The plan was to save and start my own business. But a poster of New Zealand made me consider moving - seeing the beautiful mountains and the ocean. The idea stuck in my head I couldn’t stop thinking “what if...?” 

My savings became my ticket to a new life outside of Brazil. I found accommodation in Sandringham, while taking English classes and made friends who helped me find work. Starting a new life is hard - trying to meet new people, while you watch your money slowly disappear. 

A man stopped me one day in town - commenting on my body. He introduced me to the world of stripping, wild women - and good money. The work is exciting, because I love entertaining. On the surface, you have women screaming for you and throwing money at you. But we’re selling a fantasy. Once the show is over, we get back to reality. People sometimes pretend they don’t know you. It cuts your ego. It’s taught me how to be comfortable by myself and I’ve learned how to talk through my thoughts out loud.

My mother recently called to tell me that my father had throat cancer. I took out a loan so that I could fly home and see him again. We were able to have dinner again, as a family, before he passed in May last year. We didn’t spend much time together growing up, after they divorced but it was special being able to spend those last moments together.

What does it mean to be strong? I think being strong is sharing your thoughts and feelings and not holding them back. Say what you think and what you feel. Say it loud.

We think we have time. Whether that’s ten or twenty years, to see that person. But we really just have a handful of moments, between that time. Knowing exactly how many days I have left on my Visa reminds me that every day is a blessing. 

I like to think I can help people smile, or laugh. If it helps them forget about everything else, even if it’s just a moment - it might make their day.