I was 20, going on 21. I was working at Victoria's Secret. It was my favorite place to shop so it helped to have the discount, especially for photo shoots and my modeling. I was engaged to a Lawyer in Denver, Colorado...though we had our good times and yes plenty of bad, there was always something aloft with our relationship....how about multiple affairs on the side was what I discovered.

I knew I had been doing a lot of traveling back and forth to California for my modeling, so I took everything I could into my Pontiac Sunfire and I moved to California by the Bay area to work on my modeling with a transfer job at the local Victoria's Secret. Then I met this guy, who I thought was great and we'd have some great fun in a city. I barely knew anyone.

Everything seemed to be perfect with my new world in the Bay area. Plus, I was about to make my dreams in modeling and acting come true, but then I found out I was pregnant. Well though it takes two...there came the downhill tragedy, he didn't want any part of me or the baby, so I moved on to be a single mother and said goodbye to my dreams of modeling.

The Bay Area was too expensive to try and afford the life of caring for two, I moved back home to Colorado to start a new life. Everyone seemed to want me to have an abortion or give up the baby. I knew it would be tough, but I wanted to prove to everyone and myself that I could be and provide...more. Being pregnant and then a mother, it seemed I had to find ways to make new friends since my old ones just turned their backs on me, like I wasn't the same person because I was mom now?!

I had to work over 60 hours a week to try and make ends meet, live off the bare necessities, and have my son in care from 8am to sometimes 11pm at night but it was worth it....I found the one who was searching for me as I was for them.

Now, I am 26, married with two children, a husband I adore and who adores me and so many opportunities to come with friends, family, and my own professional future in whatever I desire, but first I get to be home with my kids.

-- Maria H