Describe yourself: Captain of my destiny. Wonderfully complicated. Cultured Ratchet. Wild Flower. Habitual line stepper. Brilliant & Resilient. Boundaries-pusher all of all trades; master of none. Unapologetically flawed. Free thinker and spirit. Compulsive mind-changer. Committed to non-commitment. Wayward. Unconventional Lover. The one that got away.

Name/Alias, occupation, something interesting not many people know about you:

Aura, I'm currently a student, and I was born with club foot.

What are you most passionate about?

I'm most passionate about training my mind to live a happy life and go after what I want. I believe once you learn to master your mind, you can master your world. I'm also passionate about storytelling across all mediums: words, photography, art, dance, music, etc. Any and all forms of expression.

What did you have to overcome within yourself to be the woman you are today?

I overcame a lot, but I feel most people do. Sometimes simply existing takes a lot. Personally, I learned to embrace my mistakes and forgive myself for a lot. I learned to forgive others as well, because you forgive for yourself; not for others. I had to do a lot of forgiving in order to heal and move on. Additionally, I follow all of my interests, no matter how random they seem. Everything is connected: the things that excite you, your circumstances, your mistakes, lessons.....everything.

What was one of the first acts you committed towards loving yourself and how do you practice self love daily?

Learning to love myself was accidental lol. I moved away for school, subsequently isolating myself. This changed me. I ached from being lonely, but once I embraced the pain, it strengthened me. I learned myself, my fears, my deepest desires and needs. I learned to cater to myself . I found what was missing and learned to properly fill voids. I learned that my happiness should not be dependent on other people. I learned to love myself. I practice self love by doing simple things. I watch what I put in my body, I watch the energy that surrounds me, I practice affirmations. Sometimes I might simply lounge around naked in a quiet home.

How did you grow to embrace your children as a teen mother?

I didn't bond with my kids right away. For me, it wasn't love at first sight. And it wasn't that I didn't love them, I was simply numb to life. Although everything always worked out, my earlier years weren't the easiest. My pregnancy was rough and I was lonely. I was 16, and suddenly was a parent to twins. Eventually though, they made me feel purposeful, and as time passed, they developed little personalities, and I fell in love.

Often, women's actions, images, self acceptance, etc. are policed, largely by patriarchal views. For women of color, this is more so and often met with violent opposition. What advice do you have for women who are too afraid to be themselves?

People will always have an opinion of you. No matter what. Women tend to shrink themselves in fear of judgment, but people will always develop opinions. To live your best life, you have to be comfortable doing whatever makes you happy, whenever it makes you happy. As long as you're honest with people, I suggest you go for it. You might hurt people a time or two. It's life. But always be upfront about being yourself. As we get older, we regret not doing certain things when we had the chance. It will always be that way, so do what you want to do. Keep being yourself until you meet someone who loves you for you. ALL of you.

What words do you have for men who impose these views on women?

Men need to get over themselves. So many men impose ideal gender expectations on women, but don't demand "appropriate" gender values of themselves. I'd tell men to read more feminist text or take a class in order to better understand. But men simply aren't interested in learning or understanding. These types of men are simply interested in what benefits them. At the very minimum, they should understand that women are actual human beings, not props for their entertainment and/or consumption.

How do you raise your sons to view women who may have what society deems as "undesirable" traits?

The best way I know to raise my sons to respect women regardless of their choices is by simply existing as myself. I'm open and honest about everything. When I decided to become a stripper, they were 11 and I had a conversation with them about it. No subject is too taboo, and I encourage give and take conversations. In doing this, I've de-stigmatized a lot for them, and broadened their perspective. This allows them to view the world in general with minimal judgment.

Do you have any advice for people who want to go back to school but are unsure of where to start due to their age, responsibilities, confidence, etc.?

My advice for people who want to go back is to do what they can. If time or money is an obstacle, start by taking one class. The time will pass anyway, so you might as well just do it. I'm considered a "non-traditional" student, meaning I didn't attend college straight out of high school. I dropped out after birthing my twins in the 11th grade, and obtained my GED. I tried college at different points and failed. BMCC kicked me out twice due to failing grades. I was about 24 when I decided I was serious, and started with two classes. Eventually, I enrolled full-time and obtained my Associates before transferring to a four-year college. I have one more semester left, and I'll be graduating with a Bachelors in English Language and Literature. It's literally never too late to go back to school. People in their 80's are obtaining degrees. Start slow, and do what works for you.

What is your legacy?

I'm currently figuring that out lol

Song that describes your mood at the moment?

"Blessings" by Big Sean and Drake

Dopest book you've ever read:

"Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill

and "Four-hour Workweek" by Tim Ferris

Top 5 things you'd want to take with you anywhere you go (non necessities).

Book, laptop, chapstick, coconut oil, paper/pencil

Social media:

IG: @AmazingAura

Twitter: @AmazingAura

Lada: I've been following Aura on social media for years and have always been inspired by her sense of adventure, confidence, humor and determination. Her pictures stayyyyyyyyyy lit lol but the captions are the realest. Many times, women are ridiculed for their strong traits and our sense of autonomy is often policed. Aura reminds me to continue to be my authentic self, be raw, be true, all while having fun. HYPE when she agreed to do the interview lol. Thank you Aura!