I believed from an early age that beauty was primarily how you appeared to everyone else and that you were always dressing to impress others. When I was older and not under my parents' rule, I learned that beauty can come from within, too, and to dress and apply makeup (or not) in a way that makes you, personally, feel beautiful. Now I believe that a kind and compassionate soul is beautiful.

I had a rough childhood with its fair share of trauma. Mostly it was emotional and verbal abuse that my sisters and I were put through. After college I had finally had enough of the abuse and cut my abuser from my life. I ended up building a beautiful and amazing life with my husband of 7 years and our two daughters, ages 2 and 4. Standing up for myself, cutting out the negatives, and just saying screw it to anyone who got in my way and said different is what got me where I am. It let me be me, find meaningful relationships, and heal.

I embrace the weirdness that is my personality. I recently started my own entertainment business, performing for parties and events as a professional mermaid! Because of everything I've been through, I feel that I am rather empathetic to most people, even those that I feel have hurt me. Some people assume empathy is a weakness, but I believe it's powerful. Being a jerk to people is so unneeded. If you are a kind, compassionate person who is trying their best in this crazy world and life, then you are out of this world beautiful!