KALYX Woman of the Week: Rebecca Cardon

This week, I am so excited to honor Rebecca Cardon as the KALYX "Woman of the Week."  I first met this incredible woman when she slipped into a sexy, stylish and supportive KALYX sports bra and stood by my side as I dared to swim the sharks on ABC's reality show "Shark Tank" in September 2009.  I have to admit, I was envious of her incredible abs then as I am now - this woman rocks!

Rebecca's no stranger to reality TV.  You might have seen her on the Amazing Race, on WorkOut, on Oprah, and, currently, helping recovering addicts get back into the fitness groove on Dr. Drew's Celebrity Rehab.  It's my great pleasure to celebrate Rebecca's adventurous spirit, her playful nature, and, her incredible professionalism.  Her lifelong commitment to adventure and fitness are an inspiration to us all!

Rebecca gives KALYX the scoop:

On training Celebrities in Rehab: Much different then training non-addicts because they are sick, many coming off hardcore substance abuse. The last thing they want to do is work out. But it is an important part of the process because energy that was used in negative ways prior to rehab can now be expended in a healthier manner.

Its always a challenge to try and motivate those going through alcohol and drug rehabilitation. Some are receptive, like Dennis Rodman and Phil Varone, who were always so enthusiastic about our workouts. Most of the others preferred to sit and watch while smoking cigarettes

On making the commitment to get fit & fabulous: Taking the steps to changing your life is a struggle whether you are an addict or not. There is no "quick fix," I’m not certain people understand that. What I offer is a lifestyle change...an alternative way to thinking and living. Certainly my workouts are customized according to injury, level, strength and stamina, and, I approach every client with the same gusto…I always tell them - showing up is half the work!

On meeting Oprah: Wow. One word - surreal. She makes you feel like you’re old friends! I was surprised I was able to put a sentence together; she has such a calming effect…feels like you’re the only two in the room. She has such presence and charisma…talking to her makes it easy understand why this world is drawn to her.

Rebecca Cardon wearing the KALYX Extremist Sports Bra 

As seen on ABC's Shark Tank

THE KALYX QUESTIONS...

Vital Stats: 

Name: Rebecca Lynn Cardon

Birthplace: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Where you live: Los Angeles, CA

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Nicknames: Bec

Pets: surrogate to my roommate’s doggies..Dr.J and McLovin

Bra Size: 34 A/B 

_____________________________________________

Favorites Things:

Vacation Spot: I vary it up. my favs include Capri, Italy, Greek Islands, and, London

Writer: David Sedaris

Cocktail: Kettle soda LOTS of lime

Ice Cream: blackberry cobbler

Flower: gardenia

Perfume: Escada Moon Sparkle

Pair of Shoes: Over the knee black boots from Topshop. LOVELOVELOVE

_____________________________________________

Just for Fun:

What's your best physical feature? I like my feet

What 3 things can always be found in your refrigerator? Diet Hansen’s black cherry soda. One Coconut Water…and chicken potstickers from Traders

What's your favorite form of exercise? weight training

What's one article of clothing you can't live without? my UGGS

What color underwear are you wearing right now? white cotton...so comfy

Blackberry or iPhone? Neither - Voyager!!! 

 _____________________________________________

The Nitty Gritty
 

What is your idea of perfect happiness?  boarding a plane heading to somewhere magical

What is your greatest fear? airplane takeoffs

What is your guilty pleasure?  Jersey Shore and french fries

What is your current state of mind?  hopeful and optimistic

Which super power would you most like to have? invisible

When and where were you happiest?  The day CBS called and said "Rebecca, Congrats! You are on the new season of The Amazing Race"

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?  I wish the thoughts in my head about myself were kinder at times

What do you consider your greatest achievement?  Breaking the World Record in Bench Press when I was 17 and appearing on Good Morning America for doing so

Where would you most like to live? Hotel hopping around the World 

What is your motto? EVERYTHING in moderation

_____________________________________________

Secrets Shared... 

Your hardest life lesson learned? Pain=Growth

Your gnarliest wipeout? Skiing in a complete whiteout…hit a jump going full speed....YARD SALE

Your best advice to other women?

• Say "I love you" to yourself OUT LOUD at least 5x a day (I say it at red lights)...it will change everything.

• Don’t take things personally...most times things have NOTHING to do with you

• FLOSS FLOSS FLOSS

All about Rebecca:

Many people recognize Rebecca Cardon from the sixth season of "The Amazing Race "or from Bravo’s docu-drama, "WorkOut", but her interest in physical fitness can be traced back to her early childhood. Cardon’s family, which is made up of several fitness enthusiasts, heavily influenced her passion for physical fitness. 

At the age of five, Rebecca’s father took her to the gym and rewarded her with a candy bar every time she completed a set number of pull-ups. Enamored by the overwhelming sense of accomplishment, Rebecca moved on to later compete with her father in the world of competitive weight lifting. In her senior year of high school, she appeared with her father on "Good Morning America" as father/daughter world record holders for the bench press. That record is still in place today.

Majoring in Broadcast Journalism and Communication, Cardon graduated from George Mason University. Rebecca relocated to Los Angeles shortly after and has been a television fitness personality ever since. In 2005, Rebecca and her then boyfriend competed in the Emmy award winning series, “The Amazing Race.” The race consisted of eleven teams racing 40,000 miles across four continents, stopping in 24 different cities, and the two personal trainers completed the race, ultimately placing third. Deemed "the strongest female competitor the race has ever seen" by The Early Show's Harry Smith, Cardon completed the more difficult tasks for her team along the way, taking the reigns and leading them around the world and across the finish line.

In 2006, Rebecca signed onto the Bravo docu-drama, “Work Out.” The series, which ran three seasons, follows Rebecca’s life as a personal trainer at Sky Sport and Spa in Beverly Hills. Flirtatious and uninhibited, Rebecca’s actions and interactions with the other members of the Sky Sport staff led to some of the most talked about moments of the series.

Rebecca can be seen as the spokesperson for several fitness products including "The Bun and Thigh Track" and "The Bean", which are currently airing world-wide and have sold over one million units. She has also anchored and hosted several entertainment shows, including “The Daily Pop” and the E! Radio Network’s “Reality This Week”, which aired on Sirius and XM satellite radio. In March of 2009, Rebecca appeared on The "Oprah Winfrey Show" and in Oprah's April 2009 issue of "O Magazine". A few months later, she joined the staff of the immensely popular "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" as the group's personal trainer; watch it now on VH1.

To learn more about Rebecca, visit her site: rebeccacardon.com

KALYX Sports Bra Commercial - Director's Cut

We love it! So exciting to see Team KALYX in action, and, loving the KALYX sports bras being put to the test.  These ladies ROCK!

KALYX Woman of the Week: Holly Beck

On behalf of everyone at Team KALYX, I am thrilled to honor Holly Beck as our newest "KALYX Woman of the Week."  Not only is Holly one of the best female surfers on the planet, she is also an accomplished model, writer, actress adventurer, writer, entrepreneur and spokesperson for Body Glove, Rusty Surfboards, Sector 9 Skateboards, Bravo Condoms, Dakine and savethewaves.org. 

We asked Holly to share her amazing story, in her own words...

When I was 14, I desperately wanted to learn to surf but my old-fashioned mother kept telling me, “Surfing is for boys. You should be sitting on the beach looking cute in a bikini, not out competing with them. You’ll never get a boyfriend that way!”

I didn’t listen. By the time I was 15 I had saved up enough babysitting money to buy myself a surfboard and a wetsuit. This was in the pre-Blue Crush era, before girls with surfboards were everywhere. I was shy and intimidated by the boys. Without any guidance or coaching, I was forced to learn by trial and error. I focused all my energy on learning to surf and was able to pick it up quickly. Soon I had fallen hopelessly in love with the ocean.

During high school I surfed as much as possible and started entering surf contests. I got sponsored by Rusty Surfboards a month before my 17th birthday, partly as a model, and made my first of what would become an annual winter pilgrimage to the North Shore of Oahu.

After graduating from Peninsula High School in Palos Verdes, CA in 1998, I enrolled at the University of California, San Diego, conveniently perched along the cliffs overlooking one of the best beach breaks in the world. I collected a few more contest wins and sponsorship stickers and began to think that a career in professional surfing was a real possibility for me. At that point I started sacrificing surf time to load up on extra courses and summer school and set a goal to graduate in just three years.

In June of 2001, I graduated from UCSD with a degree in psychology, won the NSSA National Open Championships, officially turned pro, and ecstatically began living my dream of traveling the world as a professional surfer.

Over the next seven years I dragged my board bag through airports all over the world for contests and photo shoots. I went to all the standard surfing destinations like France, South Africa, Peru, Mexico, Tahiti, Fiji, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, and the Maldives. I checked out some of the less frequented spots like Ecuador, England, Portugal, Panama, Haiti, and Tonga. I even collected passport stamps from a few places you might not have even heard of like Sao Tome, Gabon, the Seychelles, and the Andaman Islands.

It was incredible. I met so many inspirational people in so many interesting places. But the constant jet-lag, living out of a bag, foreign bed dramas started to wear on me. I started craving a bit more routine in my life, a little more consistency. But I also wanted good waves in warm water.

In 2004, my boyfriend Ryan and I took a trip to Nicaragua. We rented a little car and drove all over the country exploring. We spent more time driving than surfing, but saw a lot of coastline and got a good feel for the country. A year later we returned and started falling in love with the waves and people. Of all the places I’ve travelled, Nicaragua is the only one that I’ve really wanted to call home.

By 2008, we had purchased four different pieces of property and even started building a little house. I formed a new dream of living in Nicaragua full time. We began brainstorming ideas for how to sustain ourselves both financially and mentally, and came up with the idea to create a retreat for female surfers.  As further proof that if you want something bad enough and are prepared to work for it anything is possible, in Spring 2010 Suave Dulce will open.

Currently, Holly is working on a book about her globe-trotting experiences as a pro surfer. You can keep tabs on her latest adventures by following her blog, "Holly Beck Surfs."  Interested in learning how to ride like Holly?  Check out her newly opened surf camp & yoga retreat for women - Suave Dulce - in Nicaragua.

 

THE KALYX QUESTIONS... 

Vital Stats:

Name: Holly Beck

Birthplace:  Palos Verdes, CA

Where you live: Redondo Beach, CA

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Nicknames: 

Pets: 3 dogs that live at my house in Nicaragua. A mother and her two pups.

Bra Size: KALYX medium

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Favorites Things:

Vacation Spot: Baja California

Writer: Tom Robbins, John Kerouac, Ken Kesey, Aldous Huxley, Kurt Vonnegut

Cocktail: A microbrewed IPA

Ice Cream: mint chip

Flower: plumeria

Perfume: sea salt and wood smoke

Pair of Shoes: barefoot

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Just for Fun:

What's your best physical feature? Washboard abs

What 3 things can always be found in your refrigerator? Heavy cream for coffee, microbrewed beer, New Zealand grass fed sharp cheddar cheese

What's your favorite form of exercise? I don’t exercise, I play. That could involve surfing, skateboarding, hiking, etc.

What's one article of clothing you can't live without? Body Glove bikini

What color underwear are you wearing right now? Underwear? What’s that?

Blackberry or iPhone? Iphone!!!

---

The Nitty Grity

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Losing myself in enjoyment of this moment, whatever it is I happen to be doing.

What is your greatest fear? paralysis

What is your guilty pleasure? I don’t believe in feeling guilty about pleasure, but I guess sometimes I feel guilty about too much time spent editing videos on my computer.

What is your current state of mind? Excited about the day. (it’s 5:45 am and im up with coffee waiting for sunrise so I can skate down and check the surf)

Which super power would you most like to have? The ability to snap my fingers and appear somewhere else in the world

When and where were you happiest? At my home in Nicaragua, every time I’m there.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would be less selfish.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Graduating from UCSD in three years then spending the last ten years getting paid to surf and explore the world.

Where would you most like to live? I would most like to spend at least six months living in Nicaragua, three months living in California, and the other three living out of a bag while on the road in far reaching corners of the globe.

What is your motto? As far as we know, we only get one life. Enjoy each and every moment. Live on the edge, because it’s more exciting that way.

---

Secrets Shared...

Your hardest life lesson learned? You must learn forgiveness in order to truly love.

Your gnarliest wipeout? I was towed into massive waves in Tahiti, got a little overconfident and didn’t make one. In the space of about ten minutes I got the biggest wave, heaviest tube, and gnarliest wipeout of my life.

Your best advice to other women? Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do something. If you believe in yourself, anything is possible. 

THANK YOU, HOLLY!

Look Who's Wearing a KALYX Sports Bra...

Just got the latest February 22, 2010 issue of Life & Style Magazine.

There I was, sitting at my desk, flipping through the pages, catching up on all the latest juicy gossip, when, something familiar, yet, unexpected caught my eye - a KALYX sports bra.  I mean, the bra wasn't on my desk...it was in the magazine! 

There it was, a KALYX sports bra.  A "snow" colored KALYX Centered Reversible Yoga Bra, jumping off the page at me.  My first thought?  Omg, that's my bra.  My second thought?  Damn, Jennifer Aniston looks good - she had got one fabulous figure! And then?  Okay, I admit...I had to do a little dance around the office.  Call me crazy, but, this photo made my day...     

You can catch up on all things KALYX by visiting our web site - goKALYX.com.

Tune in tomorrow to read the questions we posed to the our newest KALYX "Woman of the Week" award winner!

XOXO...

Happy Valentine's Day!

From everyone at KALYX

Oh, Canada...

Oh, Canada.

The Vancouver Olympics kicked into high gear last night with a spectacular opening ceremony. More than 80 countries are represented in to 2010 Winter Games and each nation was introduced to the Canadian audience during the “Parade of Nations.”

I love watching the games – so much anticipation and excitement. Watching the thrill of victory, and, the agony of defeat; it’s all the stuff that makes sports addicting . I also love watching to see what everyone is wearing. Outfitting the Olympic Teams is serious business!  With a little luck, I hope one day KALYX sports bras will be protecting the precious assets of Olympic athletes. :)

Last night, I watched the opening ceremonies with one of my favorite Canadians, Team KALYX Calendar girl Jamie Lanfranco. Jamie’s a Vancouver native, and, she had lots to say about what folks were wearing, her favorite things in Canada, and, a few fun facts about our neighbors to the North.

Jamie in the KALYX Kickstart Extreme Sports Bra

Following is, well, our running conversation throughout the opening ceremonies.  I think Jamie got a little annoyed with some of my questions but she was a good sport.  I'm including a couple of fun photos, and, a sneak peak at some of the fashions we are eager to see in action over the next few days.  Enjoy!

Interview with a Canadian…

Jamie, tell us about Vancouver: It’s breathtaking. Always a beautiful contrast everywhere you look. The most awesome thing about Vancouver is that you can do almost anything imaginable in one day – sailing, swimming, skiing, and skating. The people are wonderful, and, the city is so beautiful at night.

What’s up with the “Whistler Weather?”  It’s foggy in Whistler.  Also, people should know, it doesn’t rain all the time in Vancouver.

Where exactly are they holding the games? The Winter Olympics are taking place all over the lower mainland, including Whistler, Vancouver, and Cypress Mountain, where I learned to snowboard after work on Wednesdays.

Favorite place to snowboard in Canada? Big White in Kelowna

Who's Your Favorite Canadian Athlete? You mean other than Wayne Gretzky? Seriously, Canada has a great Olympic team this year, I support them all.

Favorite Canadian Dinner?  Fresh Moose Steak.

"Fresh?"  Yes, fresh.  My dad hunts.

Also, Poutine. French fries with cheese curds and gravy.

Why do they call it "KD" in Canada? You mean Kraft Dinner?

No, I mean Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.  We call it Kraft Dinner. We eat it with Ketchup

Favorite Olympic Sports? Hockey, Curling, Speed Skating.

What do you want Americans visiting to Canada to know about your country? That a “parkade” is not an alternative to butter, it’s where you park your car.

You mean a parking garage? Yes, a parkade.

Favorite American in the Olympics? Apolo Ohno.

Do you speak French? Oui

"The Parade of Nations" Jamie & Me - Color Commentary.

Me: Okay, here we go - it cost people like $1,000 a ticket, I hope this is good!

Jamie: That bear looks like the Stay Puft Marsh-mellow Man.

Jamie: Andorra? I’ve never heard of it. 83,000 people in the country. 6 athletes. Amazing.

Me:  The guys from Bermuda are wearing shorts.  Imagine that.

Jamie:  Loving the white coats the flag bearers are wearing!

Me.  Azerbaijan. Nice Pants.

Jamie: Fabulous outfits.

Me: Czech Republic.  OMG. Craziness.

Me: Hey - the French outfits are kind of boring, I expected more from the country that gave us Chanel Surfboards.  Did you see their skiercross team?  Everyone's wearing hot pink, from head to toe.  And, they bedazzled the back - it says FRANCE in big rhinestones. It's wild.

Jamie: Germany. They look like ice cream cones.

Me:  Georgia.  Such a sad day for them.  How hard to march in the parade after losing a team member.

Jamie:  Yes, it was tragic. A very sad way to start the Olympics.  It's been all over the news, it was awful to see the pictures.

Me:  Those are the events that scare me - luge, skeleton, bobsled.  I don't think I am cut out for that stuff, those guys are really brave...

Jamie: India. A country with 1.1 Billion people but only 3 athletes?  Italy. So chic. What a nice coat.

Me (a bit distracted as am searching for Olympic fashion facts on Google):  Ooh, yeah, that is classy.  The Italians are so stylish.  Hey, speaking of stylish - check this out.  Rodarte designed this for the figure skaters.  It's crochet.  Is someone really going to wear that?

Jamie: Mongolia. Gold Dress and Fur Hat? Stunning.

Me: Nepal.  I want a hat like that.  What a groovy flag.

TV Commentary: It's world’s only non-rectangular flag.

Jamie: Netherlands. Very slick.

Me: Pumpkin is the best color...is that the stuff by Asics?  They make the best running shoes.

Jamie: Russians. LOVE the pattern on the jackets.

 Me (still Google stalking): Check out the Uniforms for the US Bobsled team, from the guys at Under Armour.  They are so Evel Knievel.

Me: OMG – aren’t the Indians tired by now?

Jamie: Hey, they are not Indians.  They are the First Nations Peoples.

Me: Well, Matt Lauer just called them aboriginal people; Bob Costas refers to them as indigenous people. Are those Hula Hoops?

Jamie: They’ve been dancing for over an hour now. No, those are not Hula Hoops.

Me: Hey, where are the women commentators on NBC tonight?

Jamie: Slovenia. The coats. How cute are they? The flag girl is super pretty.

Me (again, with a little help from Google): the Slovenian is Tina Maze, she's an Alpine Skier.  All the Skiers are so cute.  Did you see Lindsey Vonn on the cover of SI?  I hope her leg heals so she can race...

Me: Team USA. Love the hats. Ralph Lauren designed everything...

 Jamie: That's so American. Shaun White, he’s so cute.

Jamie:  Team Canada. Made by Hudson Bay Company this year. I like the plaid scarves. Canada rocks.  Love the solid red coat. It’s a good, strong, proud coat. It’s like they are saying, make yourself at home and then we are going to kick your ass.

The end!

Yummy Goodness...

Ooh la la!  Valentine's Day is almost upon us.  Right now, I am thinking about neither boobs nor KALYX sports bras nor business.  Today I'm all about sweet treats. 

What tops my list of things I love most about living in LA?   Cupcakes. Seriously, this city is CRAZY for cupcakes.  Surprising, isn't it?  Hey - every so often, a girl's gotta take a break from working on her fitness business in order to treat herself to some sugary yummy goodness.  

Following is a quick list of my favorite bakeries in and around LA.  I think I've got the city covered; although, if I am missing someplace special, let me know!  Here goes...Sprinkles in Beverly Hills, Violet's in Pasadena, Couture Cupcakes in Manhattan Beach, Yummy Cupcakes in Santa Monica, Big Sugar Bakeshop in Studio City, and, Big Man Bakes in Downtown LA.

What would a blog posting about cupcakes be without a few sweet and sassy photos to tantalize your tastebuds.  You have to love the last photo, who doesn't want a cupcake with SNOG written on it for St. Valentine's Day? Enjoy! 

 

   

 

 

KALYX Woman of the Week: Mandy Ingber

On behalf of everyone at KALYX, I am thrilled to honor Mandy Ingber as our first "KALYX Woman of the Week."  She is a remarkable woman of rare substance and true style.  See what secrets Mandy has to share and learn some fun facts about this amazing woman...    

 

 Learn more about Mandy

 "Having the body you want begins with loving the body you have.” This attitude of acceptance has been very effective in terms of changing bodies.

Mandy Ingber is one of the most popular yoga and fitness instructors in Los Angeles, selling out classes by motivating people through her light-hearted approach and unique teaching style. It is her ability to connect with a wide range of students which makes her accessible to the yoga novice as well as the professional athlete.

Mandy has been named “Best of LA” in LA Weekly and Los Angeles Magazine for her motivation, inspiration and the unprecedented popularity of her now legendary classes. She has been a wellness and inspirational spokesperson for Crystal Light, and a contributing editor to the Health and Beauty blog on Glamnet. She has also been an event headliner for the People Magazine A-List Workout and a tastemaker in Los Angeles Magazine’s Design Book LA. Daily Candy nominated her music playlists “The Best Of Sound”. Mandy is featured regularly in publications, such as Self, InStyle, Vogue, Los Angeles, LA Weekly, People, Us, Life&Style, Glamour, Talk, Vanity Fair, and others. She has appeared on E!, Access Hollywood, VH1s Hollywood’s Tightest Bodies, and Extra.

Ingber’s public appeal grew when she did a spread in SELF magazine in 2006 with client Jennifer Aniston. Other clients include Ricki Lake, Brooke Shields, Woody Harrelson, jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer, and Helen Hunt, who gave her credit on the red carpet for getting her body “Oscar-ready.”

 

Mandy recently launched her new “Yogalosophy” DVD.  "I have found that changing my attitude affects my emotions, and my body changes accordingly," says Mandy.  "Sometimes I am motivated by nurture, sometimes by intensity. My motivational hybrid technique revolves around cycles of change. Yogalosophy can help you use the natural flow to recreate your body through intentions, emotions, and other motivational triggers." 

THE KALYX QUESTIONS...

Vital Stats:

Name:  Mandy Ingber

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California

Where you live: Santa Monica , California

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn, Scorpio rising, Gemini moon

Nicknames: Mag, Maggie, Mandala, Goat, Nelson

Pets: no

Bra Size: (According to the KALYX measuring tape!) 33 C

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Favorites Things:

Vacation Spot: Hawaii

Writer:  Henry Miller

Cocktail: Dirty Martini

Ice Cream: Coconut milk ice cream

Flower: Orchid

Perfume: Child, Vanilla oil

Pair of Shoes:  Fornarina platforms

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Just for Fun:

What's your best physical feature? 

My legs

What 3 things can always be found in your refrigerator?

an old jar of molasses (don't ask) , arugala, a secret stash of chocolate

What's your favorite form of exercise?

yoga, spinning

What's one article of clothing you can't live without?

my Kalyx sports bras! (seriously)  actually, it was my black cashmere sweater, but I just lost it...so...there goes that theory

What color underwear are you wearing right now?

um....N/A

Blackberry or iPhone?

Blackberry

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The Nitty Grity

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Inner Peace, being near the ocean. Just after a big accomplishment. Boyfriend in the bed.

What is your greatest fear?

That I will not be able to live up to other's expectations of me/ small enclosed spaces

What is your guilty pleasure?

Googling myself

What is your current state of mind?

ready, willing and able

Which super power would you most like to have?

time travel

When and where were you happiest?

Right now. Filling out this questionnaire

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

i would never try to fix or change another person

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

overcoming an eating disorder

Where would you most like to live?  

malibu

What is your motto?

physician, heal thyself

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Secrets Shared

Your hardest life lesson learned?

sometimes people disappoint you and you have to accept it.

Your gnarliest wipe-out?

being physically assaulted at age 22

Your best advice to other women? 

do not look to men to define you

THANK YOU, MANDY!