Valerie

Connect What inspired your most recent tattoo?

After four hip surgeries and the devastating loss of my son, tattoos became my language when words weren’t enough. One of my most sacred pieces shows a grieving woman curled in the palm of a giant hand—God’s hand. That was me after he passed. It’s how I survived—by being held when I couldn’t stand. Each tattoo marks part of my journey: the fighter, the twin, the mother. Another piece simply says his name: Josh. He was bold and bright, and I carry him with me&

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

My tattoos don’t just decorate me—they declare survival, motherhood, and meaning. Each piece is a page in my story.” Vote for me I’ll tell you more much luv

What would you do with the $25,000?

I work on airport runways in snow and ice, keeping paths clear for others even when I’m walking through storms of my own. That’s what grief taught me—how to keep going, how to find beauty in pain. If I win, I’ll take a breath, finally—go on a healing trip. And every vote helps kids battling cancer through the Be Positive Foundation. That makes this more than a contest. It makes it matter.