Interview by Jana Letonja

Numéro Netherlands Digital presents the dynamic Michelle Waterson-Gomez, American powerhouse, mixed martial artist, actress, stuntwoman, and former model dominating the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) scene. Michelle’s journey to stardom kicked off on the adrenaline-fueled reality show ‘Fight Girls,’ followed by her fearless presence on MTV’s ‘The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars’ in 2017.She effortlessly owns the spotlight in this captivating fashion story, expertly lensed by the visionary Jack Waterlot.

top CHANCHITLO
pants WHATEVERWORKS
rings BRITT BOLTON JEWELRY
fan ANTIQUE JAPANESE WAR FAN

Michelle, how did you get into martial arts?

I have an older brother that I idolized. We would watch martial arts movies and play ‘Mortal Combat’ growing up. When we had the chance to join a local Martial Arts school, we jumped at the opportunity. I fell in love with the discipline of it. I craved the challenge and wanted to learn as much as I could. It completely consumed my world and I loved it.

How has martial arts shaped you as a person you are today?

Martial arts has made me into the person I am today. It gave me a voice when I was too afraid to speak. It gave me the courage to take action when I was petrified with fear. There have been so many times throughout my life when Ifelt lost or stuck, and I leaned on my training as a martial artist to help guide me. Martial arts taught me to be humble, patient, persistent and driven. 

What are some of the biggest lessons fighting taught you?

There are countless lessons to be learned. Sometimes you are the hammer and sometimes you’re the nail. And you have to learn from both roles. The other lesson would be to trust the process because it’s not always going to be fun or even seem like you’re on the right path. It might feel like you’re busting your butt for nothing, but as long as you push forward with passion, you will succeed.

Dress JUUNJ
rings BRITT BOLTON JEWELRY, SUBLIMA JEWELRY, THE GREAT FROG
fan DAWANG NEW YORK
shoes NAKED WOLFE 

During the height of your career, you became a mom. You returned back to fighting just 10 months after your daughter’s birth. What was the most challenging part of returning after this life changing experience?

I was actually very excited to have my body back and have the ability to train after having my daughter. I think I was more mentally distraught and lost when I was pregnant because there was so much unknown. I didn’t know if I would be able to train, fight or even if I would be accepted. I sat on the sidelines as my teammates got fights and built their careers. The support system I had between my mother, husband, coaches and teammates was a dream come true. I would walk into the gym, baby carrier and diaper bag on one arm and my gear bag and purse on the other. I would train and if she started crying, my coaches would pick her up so I could stay focused. 

What was most challenging was finding time to train as a new mother. There was no room for rest. It was either me training or me being a mommy. My body wasn’t the same. My bones were still shifting back into place, so instead of running for cardio, I would wake up in the morning before my husband went to work and go swimming, then rush back home to take care of my daughter while my husband went to work. 

jacket & skirt VANESSA HOYI CHEUNG
necklace & rings BRITT BOLTON JEWELRY

Your comeback was a success as you also became the Invicta FC Atomweight Champion, among other accomplishments. Which fighting success meant and still means the most to you?

I would say that my fight to win the Atomweight belt with Invicta meant a lot to me because I was such an underdog and no one believed that I could win. My daughter was still pretty young and it was the biggest opportunity in my career at the time.  It was a back and forth battle and there was a point during the fight when I could have given up. She took me down and began raining down punches and elbows. She was trying to split my head wide open, but something inside me told me to be patient and ready for my moment. I was able to turn the tides and ended up submitting her to become the Atomweight Champion. To share that victory with everybody that sacrificed their time to work with me meant the world. 

Like in any sport, you can’t avoid injuries in martial arts. You broke your hand three times within a year and a half. How did all these consecutive injuries impact you mentally as a fighter?

Being injured as a professional athlete is devastating. I couldn’t provide for my family and my will to continue was tested everyday. There were times when I wanted to give up because I could see the strain it was putting on my family, but it was my husband who told me not to give up. He told me that I was destined for greatness and that he would take care of us. His belief in me pushed me to dig deep and find a way to keep going. Looking back, I realize I was wasting so much energy on all the negative thoughts. When you’re left with your thoughts, it’s easy to let the negativity grow like a cancer. You have to be vigilant about the thoughts that enter your mind. 

earrings VIDEMUS OMNIA
bracelets & rings BRITT BOLTON JEWELRY
top DAWANG NEW YORK
skirt JUUN J
shoes MARUGO

Now, you are competing in the Ultimate Fiighting Championship (UFC). What do you love the most about UFC, and fighting in general?

I love being able to share my journey with the world. I am so blessed to compete on the biggest stage of MMA. I still can’t believe that I get paid to do what I love. The UFC is a power house when it comes to promoting their fighters. They do an amazing job allowing the fighters to express their individuality. We all have a story to tell and the UFC lets us tell that story so we can connect with our fans. 

Fans have also been able to watch you in Muay Thai-themed reality show ‘Gight Girls’ and MTV’s ‘The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars’. How were your experiences on both of these reality shows? Would you ever do another reality TV stunt?

I had a blast on those shows and I would absolutely love to do another reality show. I think it would be fun to do’Survivor’ or ‘Amazing Race’. I love challenging myself in new arenas and putting new challenges in front of me. 

dress KIM MESCHES
necklace BRITT BOLTON JEWELRY
bracelet BRITT BOLTON JEWELRY
rings SUBLIMA JEWELRY, BRITT BOLTON JEWELRY, THE GREAT FROG
shoes TRADITIONAL CHINESE SHOES (XIEHUAXIE) 

Tell us more about your career as a stuntwoman. Which stunt moment you’ve done for TV and film is your favorite?

I’ve had the opportunity to do stunts for some really cool movies, including ‘Thor’, ‘Lone Ranger’ and ‘Lemonade Mouth’ to name a few. I love being on set and using my body in a different capacity outside of fighting. I have also had the opportunity to play the main character in feature film ‘Crossed Lines’ and just recently a villain in Netflix’s film ‘Havoc’. I love working on movies because it gives me an opportunity to explore another life and tell a cool story.

What are your goals for the future of your career? What is in your plans for 2024?

I want to teach martial arts to the next generation. I have my instructor to thank for inspiring me to pursue a life in martial arts and I would love to do that for someone. I also dream about playing strong, confident, badass female roles on the big screen. 

cape SUNNY NING
dress DAWANG NEW YORK
shoes TRADITIONAL CHINESE SHOES (XIEHUAXIE)


talent MICHELLE WATERSON
photographer JACK WATERLOT
stylist JEAN CHUNG
makeup MITCH YOSHIDA
hair JENNI IVA WIMMERSTEDT
nails SHIZUKA ISHIHARA
graphic CHRISTIAN NIKOLAI PEREZ
animal wrangler GARRETT CREAMER
studio PIER59
editor TIMI LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN