About marie

My life has taken me from survivor to advocate.  Trafficked internationally at age 13, after being taken in by a trusted family friend who drugged me and sold me several times a day out of a tiny bedroom in their apartment for the next year until my escape.  Narrowly escaping one trafficker to run into the arms of my second trafficker. who sold me along with 32 other children as "party favors" during their nightly fancy "Parties" . . Shame silenced me for over 40 years.  I came out in January of 2025 about my experience on social media via a video.  The days following I received thousands of messages from other survivors thanking me for being so brave and for sharing my story.  They were all still living in silence about their abuse.  With a common theme;  shame.

Today, I'm dedicated to helping others find their voice to break free from the shame and silence that has held them back. Through my work with Bondage2Freedom Foundation, a Florida 501(c)(3) non-profit organization I founded in March 2025, I am committed to:

1. Raising awareness through Prevention:  By advocating for laws such Erin's Law to teach our children  about body safety and boundary violations.  Teaching them what is safe touch vs unsafe touch and safe secret vs unsafe secrets.  This is how we can start to end this vicious cycle of abuse.
2. Support: Providing anonymous, peer-to-peer support groups for adult survivors, both locally and online, using a 12-step program to aid in healing.

The #Shame2Strength Movement

I'm also leading the #Shame2Strength movement, encouraging survivors to share their stories and speak their truth to begin the healing process. By breaking the silence, we can offer hope to child victims and empower them to speak up.

My Writing

I've authored "The Shadows of Yesterday: Breaking Free from the Shame of Your Childhood Trauma," a survivor's guide to overcoming shame, isolation, and self-doubt. My memoir, "Silent Screams," will be completed soon.

My Mission

Through Bondage2Freedom Foundation Inc. and the #Shame2Strength movement, I aim to create a world where survivors are heard, believed, and supported, and where we can work together to prevent childhood sexual abuse to put an end to this vicious cycle.

Get in Touch

If you're looking for support or want to learn more about my work, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to listen and to help in any way I can.