aprilhunter

DON'T MESS WITH...APRIL HUNTER _____________________________________________________________________________________ Stripper, fitness model, wrestling valet and wrestler, April Hunter has done it all and then some. I met her at a nutrition store --us vegetarians need all the supplements we can get--signing some years back and quickly became captivated by her. It's hard not to. Because April has the mix down to a T: sexy enough to have her voted internet babe of the year several times, but also an increasingly accomplished wrestler and a wry observer of both the wrestling and modeling professions. In short, brains, brawn and beauty all equally balanced. Cruise over to her official site and you'll see what I mean. Before I go any further, let me cop to being a little biased, though. My first girlfriend was a redhead and my ever tolerant wife is auburn-tressed, as well. Also, I have this strange penchant for liking sites filled with naked and scantily clad women. There is more to it than that, though. April's innate frankness about things also makes her more appealing than the average interchick. For instance, the "Opinionated" section of her site, as well as her tour diaries, are as bracing as a bath tub of Ben Gay. There's none of the "Gosh, everything is swell, I love everyone, let me take off my clothes" blather so common to other girl sites. Her newsletter isn't exactly known for mincing words, either. April tells it like it is, and in this era of dire phoniness, that alone makes her worth supporting. While I certainly can't honestly claim to know April whatsoever, I have bumped into her enough times at the gym (not literally of course) and various other events to safely say that I think she's cool as hell. She's funny, down to earth, and frankly she looks even better in person then in photos. She could also snap me in two like a bread stick, so it behooves me to say good things about her. But in all seriousness, there isn't a whiff of attitude around April. Lately I've had several unpleasant or discouraging encounters with possible interviewees, but this article certainly wasn't one of those times. Lastly, there is the wrestling angle. From The Dictators to JFA to the Confederacy of Scum boys, wrestling and rock and roll go together like peanut butter and jelly. Myself, I haven't watched it regularly since the hey day of Sgt. Slaughter et-al in the early 1980's. But I salute it as the art it is, regardless. Wrestlers and Rockers really have a lot in common, when you think about it. Wrestling is a grueling, all consuming passion, physically taxing, sometimes sublime and sometimes frustrating, filled with heroes and villains. And, as in music, the cream doesn't always rise to the top. Here's hoping April does. Without further ado, here's the interrogation. Enjoy! ~Sascha
What are the two most common misconceptions about being a dancer and the industry in general? There are two: that all women in it are sluts coming from a terrible background (f'd up in the head) and that the adult business isn't actually a business. In some circumstances both those assumptions could be true, and I've definitely met my share of crazy strippers, but they're more minority than majority. It's work and the bottom line is money. It's a FUN business, but business nonetheless. What does a wrestling valet do, exactly? It ranges from escorting your wrestler to the ring and putting the spotlight on him to being his cheerleader to getting physically involved in the match. But the main job is to put the spotlight on your wrestler.		You've been in numerous magazines like Playboy etc. but never ended up doing hardcore material. What were the main reasons behind this? Well, I did some more risqué type men's magazines, but decided against porn. As a feature showgirl, everyone was trying to push me in that direction. For one reason; money. My agent would have make more commission from me because I'd be worth more as a bigger draw. For me, personally, I have nothing against nudity, but I want to save the sexual part for the person I'm with. I decided to go to the other extreme-put my clothes back on and give fitness modeling a shot. I was the very first to do that and everyone said I was nuts; that it couldn't be done. Years later and many fitness magazines published, it not only worked, but quite a few other girls decided to go that route as well.

	As a former dancer and model, was it hard to be taken seriously when you decided to wrestle? Absolutely. There was (and still is at times) a lot of stereotyping I'm fighting against. Wrestling is a very male dominated business. I have to credit my trainer at Killer Kowalski's wrestling school, Slyk Wagner Brown, who helped me immensely. He knew what I was up against and trained me so that I’d be taken seriously and could handle things that might be thrown my way. Despite that, I was working the independent circuit (which is the minor leagues) for a year as a valet before anyone would let me wrestle. They only saw me as T&A. I flew myself from Boston to Tennessee to get a match on TV against a guy who literally beat the crap out of me. In a good way. And I held my own. After that, I got booked in matches.

Did you watch wrestling as a kid? No, I liked Kung Fu theater on Sundays. Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. Later I got into UFC. Wrestling was a little too hokey for me. Later, when ECW emerged, I was a fan of that. How did your previous training and careers help you in terms of wrestling or is there no comparison whatsoever? Actually, they helped a lot. In dancing, I picked up a lot of self-promotional knowledge.		There are so many young, pretty girls--all trying to get booked. How do you make yourself stand out? I was never the prettiest, or the thinnest, but I always had work. I also developed a thick skin and a "it's not personal, it's just business" sense. In any looks based business, you're not always going to be what they are looking for. Maybe you're too big, too small, not blond enough. You can't take it personally. You just have to let it go, fix what you can and keep trying.

	Both of those are hard, valuable lessons to learn. Additionally, I learned to walk in 5-inch heels and swinging from a pole upside down, I just know both will come in handy one day. Lowest point of wrestling career to date? My first few months in school. The pros do a great job of making wrestling look easy. It was much, much harder than I anticipated. And it hurt. Highest? Being one of only four Western women invited to go to Japan to compete. The Japanese women are so good; they don't have to bring foreigners over. Worst injury to date? Torn knee/quad. 2 fractured vertebrae, in my lower back, a broken nose, numerous sprains, broken toes and fingers, black eyes and split lips.
Do you listen to music to psych yourself up for the ring? No, I stretch out, say a prayer and get psyched when I hear my own music hit. What prompted the "Opinionated" section of your site? Ha! Well, the need to vent about some of the aspects of the businesses I'm involved in. Some of it might offend people since many seem to like their centerfolds sweet and dumb, so I have that section well separated from the nudie pictures. It’s gotten a surprisingly good reaction, though. As a product of both the North and South, what are the worst stereotypes that Northerners have about Southerners and vice-versa?		Northerners think that Southerners are stupid and racist, and Southerners think that Northerners are rude with no manners. Both can be true to a degree. I think "rude' is mistaken for a faster paced lifestyle where strangers don't stop and chat with each other. Stupid is assumed because of the Southern accent, which is "lazy" speech. I prefer the North simply because I like the "time is money" way of life and I also like that if someone doesn't care for me, they don't waste my time. Nothing is worse than someone being nice to your face when they really can't stand you. I respect those who say what they mean and mean what they say.
	Do you ever get tired of being photographed and just feel like wearing a burka or putting a bag over your head? No way! I love doing photo shoots! It's fun. When you run around in sweats, sneakers, and no make-up most of the time, doing a photo shoot rocks! The Scottish Punk band OI POLLOI has advocated for redhead/gingerhaired/auburn topped advancement. (Sample lyric: "Gingerheads are good in bed/and carrot tops know how to rock/Conformist system we must smash/Hear our rockin' redhead thrash/Strike a blow for redhead pride". From the "Fuaim Catha" LP on Skuld Records). Would you support such a movement? Why didn't I think of that first? You can sleep with a blonde, you can sleep with a brunette, but you'll never get any sleep with a redhead….
Do you see yourself as a figure of female empowerment or just someone who likes to kick ass? Both. You've been photographed as a vampire. Does the idea of sucking someone's blood for eternal life etc. appeal to you ever? I'll skip the blood. Not physically aging could be a good thing. I can do without laugh lines and achy joints any day of the week. If I asked nicely, would you bite my neck? I'm sorry, but I have to charge you extra for that. What current celebrity would you most like to have screaming for mercy in the ring? Michael Jackson. What do you see yourself doing post Wrestling? Writing and eventually raising an ankle biter. Or becoming a fire fighter and finally getting to use all my pole tricks. Who would you like to plug or acknowledge? Shout outs? Thanks for reading and check out my nudie site, www.AprilHunter.com. Sign up for a newsletter to find out when I'll be in your town and for some good raunchy jokes. Support a starving wrestler and buy my latest DVD, "A Queen Amongst Kings". Matches, highlights, a video diary of Japan and music vids for twenty bucks. Can't beat it. Check out the free preview in the video section of the Cool Stuff page on my site, too! How does something that looks so good hurt so bad? You tell me. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ -Sascha G.