Real Life Strong

I Was Sexually Abused as a Child for Years—Here’s How I Reclaimed My Power

When you put your secrets into the world, there's nothing people can hold over you.

I Was Raped by 4 Men—Here's What We Need to Stop Sexual Violence

I Was Gang-Raped by 4 Men—Here's What We Need to Stop Sexual Violence

"If women alone could stop sexual violence, we would have already done it."

I Was Suicidal for Years—Until I Finally Got the Right Diagnosis and Everything Changed

"By the time I graduated college, I was on 13 medications and hallucinating daily."

I Had a Massive Stroke at Age 29 and Almost Died

Now I'm all about embracing my imperfect self.

I Lost My Eye in a Random Act of Gun Violence. Here's What I Need People to Know

I Almost Died From a Random Act of Gun Violence. Here's What I Need People to Know

"I kept thinking, ' I’m bleeding out of my face. I’m going to bleed out. I’m going to die.'"

I Suffered Burns Over 65% of My Body in a Plane Crash—But My Scars Don't Define Me

Kechi Okwuchi got the world's attention on "America's Got Talent." Now she's working to spread her message to other burn survivors: "You are more than what people see."

When I Was 12 My Ballet Teacher Told Me to Lose Weight—Now I Teach Body-Positive Dance Classes

Jessie Diaz wants all women to be able to dance and not feel judged.

Losing My Son at Birth Was the Most Traumatic Experience of My Life—But I Finally Found a Way to Heal

When self-care is the last thing you want to do, that's exactly the time to do it.

I'm Under 5 Feet Tall Because of a Rare Condition—But That Hasn't Stopped Me From Completing 70 Obstacle Races on Crutches

“When I meet someone with spina bifida I want them to know that anything is possible."

What This 30-Year-Old Ovarian Cancer Survivor Wants All Women to Know—Especially If You’re Young

When Hannah Pyper felt her first symptoms at 26—a lump growing in her abdomen, intense pains that would wake her up, and the urge to pee several times throughout the night—she "totally ignored everything."

I Went to the Doctor With Stomach Pains—and Found Out I Had Stage 4 Colon Cancer

Three years ago, Kate Bowler was living her dream: a professor at Duke University’s Divinity School, she had married her high school sweetheart, and they were raising a little boy. Then her life changed in a heartbeat.

My Battle With Addiction: I First Tasted Vodka at Age 8 and Was Drinking Daily By 16

Inspired by the empathetic ER nurse who helped her detox at 28, Amanda Cope now runs her own addiction treatment clinics.

I Didn't See Women My Size on the Internet—So I Decided to Change That

Katie Sturino's blog The 12ish Style is wildly popular. Now she's taking on the fashion industry.

My Day Job as a Fitness Trainer Helped Me Build Confidence as an Artist

Kennedy Yanko is shaking up the art world with her fierce and elegant sculptures made from salvaged industrial metal.

People Are Shocked I’m a Dancer Because I Was Born Missing This Body Part

"You don't have to be the stereotypical person to do the things that you want to do."

Most Recent

I Was Sexually Abused as a Child for Years—Here’s How I Reclaimed My Power

I Was Gang-Raped by 4 Men—Here's What We Need to Stop Sexual Violence

I Was Suicidal for Years—Until I Finally Got the Right Diagnosis and Everything Changed

I Had a Massive Stroke at Age 29 and Almost Died

I Almost Died From a Random Act of Gun Violence. Here's What I Need People to Know

I Suffered Burns Over 65% of My Body in a Plane Crash—But My Scars Don't Define Me

When I Was 12 My Ballet Teacher Told Me to Lose Weight—Now I Teach Body-Positive Dance Classes

Losing My Son at Birth Was the Most Traumatic Experience of My Life—But I Finally Found a Way to Heal

I'm Under 5 Feet Tall Because of a Rare Condition—But That Hasn't Stopped Me From Completing 70 Obstacle Races on Crutches

What This 30-Year-Old Ovarian Cancer Survivor Wants All Women to Know—Especially If You’re Young

I Went to the Doctor With Stomach Pains—and Found Out I Had Stage 4 Colon Cancer

My Battle With Addiction: I First Tasted Vodka at Age 8 and Was Drinking Daily By 16

I Didn't See Women My Size on the Internet—So I Decided to Change That

My Day Job as a Fitness Trainer Helped Me Build Confidence as an Artist

People Are Shocked I’m a Dancer Because I Was Born Missing This Body Part

More Real Life Strong

I Was an Undocumented Immigrant for 14 Years—Now I’m Fighting to Protect the Rights of Others

When I Started Running in My Hijab People Asked ‘Why Are You Torturing Yourself?’

Crippling Depression Led This Pro Tennis Player to Quit at Age 22. Five Years Later, She’s Making a Comeback

This Instagram Activist Is Smashing the Stigma on Depression: ‘I Want to Change the Narrative of a Picture-Perfect life’

Why This Ballerina With Panic Disorder and Depression Refuses to Apologize for Her Mental Illness

This Syrian Swimmer Helped Save a Boat Full of Fellow Refugees—Now She’s Training for the Olympics

After Sandy Hook This Mom Started a Grassroots Movement Against Gun Violence That’s Spread to All 50 States

Nice Nailantei Leng'ete Escaped Genital Mutilation as a Girl—Now Her Mission Is to End the Ritual

Remembering Gabe Grunewald: Her Thoughts on Running, Cancer, and Inspiring Thousands

This 23-Year-Old Wants to Make Social Media Less Harmful to Our Mental Health—And a Lot More Authentic

This Instagram Artist’s Illustrations About Life and Mental Health Will Help You Feel 'Normal'

Ballerina Ingrid Silva on Unraveling Stereotypes: ‘I Can Still Look Classical and Elegant With My Natural Hair'

I Have a Chronic Pain Syndrome Dubbed the ‘Suicide Disease’—Here’s How I've Learned to Embrace Life

Suicidal After Her Daughter’s Birth, This Mom Spent 10 Days in a Psych Ward: ‘I Had to Stop Trying to Be Superwoman’

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Real Life Strong

Most Recent

I Was Sexually Abused as a Child for Years—Here’s How I Reclaimed My Power

I Was Gang-Raped by 4 Men—Here's What We Need to Stop Sexual Violence

I Was Suicidal for Years—Until I Finally Got the Right Diagnosis and Everything Changed

I Had a Massive Stroke at Age 29 and Almost Died

I Almost Died From a Random Act of Gun Violence. Here's What I Need People to Know

I Suffered Burns Over 65% of My Body in a Plane Crash—But My Scars Don't Define Me

When I Was 12 My Ballet Teacher Told Me to Lose Weight—Now I Teach Body-Positive Dance Classes

Losing My Son at Birth Was the Most Traumatic Experience of My Life—But I Finally Found a Way to Heal

I'm Under 5 Feet Tall Because of a Rare Condition—But That Hasn't Stopped Me From Completing 70 Obstacle Races on Crutches

What This 30-Year-Old Ovarian Cancer Survivor Wants All Women to Know—Especially If You’re Young

I Went to the Doctor With Stomach Pains—and Found Out I Had Stage 4 Colon Cancer

My Battle With Addiction: I First Tasted Vodka at Age 8 and Was Drinking Daily By 16

I Didn't See Women My Size on the Internet—So I Decided to Change That

My Day Job as a Fitness Trainer Helped Me Build Confidence as an Artist

People Are Shocked I’m a Dancer Because I Was Born Missing This Body Part

More Real Life Strong

I Was an Undocumented Immigrant for 14 Years—Now I’m Fighting to Protect the Rights of Others

When I Started Running in My Hijab People Asked ‘Why Are You Torturing Yourself?’

Crippling Depression Led This Pro Tennis Player to Quit at Age 22. Five Years Later, She’s Making a Comeback

This Instagram Activist Is Smashing the Stigma on Depression: ‘I Want to Change the Narrative of a Picture-Perfect life’

Why This Ballerina With Panic Disorder and Depression Refuses to Apologize for Her Mental Illness

This Syrian Swimmer Helped Save a Boat Full of Fellow Refugees—Now She’s Training for the Olympics

After Sandy Hook This Mom Started a Grassroots Movement Against Gun Violence That’s Spread to All 50 States

Nice Nailantei Leng'ete Escaped Genital Mutilation as a Girl—Now Her Mission Is to End the Ritual

Remembering Gabe Grunewald: Her Thoughts on Running, Cancer, and Inspiring Thousands

This 23-Year-Old Wants to Make Social Media Less Harmful to Our Mental Health—And a Lot More Authentic

This Instagram Artist’s Illustrations About Life and Mental Health Will Help You Feel 'Normal'

Ballerina Ingrid Silva on Unraveling Stereotypes: ‘I Can Still Look Classical and Elegant With My Natural Hair'

I Have a Chronic Pain Syndrome Dubbed the ‘Suicide Disease’—Here’s How I've Learned to Embrace Life

Suicidal After Her Daughter’s Birth, This Mom Spent 10 Days in a Psych Ward: ‘I Had to Stop Trying to Be Superwoman’