- WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella announced on May 21, 2026 as investor and Chief Margarita Officer at Madam Paleta Tequila, her first equity stake in a spirits brand, following a years-long search for the right partner.
- Madam Paleta was founded in 2023 by alcohol industry veterans Karla Flores, Natasha Feiger, Anna Dement, and Gabrielle Lewis, offering flavor-infused tequilas in Tamarind, Grapefruit, and Pineapple varieties.
- Madam Paleta became the first flavored tequila ever to win "Best in Class" at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, earning a Double Gold medal and a 95-point rating; the brand also ranked among the Top 20 fastest-growing tequilas in the U.S. in 2025, according to Nielsen.
- Bella will play a significant role in shaping the brand's future, focusing on product experiences and cultural moments, with a signature skinny margarita using Madam Paleta Tamarind as her calling card. This is the brand's first major celebrity partnership.
Nikki Bella, aka Nikki Garcia, has a new title, and it’s not in wrestling. On May 21, 2026, the WWE Hall of Famer officially joined Madam Paleta Tequila as investor and Chief Margarita Officer, her first equity deal in spirits.
Born Stephanie Garcia-Colace, Bella spent years searching for a tequila brand that reflected her Mexican heritage and commitment to clean, 100% Blue Weber agave quality.
Women-founded by Karla Flores, Natasha Feiger, Anna Dement, and Gabrielle Lewis, Madam Paleta was built on authenticity, heritage, and fearless innovation. The brand proved that premium, flavor-infused tequila can honor tradition while driving the future of the category.
Available in Texas and shipping to 32 states via ReserveBar at ~$30 a bottle, this is Madam Paleta’s first major celebrity partnership since its 2023 launch.
Bella’s signature move: a skinny margarita with Madam Paleta Tamarind. Beyond the ring, she also co-owns Belle Radici wine and Birdiebee clothing.
On the WWE front, she and Brie Bella are mid-way through a final two-year run together, though Nikki is currently rehabbing an ankle injury suffered during a SmackDown tag team match.
The WWE-to-brand-deal pipeline is alive and well. Just as Ronda Rousey landed a Global Brand Ambassador role with Castrol and John Cena teamed with Chime Financial for his “U Can’t Fee Me” campaign, Bella is turning personal story into equity-backed business, and this time, the culture and the commerce are one.
Takeaways
This isn’t a typical celebrity endorsement. Nikki Bella is an investor, which signals a deeper long-term bet on Madam Paleta’s growth trajectory. That’s a meaningful distinction. Equity deals mean Bella wins only if the brand wins, which gives her every incentive to show up authentically rather than just post and collect.
For a brand that hadn’t previously attached a celebrity name, Bella’s profile (WWE Hall of Famer, reality TV icon, Latina entrepreneur) is a significant visibility leap that could accelerate their push beyond Texas into national retail.
The timing is also interesting. Tequila is the fastest-growing spirit in the U.S., and flavored tequila is still a category many premium brands have been reluctant to enter seriously.
Madam Paleta’s “Best in Class” win at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition already separated it from the pack. Adding Bella’s cultural credibility and fanbase could help them scale where many challenger spirits brands stall: converting awareness into shelf space.
Will Bella’s equity stake and “Chief Margarita Officer” title translate into real market share growth, or will Madam Paleta remain a regional Texas brand despite the celebrity boost? Could this partnership evolve into Bella eventually launching a fully co-owned brand, similar to how other athletes have moved from investor to founder in the spirits space?
