Speaking Out. Anti-Bullying.

I grew up poor, born and raised in the projects of Whitecenter. After my Dad’s death, my Mom had to work 3 jobs to provide for Me and my older sister. Then my Mom met the love of her life, her wife of over 28 years. My sister and I took 3 metro buses across town to attend Summit K-12, an alternative School of the Arts. I had a reading disability and was grades behind until Mrs. Pennington took me under her wing. I signed with an agent when I was 8 years old and started diving in.

I wouldn’t change a thing about my parents, or how I was raised…but it was the people, the bullies who broke me down, throwing words, fists and leaving me scarred…

“You’re Short” “Flat Chested” “Ghetto” “K-Mart Kickers” “Trash” “Clown Face” “Your Mom’s a Leather Dyke” “Dumbass” “Rat’s Nest Hair”

From the age of 7 years old till about 13, I was torn down. There was one girl and boy who went out of their way to beat me down emotionally and sometimes physically…

High-school was better but a whole other kind of self-discovery. I blurred College with substance and creation to escape. Then when I was 20 years old, I moved to Los Angeles and it all started again. On top of back to back partners who made me feel invisible…

“You need a boob job” “Lose weight” “get botox” “Get a nose job” “You’re too ethnic” “You’re too short” “Afro hair”

Why am I posting this? Because I feel like many of us push forward, smile for the camera, and keep battles to ourselves. But battles are better won with an army! How I wish I knew how to not let them slowly chip at me until I broke.

It took me years to find myself again, my Mom and sister, have ALWAYS been by my side and make me a stronger woman. Then 13 years ago, I met David S Hogan, the first partner who makes me feel beautiful, loved and needed EVERYDAY.

And I have to give a special thank you to my Directors of #BridesToBe, Lindy Boustedt, Kris Boustedt and the cast and crew. I was surrounded by people who made me feel welcome, cared for, talented, sexy, and respected.

This is a difficult career to tackle, let alone LIFE is hard enough. Surround yourself with people who love you for YOU. Never let someone else tell you what you are or who you should be. My New Year’s resolution will be to listen to myself, do what’s best for me, and follow my own advice…

Be Daring. Be Honest. Be YOURSELF. Be Mighty.