The 12-Year-Old Who Took on the System and Won
Picture this: A 12-year-old girl sits in a federal courthouse, facing down a school board determined to keep her off the wrestling team - not because she wasn't good enough, but because she was a girl. They claimed it was about "protecting" me. In reality, they were about to learn a powerful lesson about underestimating young women.
What happened next would make national headlines, set legal precedents, and change the landscape of women's sports in Pennsylvania. But that's just where this story begins.
In my upcoming memoir UNPINNED, I take you behind the headlines into the raw reality: facing sexual harassment threats at twelve years old, weathering vicious online comments, and still stepping onto that mat as a legal pioneer. From there, the journey twists through Olympic dreams, health battles, and an unexpected path that led me from wrestling headlines to wedding aisles - where I now capture love stories as a live event painter.
But here's what makes this story different: it's not just about wrestling or art or legal battles. It's about that fire inside that tells you to keep fighting when everyone says stop. It's about finding beauty in the struggle and strength in vulnerability. And sometimes, it's about discovering that your greatest victories might look nothing like what you originally imagined.
UNPINNED features 20-25 original artworks, bringing these pivotal moments to life in vivid color. It's a visual and literary journey through determination, transformation, and the unexpected ways our battles shape us.
Pre-orders are now available for this March 2, 2025 release. Join me for my first book reading on January 21st at Seed2Cup Coffee in Oakdale, CA, where I'll be sharing excerpts and the stories behind the artwork.
Sometimes the best stories aren't about where you end up, but about all the ways you refused to back down along the way.