WASHINGTON — Wrestling stars have been paying tribute to the winner of a WWE reality show who has died at the age of 30.

Sara Lee won the 2015 edition of Tough Enough — an elimination-style program launched to find new talent to join the company.

According to local media, Sara was a track star and powerlifter at her US high school before she embarked on her wrestling career.

Her mother Terri Lee announced the death in a statement posted online.

"It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our Sarah Weston has gone to be with Jesus," she wrote. "We are all in shock."

Lee, from the US state of Michigan, was awarded a $250,000 contract after her winning appearance on Tough Enough, but was released the following year.

She was married to former WWE wrestler Cory James Weston, known as Westin Blake.

Wrestling star Saraya, formerly known as Paige, was among those to pay tribute to Sara, describing her as a "very sweet human who I got the pleasure to know and work with". — BBC