie Eva Marie, they did just the opposite.

In a recent interview with Hook & Barrel Magazine, the former WWE Diva (who went by "Eva Marie" in the ring), credited PETA for inspiring her to take up hunting. The 39-year-old said her godfather always enjoyed hunting, but as a kid, she was too busy playing team sports to tag along.

After watching a PETA documentary about factory farming, though, Marie realized harvesting her own meat was a better option.

"Shout out to PETA because you guys made me a hunter," she said. "Thank you very much. Because they did all the hard work by showcasing factory farming… so now I’m going to go hunt my own meat. You should know where your meat comes from."

Marie specifically pointed to the health benefits of non-processed, wild game.

"One reason was obviously the food. (husband Jonathan Coyle) is really into nutrition and health and wellness. And anybody that has followed my journey by watching ‘Total Divas,’ and things of that nature, knows I truly believe health is wealth," she explained.

"If you don’t have your health, you have nothing. I don’t care: You can be rich and have all of the things that you think will make you happy. But if you don’t have your health, then you’re done."

Former WWE Diva Natalie Eva Marie

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

According to Marie, hunting is something humans were "meant to do" and allows her to "eat food the way God intended it."

"Hunting makes you appreciate food a lot more, and we make sure we have zero waste from the wild game we take," she said. "When you go out there, and you actually see this beautiful, majestic animal, it is mind-blowing.

"I feel like anybody who has never done it should at least experience it once. I get that it’s not for everybody. But to experience it one time I think would do a lot of people a solid from understanding what goes into it, the love, the appreciation, all of the emotions."

She also spoke to the benefits of hunting from a conservation standpoint. Marie believes if everyone were educated on the issue, it would go a long way toward alleviating the negative stigma that many associate with hunting. 

Or you could just show them some PETA documentaries.