Trauma survivors come from all walks of life, all over the world, and while each of us are unique individuals in our own right, our survivor stories is often very similar. It’s that similarity that helps us all connect, relate, and unite in a common goal of healing and awareness.
Those similarities were evident once again, when I recently had the opportunity to speak with Abuse Survivor, Author, Advocate, and Ambassador, Nikki DuBose. It was such a privilege to spend some time talking with Nikki about not only her past; the abuse and trauma that she endured, but also about her advocacy work now and her amazing story of survival.
As a former model, Nikki has spent time in the public spotlight, living and working all over the world, but at the same time, also hiding a secret of a traumatic past that she could not escape.
As you’ll hear during the podcast, Nikki describes her life as a child growing up, enduring repeated domestic and sexual abuse, and living with her mother who suffered from Mental Health challenges such as Bi-Polar and Dissociative Identity Disorder. It’s a story that will tug at your heart as you listen to her share so openly and honestly, about not only her childhood, but also how a career that started out as a dream come true, offering countless opportunities for success, was also taking her down a road of invalidation, self-destruction, and even more abuse; sexually, emotionally, and physically.
Nikki also shares how her faith in God has carried her through this troubled past and into a new world of Healing, and Mental Health and Abuse Survivor Advocacy work. As you listen to her speak passionately about her role as Board President of the Peaceful Hearts Foundation, I’m sure you’ll feel as inspired as I did. Peaceful Hearts was founded by Matthew Sandusky and his wife, Kim, out of the ashes of the “Sandusky Scandal” of 2011-2012. You can read more about it here.
Her message of hope, and being a kindred spirit for childhood sexual abuse survivors, those living with eating disorders, and other mental health challenges, is shining a hopeful light for survivors across the country and around the world.
I encourage you to check out her first memoir, Washed Away: From Darkness to Light, which you can find on Amazon both in paperback and kindle. As described on Amazon: This book recounts the experiences of model Nikki DuBose as she overcomes a more than seventeen-year battle with abuse, child sexual victimization, eating disorders, psychosis, alcoholism, drugs, depression, suicide attempts, body dysmorphic disorder, and various other mental health issues, all while trying to navigate through the dark side of the fashion industry.
If you would like to learn more about Nikki, head over to NikkiDuBose.com – and be sure to follow her on social media, including her YouTube channel where she regularly posts up videos in support of her work as a Mental Health advocate.
You might also be wondering what else Nikki is working on? Well, I’m glad you asked because she is also a Trauma & Eating Disorder Recovery Coach. If you would like more information about possibly working with her and joining her program, head over to NikkiDuboseCoaching.com.
I hope this podcast inspires, encourages, and validates you. Please consider sharing it so we can reach as many as possible with this message of hope.
Thank you again Nikki for the privilege of speaking with you, and I can’t wait do it again on a future podcast!
-Matt
Feature Image courtesy of Pixabay. Pictures of Nikki DuBose used with her permission. Social Media images created using Canva.
