The story of Betty has been very hard for me to put into words. I created the original Betty within days of my sister Stormy´s death from breast cancer. Betty came to me in a dream, and I feel as if Stormy sent Betty to me to heal my childhood and to give me hope for the future. The first year after Stormy was gone, I quit a job I had held for years, started Stitches For Bitches, and wrote a book about Betty and all her personas. During the time I was writing the book, it hit me…I'm Betty!
Throughout my entire life I have felt judged. It has always bothered me that some people look down on me because of the clothes I choose to wear, the color of my hair or skin, my piercings, my tattoos, or because I ride motorcycles. I scream in my head, "Love me for who I am inside!" I believe if a person lives their life being an honest, kind, loving human being, who cares what they look like? Why does society put so much importance on the way we look?
My hope for Betty and the story of her life is that she will teach people of all ages to never judge a person by their appearance. The skull on her dress is a reminder that we´re all the same under our skin. I want young children to learn what really matters about a person is who they are inside. And for all those parents who just can´t understand their children because of the way they choose to look, love them for their hearts and souls! It wasn´t until I was in my late twenties and my father was near death that he was finally able to see me for who I am. I am now forty and my mother has yet to learn this valuable life lesson.
Danielle Marinovich |
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