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Out WWE star Daria Berenato got engaged… then her fiancee surprised her

Sonya Deville/Daria Berenato
Sonya Deville/Daria Berenato Photo: Screenshot

Out WWE star Daria Berenato – who wrestles under the name Sonya Deville – has announced she is engaged to fitness model Toni Cassano.

Berenato proposed on February 15 at a New Jersey wine cellar. Moments after she placed the ring on Cassano’s finger, Cassano pulled another ring out of her purse and gave it to a shocked Berenato.

“I proposed, then Toni’s like, ‘Grab my purse,'” Berenato told People. “And she pulls out a freaking ring box, and she’s like, ‘I’ve been carrying this around in my purse for four months. So whenever you proposed, I could give you a ring immediately back.'”

Berenato spent months designing the perfect ring for what she hoped would be an “epic” proposal.

“I could go on for days about the way I feel about this woman,” she said. “I never knew love could feel so happy and safe all at the same time. I found my best friend, my soul mate and my life partner all in one incredible human. She is the epitome of my ride or die. To be able to show her and her two daughters how much they all mean to me was what this proposal was all about. They are my world and now we are one family forever together.”

Cassano called the night a “blur” and said all she remembers is the couple “shaking so bad.”

Berenato also reflected on coming out and how far she has come.

“I look back at seven years ago, eight years ago when I wasn’t even openly out yet, and I was hiding relationships, and I was still trying to figure out my comfortability with being gay and who I was.”

“So, I think it’s crazy to see the evolution of my life and my journey and the fans that have been able to come along that journey with me. I think now it’s just so cool to be like, ‘I never thought I’d be here, but look guys, I’m here and you guys can do it too. And it’s okay to be who you are. It’s okay to love who you love, and it’s so special and so important to accept yourself.’ “

In 2020, Berenato became the first out gay female wrestler when she came out in 2015 in an unplanned moment on national television after she was asked if she was dating anyone.

She also made history by becoming the first out lesbian to participate in Wrestlemania, even wearing a rainbow costume to honor the moment.

She said at the time that she hoped to inspire others to come out.

“If I can help people in this process and be a voice to people who might be intimidated of coming out themselves or are scared to or think that it’s wrong and they see me doing it in front of pretty big people in the WWE world, hopefully it will give them the courage to do it.”

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