About Marie

My life has taken me from survivor to advocate. At 13 years old, I was trafficked internationally after being taken in by a trusted family friend who drugged and sold me multiple times a day for a year until I finally escaped. My struggle continued when I narrowly escaped one trafficker only to be held by another, who sold me alongside 30 other children as "party favors" during nightly events. 

Shame kept me silent for over 40 years. In January 2025, I finally shared my experience on social media. In the days that followed, I received thousands of messages from other survivors who were still living in silence, all bound by that same common theme: shame.

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

• Raising Awareness through Prevention: We advocate for laws like Erin's Law to teach children about body safety, boundary violations, and the difference between safe and unsafe touches or secrets.
• Providing Support: We offer anonymous, peer-to-peer support groups for adult survivors, both locally and online, using a 12-step program to aid in the healing process.

The #Shame2Strength Movement

"As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I've walked a journey of pain, shame, and healing. But I've also discovered a profound purpose: to break the cycle of shame and empower others to do the same. Through my work with the #Shame2Strength movement, I'm dedicated to reframing shame as a societal issue and creating a community of support and solidarity. My goal is to help others transform their shame into strength, and to advocate for a world where survivors are heard, believed, and supported. I'm a passionate advocate, a dedicated listener, and a fierce believer in the power of community to heal and transform."

My Goal

My goal is to achieve the perfect balance between prevention education & aide in healing adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse that were not treated. To end the vicious cycle from abused to abuser.  I aim to create a world where survivors are heard, believed, and supported. Together, we can work to prevent childhood sexual abuse and end this vicious cycle.

Get in Touch

If you are looking for support or want to learn more about our work, please reach out. I am here to listen and to help in any way I can.