Alicia's Story: I'm A Survivor

I identify with the brand because of the things I've been through in my life. I've dealt with rape, being molested as a child beaten and abused by men over the years, I was kidnapped and held at gunpoint and raped and beaten, and I should have died that day, I didn't and I am here today to tell my story and speak out to give other women strength who can't pull it out on their own.

Life hasn't been easy for me. When growing up as a biracial child, I wasn't black enough for the black girls, I wasn't white enough for the white girls so I was kind of alone. Not so much alone, but I was a tomboy so I hung out with my best friend who was a little boy and it got me in some really bad situations. I was gang raped when I was 8 years old by my so called best friends brothers and his friends, they came over, pinned me down and had their way with me. I was molested as a child by my grandfather and never told anybody until I was 34. 45 I was kidnapped and beaten and at gunpoint by a man that I could tell you who he was if he walked up to me right now, when I was 18 years old and how I made it out of there alive that's only the grace of God. I also struggled with addiction through my life my for 30 years and proud to say that I'm going on years clean. 

I was an active drug user all through my teens, I mean growing up in early in my twenties moving from California's to Kentucky (there is absolutely nothing to do here but drugs and getting trouble) so it took me getting in trouble being put in what's called drug court and going to prison to actually look back on my life in the things that happened to me as a child. God gives his hardest battles to strongest soldiers and I learned how to use that and use my story to help other women who are afraid to come out about things that happened to them as a child or growing up. I actually had a nail salon that I would hold nightly meetings twice a week for women who want to get away from the husband and the key isn't just to be able to come vent and talk about things that are bothering them for that hour and a 1/2 2 hours. I felt like the things that I had learned by dealing with everything I did growing up in a bigger inner city like California and bringing my knowledge here to these ladies in the small towns was an adjustment, they didn't know how to take me. They either hated me or loved me because my personality is very blunt and bold, and sometimes it can come off as being rude or hateful. So, it took a long time for people to actually like me around here. I don't sugar coat things, I don't lie, I'm big on honesty and that just my thing.

Now after being 4 years sober, I'm in a relationship. We've been together 8 years, been married for a year and our kids are grown. Working every day, I flag for the power company and still live in Kentucky. I've been here in my forties and actually been able to live like normal life. I can actually enjoy my life and not be worried that something gonna happen or worried about Bill to find drugs or worry about any of that. I'm not rich, but I do spend money on Beautiful Disaster but because I really believe in your in the brand. I know that a lot of women tell you that and they believe in you in, that they love the brand, but this is a different reason. I don't care to about spending money with you all, I'll buy whatever I can from you  because I wish that when I was 1st going through my struggle I knew about you all then.

I'm glad that I know about you now and am excited happy to get to do this with you all and buy your clothes. You are awesome and I absolutely adore what you stand for. And I really really mean that I really do. I believe more women need to know! I took a chance with you guys and I am so happy that I did.  I am doing what I can to get your name out here in Kentucky and that's just because I really am glad that you all stand for. It's very hard to pick one favorite line from you all, but right now out of all the items I've got so far, the Perfectly Imperfect clothes are my favorite. Thank you so much for reading or listening to my story!