Bess Katramados lives a remarkably private life despite her marriage to one of wrestling’s biggest stars. She was born on July 13, 1973, in Illinois, USA, and became WWE legend Big Show’s wife on February 11, 2002.
Her husband dominated the wrestling ring while she worked as his personal trainer, promoter, and fitness instructor. The former model stands 5’8″ (172 cm) and weighs 142 pounds. She built a successful career with a net worth of $3 million through modeling and endorsement deals. The media rarely catches glimpses of Bess, but wrestling fans often see her supporting her husband from ringside during his matches. The couple raised their two children together and even appeared in a family sitcom “The Big Show Show”.
Early Life and Background
A remarkable woman stands quietly in the background of professional wrestling’s spotlight. Bess Katramados’ untold life story reveals her journey as the supportive partner to one of wrestling’s biggest stars.
Where was Bess Katramados born?
Bess Katramados was born on July 13, 1973, in Illinois, USA. She grew up in America’s heartland, the Midwest region of the United States. While her husband’s life played out under public scrutiny, she lived a quiet life in Illinois. Her hometown shaped her outlook and core values that would define her future.
Bess Katramados age and upbringing
Today at 50 years old in 2023, Bess looks younger than her years. Her glowing skin shows her commitment to healthy living. She attended Lutheran High School in Illinois, run by the Lutheran church. Reports indicate she completed her education in 1991 before she started her modeling career.
Public records reveal little about her family or specific childhood experiences. She valued privacy from her early years, which carried into her life as a celebrity’s wife. Her strong character and self-reliance developed during these formative years proved invaluable in her role as a wrestler’s spouse.
Her Christian roots and Midwestern values
A devout American Christian family shaped Bess Katramados’ early life. She speaks openly about her faith in God, which helps her stay grounded despite her connection to the fast-paced entertainment industry.
Her Midwestern values include:
- A strong work ethic and personal accountability
- Focus on family and traditional principles
- Natural humility in success
- Down-to-earth problem solving
She teaches these beliefs to her children, building a lasting spiritual heritage. Her husband Big Show shares her Christian faith, which strengthens their family bond amid public life pressures.
The values from her Midwest upbringing help her handle the challenges of being married to a wrestling superstar. She balances public attention while staying true to herself and her principles.
Modeling Career and Transition
The wrestling world might know her as Big Show’s wife, but Bess Katramados had already carved her own path in a completely different field. Her trip from small-town Illinois to the modeling world tells the story of how she met the wrestling superstar.
Starting modeling in high school
Bess found that there was a natural talent for modeling during her final years at Lutheran High School in Illinois. She managed to keep up with her studies while doing part-time modeling work during school breaks. Local agencies quickly noticed her natural elegance, striking appearance, and unique physique. School wasn’t her biggest passion, but modeling gave her a creative outlet she needed.
Her senior year became busy with local fashion shows and regional commercial appearances. She became popular in the Illinois modeling scene because of her warm personality, self-confidence, and strong work ethic.
Traveling for modeling assignments
After graduation, Bess jumped into full-time modeling, and new opportunities started coming her way. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw her career take off as she worked with modeling agencies of all sizes throughout Illinois and nearby cities. Her work took her across the country and sometimes even overseas for different assignments.
She appeared in magazine advertisements, promotional campaigns, and local catwalk shows. While she didn’t work with globally recognized brands, she built a solid reputation in regional modeling circuits.
Why she left modeling after marriage
Bess made her most important decision in 2002 when she stepped away from modeling after marrying Big Show. She chose family life over her growing career. This choice showed her true Midwestern values and what mattered most to her.
Life after modeling brought new roles as a personal trainer and her husband’s promoter. Big Show often credits her as the driving force behind his success. At 50 years old, she still looks as fit and elegant as her modeling days.
Marriage to Big Show
The love story between Bess Katramados and Paul Wight (Big Show) changed both their lives and careers in ways they never expected.
How Bess met Big Show
Bess and Big Show’s paths crossed in 2002. Big Show was still married to his first wife, Melissa Ann Piavis at the time. Their first meeting sparked something special that would change their lives forever. The two “clicked instantly” and started dating while he worked through the end of his previous marriage.
Their relationship grew stronger each day. They understood each other’s worlds perfectly – she knew modeling, and he lived wrestling. This mutual understanding and respect became the cornerstone of their decades-long marriage.
Their wedding and early married life
Their relationship moved at lightning speed. Big Show married Bess Katramados on February 11, 2002, just five days after his divorce from Melissa Ann Piavis was final. The wrestling community raised eyebrows at this quick transition, but time proved it was the start of something lasting.
Bess quickly became Big Show’s rock during his hectic WWE days. She stood by him through tough times and helped him tackle both personal and professional challenges. Their bond grew stronger as they faced the pressures of fame and the physical demands of wrestling together.
Her role as personal trainer and promoter
Marriage brought new direction to Bess’s career. She left modeling to become Big Show’s personal trainer and promoter. This change showed her dedication to supporting her husband while using her own expertise.
Bess took charge of keeping him in top physical shape – crucial for his wrestling career. She managed his public image and business deals as his promoter. Her background helped create a healthy lifestyle for him, which proved valuable during his physically demanding wrestling career.
Their partnership goes beyond normal marriage roles. She stays by his side at most wrestling matches and professional events, supporting him from backstage. Her constant presence helps him balance his celebrity status with personal well-being.
Family Life and Private Persona
The Wight family has built a close-knit home life away from the spotlight of professional wrestling. Their family story reveals a lot about Bess Katramados’ core values and what matters most to her.
Bess Katramados and Big Show’s children
Bess and Big Show welcomed two children after they tied the knot in 2002. Their son Jett Wight came into the world on June 19, 2007, followed by daughter Cash Wight on December 8, 2010. The couple has created a warm and stable home for their kids in Tampa, Florida.
Most celebrity families live in the spotlight, but Bess chose a different path by keeping her children away from media attention. She wants her kids to have a normal childhood despite their father’s fame. She also decided to be a stay-at-home mom to focus on raising her family.
Being a stepmother to Cierra Wight
Bess stepped into Cierra Wight’s life as a stepmom when Big Show’s daughter from his marriage to Melissa Ann Piavis was just four years old. Cierra, born on November 28, 1998, “bonded very well in a matter of time” with Bess, who loved her as her own daughter.
Cierra now lives with her father and stepmom. The blended family has grown stronger under Bess’s care, without any public drama or conflicts. Their success shows how well she nurtures family bonds across complex relationships.
Why she avoids social media and public appearances
Bess has stayed out of the spotlight throughout her marriage to Big Show. She doesn’t use any major social media platforms and rarely shows up at public events. Her choice to stay “off the grid” sets her apart from typical celebrity spouses.
She stays private to:
- Give her children a normal life away from public attention
- Keep personal boundaries despite her husband’s fame
- Put family first without outside interference
Her husband’s social media accounts sometimes share glimpses of Bess, but these rare appearances align with her private lifestyle.
Conclusion
Bess Katramados has built a life of privacy, purpose, and steadfast dedication during her twenty-year marriage to one of wrestling’s most famous faces. Her experience from being an Illinois model to becoming WWE superstar Big Show’s wife shows how someone can stay true to themselves even near the spotlight.
She switched careers smoothly, becoming her husband’s personal trainer and promoter while creating a happy blended family. Her heart opened to stepdaughter Cierra as if she were her own, and she later had two children in their Tampa home. These family values line up naturally with her Midwestern roots and Christian beliefs.
Many celebrity spouses chase the spotlight, but Bess thinks over each move carefully. She stays away from social media and rarely appears in public. She wants her children to have a normal life and draws clear lines between public interest and family privacy. Her husband may be a larger-than-life wrestling star, but she remains her own person instead of living in his shadow.
Bess stands out as an interesting contrast in celebrity culture. She runs on the energy around stardom but refuses its glare. Her story reminds us that quiet supporters stand behind many famous faces. They handle fame’s challenges with grace and dignity. Though she stays in the background, her effect on Big Show’s career and family life remains vital. Sometimes the strongest influence comes from those who choose to stay out of view.
