STACY'S ROAD TO THE TOP
Author Unknown

The following was posted on WWE.com in March 2005

After years of falling just short of the crown, Stacy Keibler has finally earned the right to be called the WWE Babe of the Year, defeating Lita in the finals of the fourth annual tournament to name the top Diva in sports-entertainment.

After garnering 57 percent of the fans votes in the finals of the Babe of the Year tournament held in September, even Stacy was in shock. "To be honest, I'm surprised. I didn't think anybody could oust Trish from power," said Stacy after learning she won the competition. "But at the same time, I'm so excited. I was always so envious of the fantastic photo shoots Trish was able to take part in after winning the past three years. Now, it's my turn and I couldn't be more excited."

Rather than launching the traditional Babe of the Year photos all at once in the beginning of the year, Stacy urged WWE.com to make her Babe of the Year section a year-long celebration, featuring hundreds of photos and more than one dozen outfits.

"I just wanted to do something different," said Stacy of her Babe of the Year section on WWE.com. "There's finally a new Babe of the Year, and now there's a new way to look at her too."

What Stacy is referring to is the way in which the Babe of the Year photos will be delivered. Each month, there will be a theme (or two) that will launch in the beginning of the month. For example, Stacy will be wearing New Year's Eve party-wear for January, as well as her Miss Hancock outfit to celebrate the inauguration of the President.

As the year goes on, more outfits will be revealed. Look for college basketball jerseys in March, April showers, a Valentine's Day theme in February and so much more.

Stacy's victory is even sweeter, as it came one year after falling to Trish by just six percentage points in the finals of the 2003 Babe of the Year Tournament. "After last year, I kinda thought I would never win," admits the newly-crowned Babe of the Year. "But I guess the fans finally soured on Trish after what she did to Chris Jericho at WrestleMania, leaving the door open for somebody else to take the top spot. I'm just glad the fans chose me. I'm truly honored."

In the 2002 version of the tournament, Stacy lost to Trish by six perecentage points again. This time, in the semi-finals. Trish went on to beat Torrie Wilson in the finals by one percentage point (the closest in Babe of the Year history), making her a two-time Babe of the Year.