Devin Marie
Model/ Actress
Co-founder and creator of HERStory
Hi, my name is Devin Marie, I am 25 years old, a model/actress, writer, mentor, and future life coach. I am a survivor of sexual assault, and domestic violence, and it is my lifetime goal to help eradicate the stigma of experiences like these, as well as help those transition from a victim to a survivor.
I first experienced abuse at the age of 9 years old when I was molested. I suppressed much of my pain and fell into years of depression, suffering from chronic anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In my teens I developed an eating disorder that almost took my life, and upon 3 failed suicide attempts, I sought for recovery and healing. I began college at a local junior college as I finished recovery near home. However, within my first semester, an unfortunate encounter with the school’s quarterback led to me being taken advantage of, drugged, and ultimately raped during a tutoring session.
My life was completely numb, from prescription drugs, alcohol, and pain. I was desperate for an escape, and a way out. I channeled my identity in pain through dance, acting, painting, and especially writing. It wasn’t until December of 2010, a few months after I was raped, I fell deeply in love with my Lord, savior, deliverer, and healer Jesus Christ.
Since then, I have been completely healed from depression and have not had a panic attack nor have been hospitalized for my past eating disorder in 6½ years.
I began a modeling career that has helped connect me in mentoring other women in positive health and fitness plans, and personal development.
I am now a graduate of Women and Gender Studies from Califorina Univeristy, Fullerton. I was determined to finish my education where it is said 1 and 4 women will be sexually assaulted during their college experience. Despite statistics, I pressed forward in a discipline that enabled me to contextualize my experience and look for ways to help change a culture I believe perpetuates these acts of violence. I have finished developing my first portion of a curriculum geared to reeducating academic communities on not only resources but ways to prevent these forms of violence from happening to future students to come.
I am a living testament that God is in the business of the miraculous! He has turned my pain into purpose; and it is with every day I am blessed with, that I capitalize on the opportunity to mentor, advocate, and bless others with hope of a new beginning, and a better life; one ‘story’ at a time! This is my story, unashamed, unapologetic, I am FAR more than what happened to me, but I realize how paralyzing these experiences have and can be for others, so maybe, just maybe, someone else will see it IS possible; to live again, and love your self to wholeness...if that's you, I stand with you in solidarity. I'm choosing to speak now because I've been silent long enough; and our story MATTERS! With love, Devin Marie
Model/ Actress
Co-founder and creator of HERStory
Hi, my name is Devin Marie, I am 25 years old, a model/actress, writer, mentor, and future life coach. I am a survivor of sexual assault, and domestic violence, and it is my lifetime goal to help eradicate the stigma of experiences like these, as well as help those transition from a victim to a survivor.
I first experienced abuse at the age of 9 years old when I was molested. I suppressed much of my pain and fell into years of depression, suffering from chronic anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In my teens I developed an eating disorder that almost took my life, and upon 3 failed suicide attempts, I sought for recovery and healing. I began college at a local junior college as I finished recovery near home. However, within my first semester, an unfortunate encounter with the school’s quarterback led to me being taken advantage of, drugged, and ultimately raped during a tutoring session.
My life was completely numb, from prescription drugs, alcohol, and pain. I was desperate for an escape, and a way out. I channeled my identity in pain through dance, acting, painting, and especially writing. It wasn’t until December of 2010, a few months after I was raped, I fell deeply in love with my Lord, savior, deliverer, and healer Jesus Christ.
Since then, I have been completely healed from depression and have not had a panic attack nor have been hospitalized for my past eating disorder in 6½ years.
I began a modeling career that has helped connect me in mentoring other women in positive health and fitness plans, and personal development.
I am now a graduate of Women and Gender Studies from Califorina Univeristy, Fullerton. I was determined to finish my education where it is said 1 and 4 women will be sexually assaulted during their college experience. Despite statistics, I pressed forward in a discipline that enabled me to contextualize my experience and look for ways to help change a culture I believe perpetuates these acts of violence. I have finished developing my first portion of a curriculum geared to reeducating academic communities on not only resources but ways to prevent these forms of violence from happening to future students to come.
I am a living testament that God is in the business of the miraculous! He has turned my pain into purpose; and it is with every day I am blessed with, that I capitalize on the opportunity to mentor, advocate, and bless others with hope of a new beginning, and a better life; one ‘story’ at a time! This is my story, unashamed, unapologetic, I am FAR more than what happened to me, but I realize how paralyzing these experiences have and can be for others, so maybe, just maybe, someone else will see it IS possible; to live again, and love your self to wholeness...if that's you, I stand with you in solidarity. I'm choosing to speak now because I've been silent long enough; and our story MATTERS! With love, Devin Marie