Today we’d like to introduce you to Diamond Cash.
Hi Diamond, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a native of Detroit, Michigan where I was raised by my mother and grandmother. As a child, I was a victim of childhood sexual abuse from the ages of 8-11 years old by a family member. Being abused had an effect on my self-esteem that led to PTSD and emotional eating throughout my teens into my young adulthood. It wasn’t until I was in college where I learned about child abuse and realized that I was a victim and that many other children experience this type of harm. I started participating in therapy to address my trauma and learned so much. It was at that moment that I realized I wanted to be a Social Worker. As a child, I knew I wanted to help serve people and had an interest in advocating for those vulnerable populations. I did my research and discovered that a Social Worker can be all of this. As a result, I relocated to Atlanta to begin my studies. Shortly after graduating from Clark Atlanta University’s School of Social Work in 2016, I started working in my field as a Foster Care Case Manager for the State of Georgia in efforts to protect children and help families.
I also gained experience interning and working with various agencies in Atlanta addressing issues from sex trafficking, homelessness, and teen pregnancy. Serving in these capacities gave insight that I had a desire to help others overcome their trials with childhood molestation as I encountered several clients struggling with this matter. Initially, I thought I would serve best mentoring young girls until I realized many of the women I was associating myself with were also dealing with the traumas of being molested as children. Eventually, I decided that there was a need for advocacy and support of this. Therefore, I started my own nonprofit organization Empowered Queens Mentoring Program, Inc. Since I have graduated, I have become a Social Work Advocate who promotes practicing Social Work and Black Female self-care, physical and mental wellness, PCOS awareness in the Black communities, an author, and a plus-size model that believes in empowering other plus size women to uphold positive standards in the modeling industry with confidence and grace.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it definitely was not smooth. For a time during my journey, I was so busy trying to be there for others that I often forgot about myself. My health started to take its toll where I was depressed, anxious, lacking rest, gaining weight, and battling more challenges with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I had to accept the fact that I needed to put myself first. Therefore, I walked into a gym in Atlanta called Effect Fitness, LLC. to work on becoming healthier. Doing this completely changed my life. So much gratitude I give to this gym for helping me heal and discover that I can do anything I put my mind to do. Ever since I started working out, I had to implement strategies to create boundaries for self-care on the job and in my personal life. I learned how to say “no” and I was committed to being transparent with my health journey via Instagram. With this, I started going back to therapy to address my struggles and healing from being molested. I learned how to tap back into journaling and started writing down affirmations to improve my well-being. This is how I came about my resource book “Overcoming: Affirmations for Your Success”. I wrote to myself daily while on this journey to Overcome all of the things that tried to defeat me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
First and foremost, I am a Social Worker and believe that I was called to be that. However, I am also so much more. I am now an Author, a founder of my own nonprofit, a Plus Size Model, PCOS Advocate, Teen Mentor, and Fitness Influencer. I am proud to say that everything I am is because of what I have been faced to overcome. There was a time in my life where I didn’t know how to read and write and now I am a self-published author of my own resource book “Overcoming: Affirmations for Your Success”. I have PCOS but it doesn’t have me and I am able to share my story with other young Black women to motivate them to get screened. I experienced low self-esteem for years and now I can boldly celebrate being me through modeling, without degrading myself (which is often seen in today’s industry). Last but not least, I was able to start my journey working out and now I can encourage others to put physical fitness as a priority in their lives. All of this makes me different because it is a true testimony of how one can overcome obstacles and make them a success to serve others. I tell myself everyday that “I am Overcoming” because obstacles will come, but it is up to me to jump over them. If I fall, I must get up. If I break, I must keep applying pressure. I have to overcome.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I’ve learned the lesson of valuing my health physically, mentally, and spiritually to keep going. I can’t imagine where I would be had it not been for prioritizing this in 2017. I’ve seen so many loved ones pass away due to underlying health conditions. I am so thankful to have started when I did. The COVID-19 Crisis gave me a push to finish my book, network with other plus-size models in the industry, and be more vocal about PCOS awareness and Childhood Sexual Abuse in the Black family.
Pricing:
- $12.99
Contact Info:
- Email: dicash2310@gmail.com
- Website: www.diamondisovercoming.com
- Instagram: @itsdiamondcash
Image Credits:
Working out photo – Paul McPherson, 2020
