To lose a child is one of the most devastating experiences one might have to go through. It shakes you to the core and changes you. You feel so hopeless and broken. The "If only I’d done this or said that would it have changed the outcome?" and "Did they know how much they were loved and wanted?" You are left wondering why, knowing that you will never get that answer. Recently, my sister went to the scene of the accident that took her son Austin’s life. She called me, and I c

Society has used the mantra that “whatever happens behind closed doors” is none of our business. Our blind eye to what terrorizes some under that mantra destroys lives behind those doors. Isolation at home, pretending everything is fine, and keeping the secrets of violent offenders is real. While we can’t knock on every door to expose this ugly truth, our silence protects the perpetrator of violence, not the victim. Behind the closed door of violence is someone who feels aban

In response to a realization that an estimated 250,000 – 300,000 sex ads are posted of children being sexually exploited and sold online every day, the Tim Tebow Foundation stated: “There’s thin line between tortured and treasured.” This statistic is conservative as the trafficking and abuse of children is evolving faster than ever through online platforms. Xquisite is committed to bringing the tortured to a place of being treasured. We believe everyone has value and is worth

Growing up, the childhood I thought was “normal” was anything but that. I just was not aware of it until I was in my late 30s, and I tried to escape that life and began the journey to heal. You see, from the early ages of 2-3, my mother began exploiting my body by having me dance on a bar for men. Then she turned it into a game for me to play when the men came into our house, forcing me to do unthinkable things and letting them — as well as herself — use my body for their pl

Xquisite has experienced a rise in requests for resources from survivors experiencing severe long-term trauma. The survivors we have seen in the last few days have exhibited extreme paranoia, multiple personalities, and dissociative behaviors. When someone experiences sexual trauma this severe, compassion must be extended as we navigate the best resources to offer. These survivors do not trust anyone since everyone who should have been safe exploited them and placed them in v

I imagine most of you go to the grocery store, out to lunch or even just take a walk around your neighborhood without having to even think about it right? It is part of your everyday routine, and it comes naturally. But what if it wasn’t that easy or safe? I want you for just a second to think: would you be able to do it blindfolded? Would you still find it easy or safe? For some like me who have a history of abuse and trauma just simple tasks like these can be overwhelming

“I’m homeless right now. I’m just trying to survive. I think I have to go back to the industry.” This recent conversation with an Xquisite “diamond” (client) shot an arrow deep into my heart. She left sexual exploitation, she has no family support, and is living in the San Francisco area going to a community art school with huge dreams to get her degree and ultimately film a documentary telling her story of being sexually exploited and sold from a young age. She is excelling

When was your first sexual experience? Was it kind, gentle and consensual? For so many, including myself, this was not the case. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This is a hard month for so many suffering in silence. Reliving the nightmare, the feelings, the emotions of what was taken from us. For me, as someone who has been assaulted numerous times every week for over 39 years, starting with my mother and her satanic obsession with my body, led to her sending a varie