El's first foray into professional wrestling occurred when her trainer suggested she try out for the $250,000 WWE Diva Search contest in 2006.
After a casting call, she was selected as one of the finalists.
During the contest, she won two individual competitions, an obstacle course and a talent competition, before winning the overall competition on 16 August.

She made her first official WWE appearance at the 2006 SummerSlam pay-per-view in a backstage segment with several other Divas.
During the segment, the other women initially taunted and teased her before revealing that "it was all in fun" and part of an "initiation".
The week after SummerSlam, El made her debut as a member of the SmackDown!
brand in an interview with Mike "The Miz" Mizanin—although he did not allow her the chance to say much, spending most of the time talking about himself.
Subsequently, she did not appear on television for almost a month, reappearing on the 22 September episode of SmackDown!
and getting into a confrontation with Kristal and Jillian Hall.

At October's No Mercy pay-per-view event, she embarrassed The Miz by tricking him into getting a lap dance from Big Dick Johnson while he was blindfolded and expecting it to be from her as a birthday gift.
On 20 October, Layla participated in a dance contest with the other SmackDown!
Divas, and was chosen as the winner by the judges, Nick and Aaron Carter.
Despite this, The Miz, who was acting as emcee, declared Kristal the winner.
The following week, Layla made her in-ring debut in a Diva's battle royal.
The match ended in controversial fashion when she was pulled from the ring apron by The Miz, allowing Kristal to win.
The following week, Layla teamed with Big Vito in a loss to The Miz and Kristal in a mixed tag team match.
Continuing to feud with Kristal, Layla had her singles match debut on the 1 December episode of SmackDown!,
when she lost to Kristal.
In her final match for the SmackDown!
brand, Layla teamed with Ashley to defeat Kristal and Jillian Hall in a tag team match on 22 December.
El's first foray into professional wrestling occurred when her trainer suggested she try out for the $250,000 WWE Diva Search contest in 2006. After a casting call, she was selected as one of the finalists. During the contest, she won two individual competitions, an obstacle course and a talent competition, before winning the overall competition on 16 August.
She made her first official WWE appearance at the 2006 SummerSlam pay-per-view in a backstage segment with several other Divas. During the segment, the other women initially taunted and teased her before revealing that "it was all in fun" and part of an "initiation". The week after SummerSlam, El made her debut as a member of the SmackDown! brand in an interview with Mike "The Miz" Mizanin—although he did not allow her the chance to say much, spending most of the time talking about himself. Subsequently, she did not appear on television for almost a month, reappearing on the 22 September episode of SmackDown! and getting into a confrontation with Kristal and Jillian Hall.
At October's No Mercy pay-per-view event, she embarrassed The Miz by tricking him into getting a lap dance from Big Dick Johnson while he was blindfolded and expecting it to be from her as a birthday gift. On 20 October, Layla participated in a dance contest with the other SmackDown! Divas, and was chosen as the winner by the judges, Nick and Aaron Carter. Despite this, The Miz, who was acting as emcee, declared Kristal the winner. The following week, Layla made her in-ring debut in a Diva's battle royal. The match ended in controversial fashion when she was pulled from the ring apron by The Miz, allowing Kristal to win. The following week, Layla teamed with Big Vito in a loss to The Miz and Kristal in a mixed tag team match. Continuing to feud with Kristal, Layla had her singles match debut on the 1 December episode of SmackDown!, when she lost to Kristal. In her final match for the SmackDown! brand, Layla teamed with Ashley to defeat Kristal and Jillian Hall in a tag team match on 22 December.
Layla El