From Royal Winnipeg Ballet to the wrestling ring, Taya Valkyrie defies conventional career paths.
In short: Kira Renée Magnin-Forster, known as Taya Valkyrie, transitioned from a classically trained ballerina to a decorated professional wrestler. Her journey spans international promotions, including AAA in Mexico, Impact Wrestling, and AEW. Beyond the ring, she has navigated film roles, reality television, and fitness modelling, cementing a diverse and unconventional career.
Born in 1983, Forster began her physical training in gymnastics and dance at age four, eventually studying at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. By 2005, she pivoted toward fitness competitions, placing first in the 2010 CBBF Canadian Championships. Her professional wrestling career began in 2010 after graduating from Lance Storm's wrestling academy. Initially planning a six-week stay in Mexico, she was persuaded to remain by El Hijo del Perro Aguayo, launching a prolific career in the Lucha Libre circuit.
Valkyrie is perhaps best known for her tenure in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, where she became a record-tying four-time Reina de Reinas Champion. Her first reign lasted 945 days, a record that stood until 2026. Her time in Impact Wrestling was equally significant; she became the longest-reigning Impact Knockouts Champion with a 377-day tenure. Her versatility is evidenced by her success across multiple promotions, including holding the MLW Women's Featherweight Championship and two Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Championships.
Her career has not been limited to the squared circle. In 2019, she filmed a role for the action movie Unchained, released in 2021, and was cast in the abandoned fourth season of Netflix's GLOW. In 2026, she appeared as a contestant on The Traitors Canada. Married to fellow wrestler John Hennigan, Valkyrie continues to evolve her professional identity, recently joining the MxM TV stable in AEW and competing in CMLL tournaments. Her trajectory reflects a unique synthesis of athletic discipline and performance art.
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