Former World Wrestling Entertainment figure Sara Lee, who won the 2015 reality competition series “Tough Enough,” has died. She was 30.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our Sarah Weston has gone to be with Jesus,” her mother, Teri Lee, said in a statement, according to CNN.
“We are all in shock and arrangements are not complete. We ask that you respectfully let our family mourn,” she said.
The cause of her death was not revealed.
In an Instagram post this week, Lee mentioned she had been suffering from a sinus infection but said she had recovered enough to return to the gym.
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Lee was married to Cory Weston, who was known as Wesley Blake in his WWE days, according to the Midland Daily News in Michigan, where Lee was born and raised.
She was remembered by many Friday, including WWE referee Shawn Bennett, who called her “one of the sweetest people I’ve met” and shared a GoFundMe link to raise money for her family.
Heartbroken for the Weston Family. Sara Lee was one of the sweetest people I’ve met and her smile lit up a room. My love and hope for strength goes to Cory, and their three beautiful children.
If able, please donate below. https://t.co/jxMH5KpPEj
— Shawn Bennett (@BennettWWE) October 6, 2022
No tweet or amount of words can bring back this beautiful human, but all of my heart goes out to @TheWestinBlake & their family. Sara Lee will be missed greatly. ♥️
The photo on the left is how I will always remember her – laughing, smiling, carefree. pic.twitter.com/XLlLFXDOcF— CHELSEA GREEN (@ImChelseaGreen) October 6, 2022
My heart is absolutely broken ? . I am lost for words and I am still in absolute shock. I love you and will miss you eternally Sara Lee. pic.twitter.com/DZueVhj2Mm
— Athena is All Elite (@AthenaPalmer_FG) October 7, 2022
Everyone at BT Sport is devastated to hear of the passing of former WWE Superstar and Tough Enough winner, Sara Lee.
Our thoughts go out to her husband, two children, family and friends at this extremely difficult time. pic.twitter.com/Xip8IjA7vo
— WWE on BT Sport (@btsportwwe) October 7, 2022
The WWE said it was “saddened to learn of the passing of Sara Lee. As a former ‘Tough Enough’ winner, Lee served as an inspiration to many in the sports-entertainment world. WWE offers its heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and fans.”
WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of Sara Lee. As a former “Tough Enough” winner, Lee served as an inspiration to many in the sports-entertainment world. WWE offers its heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and fans. pic.twitter.com/jtjjnG52n7
— WWE (@WWE) October 7, 2022
Lee grew up in Hope Township, Michigan, and studied diagnostic medical sonography before becoming a WWE Diva, winning two-thirds of the fan vote in 2015.
“I just want to thank them all so … much for believing me week after week after being put in the bottom three … and for believing in me through all my struggles,” she told the Midland Daily News at the time.
“Hope is where she comes from, and she’s inspiring a lot of young people with a dream to have hope,” her mother said in 2015, according to the Daily News.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re just a regular person from a small town. If you work towards your dream and you have hope there’s no limit,” she said.
“I think my fans can kind of relate to me because I’m a normal girl,” Lee said in 2015, according to the Daily News. “I’ve just been myself.”
“I always joked that I wanted to apply to be a diva,” she said then, noting that when the “Tough Enough” competition came along, she applied.
Lee used the ring name Hope, a reference to her hometown and her journey, telling her 2015 interviewer, “Even through all the challenges, I never lost hope.”
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