{{short description|American professional wrestler (born 1996)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox person |name = Alexis Lete |image = Alexis Lete - 2016.jpg |caption = Alexis Lete in 2016 |birth_name = Alexis Nicole Lete<ref name="GeoWashUni">{{cite web |title=Alexis Lete - Women's Volleyball |url=https://gwsports.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/alexis-lete/5634 |website=George Washington University Athletics |access-date=15 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730022300/https://gwsports.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/alexis-lete/5634 |archive-date=30 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> |other_names = |occupation = {{hlist|Volleyball player|model|professional wrestler}} |height = 185 cm<ref name="GeoWashUni" /> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|10|30}} |birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. }}
'''Alexis Nicole Lete''' ({{IPAc-en|'|l|ɛ|t|i}}; born October 30, 1996)<ref name="GeoWashUni" /> is a former Division 1 volleyball player, Miss Indiana USA 2020, professional wrestler in the WWE, was the runner up of Deal or No Deal Island season 2, and currently is a model and host.
== Early life and education == Lete was born in Louisville, Kentucky on October 30, 1996, to Vicki and Zary Lete. She has one brother, Luke.<ref name = "Sokeland">{{cite news |last1=Sokeland |first1=Justin |title=New Albany's Lete a volleyball late bloomer |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/preps/indiana/2014/09/18/new-albanys-lete-volleyball-late-bloomer/15860711/ |access-date=24 June 2023 |work=Courier Journal |date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230624154848/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/preps/indiana/2014/09/18/new-albanys-lete-volleyball-late-bloomer/15860711/ |archive-date=24 June 2023}}</ref> Lete played multiple sports growing up but found her true passion in volleyball when she won an AAU national championship at Disney World with her KIVA 14 Red volleyball team in 2011.
<ref>{{cite web |title=Luke Lete - Men's Swimming and Diving |url=https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/mens-swimming-and-diving/roster/luke-lete/2978 |website=Indiana University Athletics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216184711/https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/mens-swimming-and-diving/roster/luke-lete/2978 |archive-date=16 December 2019 |quote=... parents are Vicki and Zary Lete ... has one sister (Alexis) ...}}</ref> She graduated from New Albany High School as a valedictorian, and graduated from George Washington University in three years cum ladaude with a degree in broadcast journalism and communications.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McAfee |first1=Brooke |title=New Albany native Alexis Lete named third runner-up in Miss USA pageant |url=https://www.newsandtribune.com/news/new-albany-native-alexis-lete-named-third-runner-up-in-miss-usa-pageant/article_90f2d652-239d-11eb-9dd5-177101f56bd6.html |access-date=24 June 2023 |work=News and Tribune |date=10 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111224155/https://www.newsandtribune.com/news/new-albany-native-alexis-lete-named-third-runner-up-in-miss-usa-pageant/article_90f2d652-239d-11eb-9dd5-177101f56bd6.html |archive-date=11 November 2020}}</ref>
== Volleyball career == Before taking an interest in volleyball, Lete played soccer, but she later decided to take up club volleyball in seventh grade, which led to her joining the Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Association (KIVA).<ref name = "Sokeland"/><ref>{{cite news |title=AAU Girls' Volleyball National Championships have international feel |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2012/aau-girls-volleyball-national-championships-have-international-feel |access-date=24 June 2023 |work=USA Today High School Sports |date=27 June 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230624173445/https://usatodayhss.com/2012/aau-girls-volleyball-national-championships-have-international-feel |archive-date=24 June 2023}}</ref> She then played in the NCAA Division I program during her time at George Washington University.<ref>{{cite news |title=Miss Kentucky USA and Miss Indiana USA compete for the crown amid a pandemic |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2020/10/21/miss-usa-pageant-two-local-women-compete-crown-amid-covid-19/6002818002/ |access-date=24 June 2023 |work=Courier Journal |date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230624155609/https://www.courier-journal.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2020/10/21/miss-usa-pageant-two-local-women-compete-crown-amid-covid-19/6002818002/ |archive-date=24 June 2023 |quote=Miss Indiana USA is a former D1 athlete, and she played volleyball for George Washington.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Friedman |first1=Vicki L. |title=A game-changing phenomenon is afoot in NCAA volleyball |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/story/_/id/21754886/kick-save-kick-save-2017-ncaa-volleyball |access-date=24 June 2023 |work=ESPN |date=31 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321223450/https://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/story/_/id/21754886/kick-save-kick-save-2017-ncaa-volleyball |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref>
== Modelling and pageantry == In October 2018, Lete walked the runway during the D.C. Fashion Week at the finale show at the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Oriel |first1=Cat |last2=Govind |first2=Savita |title=Volleyball player takes on modeling career, fashion week runway |url=https://www.gwhatchet.com/2018/09/22/d-c-fashion-week-founder-showcases-collection-at-madame-tussauds-wax-museum/ |access-date=25 June 2023 |work=The GW Hatchet |date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123165851/https://www.gwhatchet.com/2018/10/04/volleyball-player-takes-on-modeling-career-fashion-week-runway/ |archive-date=23 January 2019}}</ref> Two years later, in October 2020, she was crowned ''Miss Indiana USA'', and was the third overall runner-up for the ''Miss USA'', making the top five nationally.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Beifuss |first1=John |title=Miss USA 2020: Pageant at Graceland crowns winner Asya Branch from Elvis' home state |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/11/10/miss-usa-2020-pageant-graceland-crowns-winner-elvis-home-state/6231516002/ |access-date=25 June 2023 |work=USA Today |date=10 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110221422/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/11/10/miss-usa-2020-pageant-graceland-crowns-winner-elvis-home-state/6231516002/ |archive-date=10 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Austin |first1=Emma |title=New Albany's Alexis Lete finishes in top 5 of Miss USA pageant |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2020/11/10/miss-usa-pageant-2020-miss-indiana-usa-alexis-lete-finishes-top-5/6244228002/ |access-date=25 June 2023 |work=Courier Journal |date=10 November 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230625010903/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2020/11/10/miss-usa-pageant-2020-miss-indiana-usa-alexis-lete-finishes-top-5/6244228002/ |archive-date=25 June 2023}}</ref>
== Professional wrestling career == === WWE (2022–2023) === In March 2022, Lete was one of the 45 college athletes to have attended a three-day WWE tryout during WrestleMania 38 weekend.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rittenberg |first1=Adam |date=30 March 2022 |title=WWE to host 45 current, former college athletes at WrestleMania weekend tryout |language=en |work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/wwe/story/_/id/33628886/wwe-host-45-current-former-college-athletes-wrestlemania-weekend-tryout |url-status=live |access-date=16 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330134732/https://www.espn.co.uk/wwe/story/_/id/33628886/wwe-host-45-current-former-college-athletes-wrestlemania-weekend-tryout |archive-date=30 March 2022}}</ref> In August 2022, it was announced that Lete had reported to the WWE Performance Center.<ref>{{cite news |title=WWE announces its newest class of recruits to join the WWE Performance Center |url=https://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-announces-newest-recruiting-class-performance-center |access-date=17 June 2023 |work=WWE |date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816190945/https://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-announces-newest-recruiting-class-performance-center |archive-date=16 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=WLKY Digital Team |title=World Wrestling Entertainment recruits 3 people with southern Indiana, Kentucky connections |url=https://www.wlky.com/article/wwe-louisville-recruits-southern-indiana-kentucky-connection-local-wrestling-wrestler/40918230 |access-date=24 June 2023 |work=WLKY |date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817131956/https://www.wlky.com/article/wwe-louisville-recruits-southern-indiana-kentucky-connection-local-wrestling-wrestler/40918230 |archive-date=17 August 2022}}</ref> She was assigned to its NXT brand in Orlando, Florida. Performing under the ring name Stella Lilly, she was presented as a larger-than-life social media influencer, blending her real-world digital presence with an exaggerated, glamorous character.
Although she did not have an official in-ring debut, Lilly appeared on NXT programming, including a live in-arena promo where she introduced her persona to the audience. Her character emphasized the spectacle of online fame and influencer culture, drawing on her athletic background and stage presence.
Lete departed WWE's Performance Center in October 2023. She said that a lack of passion for wrestling and concerns about potential injuries—citing that someone in the company told her that getting injured is “part of the job” after she suffered a possible concussion in a live match—led her to plan her exit when she learned she had been released. Lete stated that she was grateful for her time in WWE and added that the company was assisting her in pursuing opportunities on reality television.
== Personal life == Lete holds the Guinness World Record for the furthest volleyball set into a basketball hoop.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Herrick |first1=John |title=What's Next for Miss Indiana USA? Possibly a Game Show |url=https://wibc.com/97770/whats-next-for-miss-indiana-usa-possibly-a-game-show/ |access-date=24 June 2023 |work=WIBC |date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230624233933/https://wibc.com/97770/whats-next-for-miss-indiana-usa-possibly-a-game-show/ |archive-date=24 June 2023}}</ref> She takes an interest in cryptocurrency, having previously hosted her own now-defunct podcast titled "Crypto Cast".<ref>{{cite tweet |user=AlexisLete|number=1498844880499474433|date=2 March 2022|title=Looking to have more females in the crypto space on my podcast, Crypto Cast. If you know someone that might be a good fit to educate on a certain topic please let me know! |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230624162629/https://twitter.com/AlexisLete/status/1498844880499474433 |archive-date=24 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Tori |title=ALEXIS LETE: Miss Indiana vs. Wonder Woman |url=https://www.teawithtori.com/post/alexis-lete-miss-indiana-vs-wonder-woman |access-date=24 June 2023 |work=Tea with Tori |date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006032538/https://www.teawithtori.com/post/alexis-lete-miss-indiana-vs-wonder-woman |archive-date=6 October 2022}}</ref>
== Filmography == === Television === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |- | 2025 | ''Deal or No Deal Island'' | Contestant | Season 2 | <ref>{{cite news |last1=Falcone |first1=Dana Rose |title=Dr. Will Kirby Returns to Reality Competition for Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 — Meet the 14 Contestants |url=https://people.com/deal-or-no-deal-island-season-2-meet-the-14-contestants-dr-will-kirby-parvati-shallow-8726486 |access-date=December 28, 2024 |work=People |url-access=limited |date=October 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222215046/https://people.com/deal-or-no-deal-island-season-2-meet-the-14-contestants-dr-will-kirby-parvati-shallow-8726486 |archive-date=December 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ross |first1=Dalton |title=Deal or No Deal Island season 2 cast includes Parvati Shallow and Dr. Will Kirby (exclusive) |url=https://ew.com/deal-or-no-deal-island-season-2-cast-parvati-shallow-dr-will-kirby-exclusive-8725785 |access-date=December 28, 2024 |work=Entertainment Weekly |date=October 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226220032/https://ew.com/deal-or-no-deal-island-season-2-cast-parvati-shallow-dr-will-kirby-exclusive-8725785 |archive-date=December 26, 2024}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ach}} {{s-bef|before=Tate Fritchley}} {{s-ttl|title=Miss Indiana USA | years=2020}} {{S-aft|after={{nowrap|A'Niyah Birdsong}}}} {{S-bef|before={{flagicon|Nevada}} Brittany McGowan<sup>1</sup>}} {{s-ttl|title=Miss USA 3rd runner-up |years=2020}} {{S-aft|after={{flagicon|Illinois}} Sydni Bennett}} {{S-ref|Last awarded in 2015, the third runner-up was replaced by Top 5 finalist from 2016 to 2019.}} {{Miss USA 2020 delegates}} {{Indiana Pageant Winners}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lete, Alexis}} Category:1996 births Category:American beauty pageant winners Category:American female models Category:American women's volleyball players Category:Female models from Indiana Category:Living people Category:Entertainers from Louisville, Kentucky Category:New Albany High School (Indiana) alumni Category:21st-century American sportswomen Category:People from New Albany, Indiana Category:Volleyball players from Louisville, Kentucky Category:Volleyball players from Indiana