Ariana Bembry

Ariana Bembry
Season(s) Played with the Divas: 2015
Jersey Number: 59
Position: DL
Age: 25
Height: 5-6
Weight: 170
Hometown: Edenton, NC
High School: John A. Holmes HS (NC)
Occupation: Personal Trainer

Ariana Bembry Q&A

Who is your biggest supporter?
My husband.
If you could have a conversation with anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose? Why?
Andy Frisella of 1st Phorm…in 2015, he and his team set out to change the world of fitness for the better so that hard-working, never-settling athletes could have their stories told. I would like to talk to him just to thank him and get a better understanding of what made him go for it.
Who is your female sports idol?
Danielle Sidell…she is a Crossfit athlete who overcame poor health as a track athlete by eating more for her body and lifting weights. She changed her entire outlook on what being “fit” and healthy means and transformed herself into the healthy athlete she is today.
Who is your favorite NFL player? Why?
Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions…because the man is a beast!
What are your favorite hobbies or special interests?
Weightlifting and Crossfit.
What is your favorite movie?
Pride and Prejudice.
What is your favorite TV show?
Grey’s Anatomy.
What is your favorite travel location?
The Florida Keys.
What is your favorite food?
Seafood.
What is your favorite book?
7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey.
Who is your favorite musician or group?
Rob Bailey and The Hustle Standard.
What is your favorite quote?
“You gotta risk it to get the biscuit.”
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Relentless, motivated, dedicated.
What are your lifetime aspirations?
To be happy and enjoy life with my husband, to raise my children to be helpful and loving human beings, and to use my talents as a trainer to encourage and help others live a healthy and thriving life.
What was the first sport you ever played?
Soccer.
What is your favorite sports memory?
In the last soccer game of my junior year in high school, we were tied for second place in the conference and the game went into three overtimes. Players on our team were all dirty, and one player on our team even had tape put across her face so she could continue playing with a bloody nose. We were losing when we scored to put us into another overtime, and our coach (who wasn’t so young) was so thrilled that he did a back tuck on the sidelines! We eventually lost the game by one point, but when we left the field, you would have thought we won.
How did you hear about women’s football?
A teammate on my husband’s Marine Corps football team told me about it. He asked if I wanted to try out for a team he was going to coach.
Why do you want to play women’s football?
Growing up, I was always told I couldn’t play football. I just wanted to tackle people…I didn’t care about the politics. Now, given this opportunity to play and make a difference in the world of women in sports, there is no way I would pass this up. My daughter is six years old. One day, if she comes to me and says she wants to play football, I will not have to tell her no or that “only boys are allowed to play football.”
What does it mean to you to be a D.C. Diva?
Being a D.C. Diva means overcoming adversity and bringing the community together for change for the better. It means being a part of something bigger than myself and bringing all I have to the team to make a difference. It means being a part of a team full of women who love their community and football! It means inspiring those who are or were ever told they can’t, helping them to realize that what others say or think does not define them or their fate. To me it means being a Diva on and off the field.