Julia Benville messaged her future fiance, a 7-foot pro basketball player, in 2020. Now her ‘How to Become a WAG’ tutorial is reaching tens of thousands of followers

Morning Honey Staff Wed, October 28, 2026 at 5:15 PM UTC

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Julia Benville is engaged to Josh Sharma. BY: @JULIABENVILLE/INSTAGRAM

Julia Benville messaged professional basketball player Josh Sharma on Instagram in September 2020.

Six years later, the Manhattan medical student is engaged to the seven-foot athlete and shared advice on how other women can meet professional sports players.

Benville, 29, uploaded a tutorial titled “How to Become a WAG,” which caught the attention of her 71,000 online followers.

Benville made a video titled “How to Become a WAG.” BY: @JULIABENVILLE/INSTAGRAM

Her advice largely consisted of telling her audience to be a straight shooter and a go-getter.

Benville encourages women to be direct

Benville believes her approach can help women interested in pursuing athletes.

“Don’t wait around hoping the world is going to magically give you the man of your dreams. Go after him,” she said.

“Just figure out leagues, look up names and team roster pictures, follow [a player] on social media, send him a message and go from there,” Benville added.

Benville is set to marry Sharma in 2028. BY: @JULIABENVILLE/INSTAGRAM

Although she declined to share exactly what she wrote to Sharma, Benville said they exchanged numbers and continued talking through texts and WhatsApp video calls.

“You can meet any athlete on Instagram,” she said. “You gotta be bold. I’m just that type of girl. I’m brave and really straightforward. I saw him, wanted him, went for it and got him. Josh always says my bold approach was really attractive.”

The couple plans to marry in the summer of 2028.

Benville rejected the gold-digger label

Benville said women who date athletes are not necessarily interested in money or status.

“A lot of people think WAGs are b***** who just want to be with athletes for the lifestyle. But that couldn’t be further from the truth,” she said.

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Benville said although she is unable to spend a lot of time with Sharma, the basketball pro buys her gifts to make up for the time apart.

The couple first spoke to each other in 2020. BY: @JOSHARMA20/INSTAGRAM

“My fiancé has been blessed financially, and he’s very generous with me,” she said.

Benville intends to become the household’s sole breadwinner after Sharma’s basketball career ends.

Other women share their approach

Calli Joy Novak, a 29-year-old brand marketing specialist engaged to London Lions player Joshua O’Garro, also met her partner through Instagram messages.

Calli Joy Novak with her partner Joshua O’Garro. BY: @CALLIJOYNOVAK /INSTAGRAM

“We have so much in common, from our faith to our family values and love of sports,” said Novak. “We’re both super driven for success, and we’re both earning a living. I have a great job in corporate America, I make my own money.”

She continued, “My dad taught me to always consider myself the prize in relationships, no matter how much money or celebrity a man brings to the table.”

Novak faced online criticism after joking in a video that she was an “upgrade” from O’Garro’s previous partners.

“The term ‘gold digger’ doesn’t resonate with me, and I hope to help change that narrative,” Novak said. “Our relationship is based on love, not money.”

Relationship coach Paige Osorio said money can be a reasonable dating consideration but should not replace compatibility.

“Money doesn’t automatically make a man a good husband,” she said. “Finances are important. But being morally, emotionally and spiritually aligned are essential, too.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”