Sporting New Look
While getting my hair done and chatting with Mary—my current stylist turned friend—we caught up on life. It’s funny how she came to be my stylist: my ex-boyfriend’s best friend owned a salon where my previous stylist had landed a job. After the breakup, my ex insisted I find a new stylist. I argued that it shouldn’t matter since his friend wouldn’t even see me—my appointments were always on his day off. His response? That was fine, they would just fire her. You’d think grown men in their mid-thirties wouldn’t act like teenage girls.
My stylist at the time had a three-year-old son, so I decided to be the bigger person and find a new salon. And in true post-breakup fashion, I figured it was the perfect time for a change—cue the “break-up hair.” Luckily, Blondie’s Salon had an open slot with Mary the very next day. I went in, explained what I wanted, and even asked about switching back to blonde later. Mary suggested a demi-permanent color, but it faded too quickly for me, so I booked another appointment and committed to a permanent color.
Now, nearly six years later, I couldn’t be happier with my decision. As I sat in Mary’s chair yesterday, I started rambling about The Detroit Prowl and the tasks I needed to complete while sending out emails. She looked completely confused and finally asked me to slow down and explain what I was talking about. I was shocked that I had never told her, so I backtracked and shared how my journey with them began before circling back to my original point.
Mary has been around for almost six years now. She’s watched me grow from someone who once doubted themselves and their judgment after people turned out to be the complete opposite of who they seemed. She saw the destruction of my coping mechanisms desperate to regain a sense of control in a life that suddenly felt out of my hands, or just forget altogether. When someone isn’t honest and upfront, they take away your ability to make an informed decision—robbing you of your choice. And usually, I pride myself on being a great judge of character. Mary witnessed that struggle but also been able to see the journey to becoming the person I am today.
Back to my story about The Detroit Prowl—I was telling Mary about how I was reaching out to a specific school to see if their cheer team and band would be interested in performing at halftime during the Prowl’s game on May 10th at 7:00 PM. Earlier that day, I had called the school and was given an email address for my contact, but when I sent my message, it bounced back. I scoffed in frustration, and Mary asked what was wrong. That’s when I explained what I was trying to do and how I now had to go on a Google search to track down the correct email.
She laughed and said the person I spoke to might have knowingly given me a non-working email—comparing it to the old “rejection hotline” phone number from years ago. I insisted that wasn’t the case but couldn’t help chuckling; I hadn’t heard anyone mention the rejection hotline since elementary school. Luckily, I found the correct email and was able to send out what I needed.
Looking back, I realize just how far I’ve come since first meeting Mary. While I still struggle with self-esteem, I am actively working on building my confidence and ensuring that I never allow anyone to make me question myself again. During this time, I have also earned both an Associate’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a focus on Sport Management, further equipping myself for the opportunities ahead.
For the past two years, I’ve been doing everything I can to break into the sports industry—volunteering, shadowing, and taking on any opportunity that comes my way. It hasn’t been easy. Since graduating from the University of Michigan in 2022, the journey has been challenging and, at times, discouraging. But now, I finally have the chance to make a real impact. I’m working with a passionate team to help grow a professional women’s football franchise, build its brand, and expand its reach. This opportunity is one I’m truly excited about. And not only is Mary thrilled for me, she’s been by my side throughout this entire journey.
