International Women’s Day is a reminder to salute the women who have inspired us to be us. I only had one woman in my life that could handle my fearless spirit; my ma. Once she realized there was no stopping me, she joined me. She always said if I was going to do it, I better do it right. That was my inspiration. Who is the woman who inspired you to be you? Let’s talk about it…

Carolina Rodriguez-Roberts: “My mother; every part of my life was inspired by her the way I did things. She taught me how to be respectful, have integrity and morals.She raised us all to have love for each other, respect and be there for one another whether was our brothers and sisters or aunts or uncles or cousins or nieces and nephews. She was a magnet for the family, all of us precious metals came to her were there by her side as she was for us. Not a day went by when she was alive I ever asked for anything from anybody else because she was always there for me always.”

Gracie Ortiz: “My mother; single mother from my childhood to early teens. She was a good loving person who cared for and loved everyone no matter what you did .. Her family was first priority. She had a huge, huge heart. She was a person you would never regret knowing. I can say so many good things about her.

Brandi Kirkand: “ My mother-she taught me to be strong/ fierce and most of all independent; not to depend on anyone in your life but yourself and never give up no matter what.”

Jennifer Martinez Johnson: “ My Grandmother. She raised me from day one and always was my inspiration with how dedicated, loving, & caring she always was. I miss her so much.”

Jeff Hull: “ My ex Isabel Medina. She had the courage to walk out on me because of my addiction. Had she and her children not had the courage to leave me, I wouldn’t have taken a second look at myself.”

Jazmin D Zuñiga: “I don’t know if she Inspired me but she did teach me what not to do, I was a Daddy’s Girl so I learned from my mother’s mistakes to try and be a better mother!”

Sandra Luna Perez: “My mother was a very strong woman. She knew she had a year left to live and didn’t want anyone to know but me. I was falling apart when I found out I had cancer. Unless you’ve been in a life-and-death situation, you don’t know how hard it is to stay or look normal to everyone else around you and she did it till the end.”

Norma Sanchez Martinez: “Yvette Tello has inspired me to become the woman and mother I am today. She taught me to never give up and put my children first. I have the life I have today because she pushed me to fight even though things got rough, I had nothing and she took me and my 4 year old daughter in and gave me strength to move on. Now 20 years later, I have more than I ever thought I would ever have. A wonderful husband, a house I own free and clear and my wonderful children and 2 grandchildren, and I owe it all to her for taking me in.”

Rick Carter: “Mom, circa 1952, Charlotte Minerva Brown (Chocolate Minerva by her dad), Colonial Dame, the first great great granddaughter of Confederate Major General K.M. Van Zandt, the eldest son of Texas Gubernatorial Candidate Isacc Van Zandt to follow Sam Houston, Three time great grandmother Frances Lipscomb Cook Van Zandt, who introduced Christianity to the early settlers, native American Indians, and early Texas. I love you, Mom !”