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Leah Van Dale—known in WWE as “Carmella” and a holder of multiple championships—has found her most rewarding challenge yet in motherhood and building a platform centered on women’s issues. Now expecting her second child, Van Dale spoke with M&F Hers about her provocatively named community, “Snatch,” and why she lamented the absence of her upcoming guide, The First 30: A Straightforward, Expert-Backed Survival Guide for the First 30 Days Postpartum, during her initial struggle with motherhood.

From WWE Champion to Motherhood: A Journey of Resilience

When Van Dale last spoke with M&F Hers in early 2023, she had recently returned to WWE following a period of profound hardship—including a miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy with her husband, Matt Polinski (better known as WWE commentator “Corey Graves”). However, her return to the ring was brief: she soon discovered she was pregnant again, prompting her to retire from wrestling temporarily to embrace motherhood.

The couple now share nearly 2-year-old son Dimitri and are expecting their second son in just weeks. Though transitioning from the ring to parenting has been largely joyful, Van Dale acknowledges that many women lack the support or answers they need when navigating motherhood—the most demanding yet fulfilling journey of all.

Snatch: A Safe Space for Uncomfortable Conversations

To address this gap, Van Dale launched “Snatch,” a women-centric platform with a provocative name designed to challenge taboos around intimate conversations. “That’s the core mission,” Van Dale explains. “It’s bold, unapologetic, and sparks dialogue—which is exactly what I wanted: to help people feel comfortable with the uncomfortable.”

Snatch’s purpose is to foster open, supported communication among women on sensitive topics—including sex, fertility, pregnancy, and motherhood—within a safe space backed by experts. “I needed this during my miscarriages, my traumatic birth with Dimitri, and my challenging postpartum period,” she shares. “Why aren’t we talking about these things? Women still know so little about their own bodies. Snatch features postpartum specialists, mental health experts, lactation consultants, and IVF specialists to educate and support members. I’m incredibly proud of what it’s become and eager to see its growth.”

The demand for direct, empathetic advice on sensitive issues is clear. “I engage with members daily, but the real magic is the peer support—women messaging and responding to each other—plus expert guidance,” Van Dale notes. “Snatch is divided into five dedicated spaces: Sex, Fertility, Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Motherhood. Members can join the channel that aligns with their experience to connect and share.”

In just over a year, Snatch has grown into a global community of 500 women. Van Dale hopes the platform will spare others from the chaotic online searches she endured. “I fell down Reddit rabbit holes, bounced between forums—spiraling because I had no idea where to turn,” she recalls. “It was miserable. That’s why I started sharing my story on social media: if I was struggling, others must be too. I didn’t set out to launch a movement, but that’s exactly what happened.”

The First 30: Guiding Mothers Through the Chaos

Conception is just the start of the journey—and Van Dale learned firsthand with Dimitri that motherhood is her greatest, most rewarding challenge. She notes that while pregnancy involves countless appointments, classes, and books, the transition to caring for a newborn remains largely unguided. “You have all this support during pregnancy, then you’re sent home with a newborn like, ‘Good luck!’” she quips. “They say ‘be careful,’ but no one tells you how. It’s terrifying—you’re completely unprepared.”

Unlike academic degrees (which require exams) or driving (which needs a license), parenting has no formal preparation. “It’s paralyzing,” Van Dale says. “That’s why I created The First 30—a guide for new mothers with expert-backed advice for the first month at home. It includes a sleep consultant on safe co-sleeping, a lactation consultant for breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, a mental health expert, and a postpartum doula. The advice is actionable and non-overwhelming—because you never know what you’ll need until your baby is home.”

A Possible WWE Return? Never Say Never

As a former WWE Women’s Champion and Tag Team Champion, Van Dale adheres to the pro wrestling tradition of never ruling out a return. “Everyone comes back eventually—you think someone’s done, then they show up,” quips the self-proclaimed “Princess of Staten Island.” “I’m open to it, but right now, my focus is on motherhood, growing Snatch, and my current pregnancy. Wrestling isn’t on the table anytime soon, but I’m not closing the door. It would be incredible to return someday and have my sons see what I do.” For now, Van Dale is fully immersed in her growing family.

Get Involved

To join Snatch, click here.

To follow Leah Van Dale on Instagram, click here.

The First 30 will be released on August 28. For more details, click here.