Born on August 31, 1979 and raised in Montpelier, Virginia, Mickie Laree James began her wrestling career began when she attended a professional wrestling school in the Washington, D.C. In 1999, she made her professional debut on the independent circuit as a valet for KYDA Pro Wrestling under the ring name Alexis Laree. She began managing several male wrestlers such as Tommy Dreamer, who won the KYDA Pro Heavyweight Championship. Meanwhile, she further trained in wrestling by attending camps such as the Funking Conservatory, a workshop run by Dory Funk, Jr., and an Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) dojo. She began competing for Maryland Championship Wrestling, where she trained at camps run by Ricky Morton and Bobby Eaton, and worked as a waitress to cover her bills.
James was later featured on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's pay-per-view under her Alexis Laree gimmick as a participant in a lingerie battle royal. She teamed up with Amazing Red against TNA X Division Champion Kid Kash and TNA Knockout Trinity and became the first and only woman to compete in a Clockwork Orange House of Fun match.
WWE sent her to train at Ohio Valley Wrestling in August 2003, and by January 2004, she made appearances on OVW, using the name Alexis Laree. She won over Mike Mondo in a tournament for the OVW Television Championship in one round, but lost to Blaster Lashley in the next round.
James debuted in WWE on October 2005, using the gimmick of WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus' biggest fan. She dressed like Stratus and helped Stratus retain the Women's Championship in a Fulfill Your Fantasy Battle Royal at Taboo Tuesday by eliminating herself and Victoria at the same time. By December, she became the number one contender for the Women's Title after defeating Victoria in a match to determine who would face Stratus at New Year's Revolution.
In March 2006, James teamed up with Stratus to defeat Candice Michelle and Victoria. After Stratus kissed James, James made a complete heel turn by attacking Stratus in the ring and later vowing to destroy her. The two fought at WrestleMania 22, in which James threw Stratus out of the ring, thus dislocating Stratus' shoulder.
(Photo courtesy of WWE)