A special announcement…
Nikki DuBose is seeking interns for a new, dynamic Coalition (national) dedicated to PREVENTING sexual abuse, assault, harassment and mental health issues for people of all ages. Started by an artist (model and author) for artists. (You don’t have to be an artist to join, just appreciate the creative arts). As the co-founder, Nikki is searching for interns for:
Social Media
Outreach
Administrative
PR
Please send interests to: nikki@nikkidubose.com, CC Jan Lewis.
Thank you for your dedication in protecting children from sexual abuse. In
the state of New York, 150 children are sexually abused every day, and outd
ated laws are doing nothing to help them. YOU can change that, but time is running out. The Assembly nearly unanimously voted in favor of the Child Victims Act, AND Governor Cuomo approved, but now we are urging the Senate to bring the Child Victim’s Act to the Floor for a YES Vote.
You can get the Child Victims Act passed now!
Again, thank you for joining us in the fight for justice.
Sincerely,
Nikki DuBose and Gary Greenberg
Messaging for Advocates Outside of New York
On Twitter
Calling Script
“Hi, my name is______________. I’m calling to urge Senator _________ to pass the Child
Victims Act because __________________________. I don’t live in New York, but passing
this bill is that important because children everywhere deserve to be protected. Not only is the Child Victims Act critical
to protecting kids, but it saves the state an enormous amount of money in costs related to abuse. (Optional:
You can reach me at_________________). Thank you for your time and I look forward to
seeing the Child Victims Act being signed into law this year.”
+++Note: You can modify the script to make it more personal to you. We want to be careful not
to attack any lawmakers, but try to persuade them with the message of protecting kids+++
By Email
Dear Senator (Insert Last Name Here),
A few sentences explaining why protecting children is so important to you. This can also be a few sentences relating to your personal story.
The Child Victims Act is here to protect children. Children, who right now, are being sexually abused. Every year, the CDC reports that 43,000 children in the state of New York are sexually abused. These children grow up to become what we call survivors, which cost the state hundreds of thousands in costs due to mental health, emotional, educational and physical damage. Shouldn’t we take steps to not only protect children, but save New York a tremendous amount of money in preventative care?
Thank you for your time. I urge you to vote YES on the Child Victims Act. Kids are depending on your support!
Sincerely,
Your Name
Organization (if applicable)
By Mail
Please refer to my advocacy page for letters of support.
++++Note: You need to change S809/Omnibus Child Victims Act to Child Victims Act.
++++++Again, Senate mailing addresses can be found here.
Find your Senator here.
Messaging for New York Advocates
On Twitter
Calling Script
“Hi, my name is______________ and I’m Senator ___________________ constituent.
I’m calling to urge Senator _________ to pass the Child Victims Act because __________________________. The Assembly approves of this measure, and we need to come to a compromise on this issue now because 150 children are sexually abused every day in New York. Passing the Child Victims Act is so important because children everywhere deserve to be protected. (Optional: You can reach me at_________________). Thank you for your time and I look forward to seeing the Child Victims Act being signed into law this year.”
+++Note: You can modify the script to make it more personal to you. We want to be careful not to attack any lawmakers, but try to persuade them with the message of protecting kids+++
By Email
Dear Senator (Insert Last Name Here),
A few sentences explaining why protecting children is so important to you. This can also be a few sentences relating to your personal story.
The Assembly approves of this measure, and now children need your support! Let’s come to a compromise on this issue. The Child Victims Act is here to protect children. Children, who right now, are being sexually abused. Every year, the CDC reports that 43,000 children in the state of New York are sexually abused. These children grow up to become what we call survivors, which cost the state hundreds of thousands in costs due to mental health, emotional, educational and physical damage. Shouldn’t we take steps to not only protect children, but save New York a tremendous amount of money in preventative care?
Thank you for your time. I urge you to vote YES on the Child Victims Act and be a hero for kids everywhere.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Organization (if applicable)
By Mail
Please refer to my advocacy page for letters of support.
Note: Please change S809 to Child Victims Act.
When you’re a crook, there are no limits to the depths you will go to cover up your filth. Just ask most of the New York politicians, including former Senator Craig Johnson, who is a key ally and fundraising partner for the Independent Democratic Conference, led by Senator Jeff Klein.
Read the full article on NY Daily News.
Nikki DuBose, an abuse victim and former model, said she is “quite annoyed” that Cuomo doesn’t seem to be pushing harder for passage of a bill.
“The governor is failing his constituents — those who are abused, abandoned and who cannot advocate for themselves,” DuBose said in an email.
Read the full article on The New York Daily News.
I remember the first time I felt self-conscious about my appearance. I was four, and my cousin Thomas proceeded to make fun of the birthmark on my butt cheek, which is shaped like a man’s face. It was then that I felt shame, realizing that my body was something others could use to make fun of.
A few years later, I binged to deal with sexual and physical abuse by my mother and a male figure. Looking back, I realize how much I was bullied within my own family; harmful words were used to describe my maturing body and face.
In turn, I developed body dysmorphic disorder, bulimia, and suicidal tendencies.
Negative Body Talk in the Home
Children are vulnerable, sensitive to their environments. If parents and caretakers are not careful, poor choices in words can have damaging effects on their children’s mental health.
Read the full blog post at Eating Disorder Hope.
Nikki Dubose says she won’t give up on her fight make kids safer.
The 31-year-old model-turned-activist has already made a name for herself by speaking up about sexual assault. Now, though, she’s taking the platform she’s built and using it to try and change laws to protect children from sexual violence.
Her first stop? New York, where she’s hoping to help push through The Omnibus Child Victims Act.
“In New York, they have the worst laws in the entire nation as far as protecting children from sexual abuse,” DuBose told A Plus. “There is only a five-year window after you’re 18 years old that someone can report what has happened to them.”
Read more on a plus.
We have a huge problem in this country when it comes to protecting children from sexual abuse, and that’s denial. As an Executive Board member of Peaceful Hearts Foundation, a child sexual abuse nonprofit, one of the most common issues I come across when a survivor discloses their abuse is denial – from family members, teachers, friends – the list goes on. Myself, a survivor of incest from my late mother from the ages of 9 to 13, and a male figure at the age of 8, I know what it’s like to finally come to terms with the abuse and entrust others with the information, only to have them deny that it ever could have happened. The psychological effects were beyond damaging; I questioned my own sanity, the trauma, and attempted suicide. After all, if no one believed that such heinous acts had occurred, what reasons did I have to go on living? Child sexual abuse left me scarred with depression, psychosis, suicidal ideation and many other mental illnesses, and without proper support, it was only a matter of time before I permanently checked out.
Read more on PsychCentral.
ALBANY — Former model and sexual abuse victim Nikki DuBose is coming to the state Capitol Wednesday with a message for state lawmakers — children need to be protected.
DuBose is the featured speaker at a rally being planned by advocates for legislation that would change New York’s statute of limitations and make it easier for child sex abuse victims to obtain justice in state courts.
“We are talking about kids,” DuBose, 31, told The Daily News.
“Why is it OK for an innocent child to be sexually abused and to have his rights, his soul, his identity, his emotions his life taken away from that very moment and for him to not receive justice?” DuBose continued. “Why is that OK?”
Read more on New York Daily News.
Please donate to the PAC (Political Action Committee), so that corrupt lawmakers who helped kill the Child Victims Act in New York can be removed from office. All of the money from the PAC, started by Gary Greenberg, will be used to support candidates who support survivors of CSA and the Child Victims Act in New York.
Elijah lent his creative eye to the Beauty Project and drew Sonic the Hedgehog!
Beauty can be expressed through art and however we choose to see it. Thank you Elijah for this incredible drawing of Sonic the Hedgehog, it’s fantastic!
God Bless,
Nikki DuBose
I was Blessed to be asked to speak to a very talented and special group of students at a Mondays at the Mission class which is held at Union Rescue Mission here i
n Los Angeles. Each and every student greeted me with open arms and warm smiles, and they taught me just as much as I had to tell them!
I opened up the class with my story about how when I was a little girl my dream was to be a supermodel because I thought that that was the greatest thing in the world! I imagined that a glamorous life filled with clothes, hair, makeup, and outer beauty would cover up all of the pain that I was experiencing in my home life.
I went on to explain to the
m that sometimes in life we are drawn to superficial standards of beauty and happiness because we are deeply unhappy with circumstances on the inside of us and around us. I told them that as a child I was sexually, physically, and emotionally abused by a couple of people close to me and that as a result I often felt afraid. I also isolated myse
lf as a child and young adult and never felt that I connected well with too many people. My mother died a couple of year’s ago from alcoholism so I felt detached from her growing up as well. On top of everything I was also hiding a big secret for more than seventeen years: I had an eating disorder that spiraled deeply out of control.
I grew away from God for many years of my life because I felt angry as a result of all of the things that were happening to me that were out of my control. I was often suicidal and I made many poor choices. I then explained to them that when I became a model, I had all of the material things that I thought that I wanted that would have made me happy, however all of the people who were around me only wanted to be with me because of my job and because of the way that I looked.
I learned throughout everything and all of my struggles that God always was there with me, even when I didn’t feel His presence, and that I could always rely on Him. 
I learned that true beauty came from the inside and that it was more important for me to share my hard times and be a role model for other people, than to place so much importance on my outer appearance alone. I now am determined to help others with their difficulties in life because I went through so many in mine.
The class went so well, and the students responded tremendously to the message that it is really what is inside that matters. They disc
ussed all of the qualities that a role model should have such as believing in God, the abiltity to persevere, confidence, humility, helping others, and more! The students broke into several groups and each person drew a picture of what they thought inner beauty meant to them. I will be displaying their artwork right here on the B.E.A.U.T.Y section!
I think today we can get lost more than ever with all of the social media, television and hate in the world that we really need to just be still and…quiet. In the secret, private places of our hearts, we will find the answers to what really matters. Have we as a world complicated ourselves with too much? Does the answer to life really remain…love, inner beauty, and God, above all? I believe it does.
God Bless,
Nikki DuBose
Here is another art piece by Susie Fernandez and her creative art students from Long Beach, California.
The theme of the picture is, “You are more than your insecurities.”
Do you ever feel as if all you can focus on is the things you don’t like about yourself? How about redirecting that energy and focus on the things you love about yourself?! Did you know you are made for greatness? You really and truly are!
We all have insecurities, but they do not define who we are. In fact, the things that make us different are also what make us extra special 🙂
God Bless,
Nikki DuBose
This inspiring art work comes from Susie Fernandez and her talented art students in Long Beach, California.
We can change the negative voices in our heads from “I’m not smart enough” to “I’m smart,” and “I’m ugly” to “I’m pretty,” and “I’m amazing!” We can program our minds to think beautiful thoughts about ourselves, and soon, we will begin to believe the positive thoughts. What we believe, we act upon, and we spread the love to others.
What negative thoughts are you having about yourself, and what phrases can you meditate on that will produce a positive change?
God Bless,
Nikki DuBose
I saw my butterfly
Laced with pink and purples
Defined by lace.
I saw my butterfly
Soaring over the mountains
I felt your Grace.
Mariposa awoke me in the night,
“Put on your fancy clothes
And tennis shoes
For we are about to take flight.
Jump on my back and hold on
Never let me go.”
Sparkling seas and butterscotch fields
Were lit on fire
By me and my Mariposa
As we sailed in the night.
And I danced
And I cried
And I laughed
And we danced
Me and my Mariposa.
©2012 Nikki DuBose