WWE NXT Superstar Sol Ruca has addressed the online debate that resurfaces annually surrounding her mixed-race heritage, candidly discussing how some fans refuse to accept her background while others come to her defense.
In a conversation with Stephanie McMahon on What's Your Story?, Ruca, who is of mixed Black and white heritage, spoke about the recurring social media scrutiny she faces, particularly during Black History Month.
I feel like a lot of people don't really accept that, or I guess some people accept it, some people don't," she said. "It always baffles my mind every time people start finding out again. I feel like it goes in waves of people.
Defending her identify
Ruca noted that some fans even demand she provide photographic proof of her father, only to then question whether he is "Black enough" to validate her identity. She pushed back on the skepticism simply by asking: "Why would I lie?"
The 26-year-old also reflected on a double-edged dynamic she experienced in sports, where her athletic success was sometimes credited to her Black heritage rather than her own hard work — an attitude she found dismissive of her efforts.
Importantly, Ruca drew a clear distinction in her comments, acknowledging that she does not claim the full lived experience of darker-skinned Black women while still asserting that her mixed identity is valid and deserving of acceptance.
I've never claimed that I'm a black woman. I know I'm mixed, but I still think it should be accepted," she said. "A lot of mixed people have this identity crisis because it's like, 'Where do I fit?' And people are gonna tell you that you're not this, or you're not that.
Ruca concluded on a grounded note, saying that despite the ongoing social media conflict, she remains secure in her sense of self. "I know who I am. I know who my dad is. I know who my mom is. And there's nothing I can do about it."
