Stormborn: Nikki’s Journey from Trauma to Triumph

What makes you a Beautiful Disaster?
I am my own person—a real friend, a real family member—who is always honest and does everything with the purest heart. But if you cross me, I can be the storm you prayed never came.

Why do you identify with the Beautiful Disaster brand?
I've always said I am beautifully broken—that’s why I relate. The inspiring stories from others like me remind me I’m not alone.

Tell us your Beautiful Disaster story:
My name is Desdemona, but I go by Nikki. I was a girl who was forced into group homes at age twelve after my mother—who was complicit in the molestation I endured from her various husbands—rejected me and said she couldn't even look at me. When she did pay attention, it was usually to degrade, verbally abuse, or hit me.

Despite the traumatic and isolating experience of growing up alone in group homes, I focused on my education and succeeded in graduating. I then took in and raised my young nephew, Ayden, who was suffering in a similar, unstable home environment.

Through my resilience and dedication to providing Ayden with the stability and love I never had, I grew into a strong, successful, and exceptionally big-hearted woman. I’ve dedicated my life to helping others—proving that trauma does not have to define one’s future.

Ayden just graduated and was accepted to Augustana College on a Presidential Scholarship.

Life is still hard. I live with Borderline Personality Disorder, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. But I get up every day and fight. I’m a survivor. A lot of people refer to me as a phoenix.

Life has a way of hitting me hard. For instance, we lost our house this year. I’m doing everything I can—even on disability, taking odd jobs and dashing—to create a home for my nephew, my son, to come back to and visit for Christmas.

What happened for you to turn it around?
I get up every day and work my butt off to prove to the world I’m not another statistic. I am a force to be reckoned with. I made the choice to break the cycle of many generations in my family. That’s my goal.

Name 3 things you’ve done to move closer to happiness:

• I love doing for others—it makes me the happiest.

• My nephew and being the best role model I can be.

• Singing and my music bring me the purest joy of all.

What is your favorite Beautiful Disaster collection, past or present, and why?
The Phoenix. A lot of people refer to me as the phoenix. So many times I’ve been knocked down, underestimated, or expected to stay down—but I will always rise.