Recreating the rival ring personas from GLOW comes down to the stark visual contrast between Liberty Belle’s sunny Southern pageantry and Zoya the Destroya’s exaggerated Soviet heel theatrics. Both characters rely on classic 1980s wrestling staples—high-cut leotards, specialized athletic footwear, and unmistakable hair—meaning the build succeeds or fails on getting specific signature pieces right.
Because both outfits are functional athletic wear, construction is straightforward. Rather than complex tailoring, your effort goes toward sourcing the correct base cuts and styling the hair to match the era’s oversized television aesthetic.
Liberty Belle: Patriotic Ring Wear
Liberty Belle’s ring costume centers on an unabashedly patriotic motif. The core foundation is a stars and stripes leotard with a traditional athletic scoop neckline. A matte or low-sheen spandex base keeps the garment grounded in authentic period ring wear rather than modern performance dancewear. Match the stars and stripes with striped wrist bands in red, white, and blue positioned squarely on the mid-forearm.
Liberty Belle Footwear and Socks
Wrestling footwear needs a flat, stable sole and high-ankle support. White high top wrestling shoes match Debbie’s in-ring look while offering genuine mobility for moving around event floors. Pair them with basic white crew socks, like Hanes comfort socks, worn scrunched down loosely around the top rim of each boot collar rather than pulled tight over the calves.
Teased Hair and Pageant Styling
Debbie Eagan’s wrestling hair demands dramatic volume and height. A long dirty blonde wig with soft waves or crimped body provides the necessary fullness. Gently backcomb the crown sections to build height, then slide a solid red headband over the hairline to push the front volume up and backward. Setting the styled crown with a firm hairspray prevents the heavy teasing from wilting under warm venue lighting.
Zoya the Destroya: Ring Gear and Soviet Motifs
Ruth‘s heel persona strips away all ornament in favor of cold, utilitarian ring gear. Start with a solid racerback leotard in dark gray. The cut should be athletic and minimalist. While a plain charcoal leotard establishes the silhouette immediately, applying red felt or heat-transfer vinyl lettering across the chest to spell out CCCP brings it into screen-accurate heel territory.
Zoya Ushanka and Heel Footwear
The defining accessory for Zoya is the black Russian ushanka faux fur hat, worn with the ear flaps tied up at the crown during ring entrances. Underneath the hat, use a medium length brown wig cut with a textured shag and soft fringe around the temples, letting messy, unbrushed pieces frame the jawline beneath the fur.
For footwear, black women’s boxing shoes from Puma provide the slim, high-top ankle profile typical of 1980s wrestling heels. The lace-up front and lightweight black leather complement the dark leotard, keeping the lower half sleek and aggressive.
Stage Makeup for Both Personas
Exaggerated 1980s wrestling makeup sets the two personas apart instantly. Liberty Belle wears bold frosted pink lipstick, heavy peach blush swept high toward the temples, and defined mascara. Zoya requires sharp, angular villain makeup: darkened, drawn-in brows with a severe arch, sharp contour beneath the cheekbones, and a deep matte berry or red lip.
