Tell us about yourself!
Oh man, that’s kind of broad. Couldn’t have dwindled that down a bit? I’ll attempt to not bore you. I grew up here north of San Antonio and tragically moved to Arkansas when I was 12. We were really poor my whole childhood; in case you were wondering where my dark humor and stunted growth come from. I got married and had kids at 19 [insert commercial for using protection here] and found my way back to San Antonio when I was 25 after my ex got out of the navy. I have an associate’s and bachelors degree in psychology, and like most psychology major graduates, I make my living at a job that has nothing to do with psychology. I still have my tonsils and wisdom teeth, I have a weird thing against bready foods and sweets but LOVE spicy stuff and put jalepenos on everything. My favorite beer is Bud Light, my favorite color is red, and I have zero special talents. I can’t sing, I have anxiety, a hard time understanding jokes, and don’t know really how to answer questions like “tell me about yourself”. LOL
There are a lot of choices out there. Tell us, why paintball?
Like most things in my life, it was an accident. I went with my ex-husband to play because he thought if I liked it okay, I might go sometimes and would be supportive of him going all the time. I love it though. Spent a couple months in rec ball, then made the leap into hiding behind large inflatables while getting shot at. I’m not very fast but have decent gun skills, field awareness, and am loud as shit so I found my way into a back position. A couple guy teams let me play some tournaments with them but ultimately, I was never picked up as a starter, so I created the S.A. Rejects. I didn’t play sports as a kid [see growing up broke above] so it surprised the shit out of me when I found out I was decent at paintball.
Why do I love it? Probably the community honestly, and the being part of a team; it’s not something I’ve ever experienced because mainly I don’t like relying on others. There’s something about those few minutes each point that you don’t have to focus on anything else but doing your job and protecting your teammates. It’s just fun. Nothing profound. Just a good brain reset with some pretty bruises.
How long have you played paintball?
Since May 2017 I believe? Made SA Rejects in January 2018 I think?
What is your favorite paintball memory?
Probably last year at world cup (2019) the Paintball Ladies won 1st place in the open women’s tournament and I was voted 2019 MVP. It was super sweet. It was really cool because I had gone through a divorce surrounding the beginning of the season and thought I was going to have to give up paintball altogether.
You’ve been a paintball pinup for a hot minute. What went through your head on your first photoshoot?
A hot minute?! Actually doesn’t feel that long. So I actually hated my first shoot, (the calendar picture with the graffiti wall) not anyone’s fault but my own head; I don’t like being the “center of attention” and was nervous the whole time, had never work fake eyelashes before, and took the photos across the street from some locals that sat on their porch the whole time, just out of my element. The second shoot was for the bunker seat and the barrel bag; I was a lot more comfortable, very much more “me” outfits and make up. But my favorite so far in terms of comfortability was the nude one on the red bench. Had no idea how comfortable it is to not have to worry about wardrobe while taking pictures. The pictures released with this were taken at my house; in MY bed; so it was perfect.
Being one of the few female paintballers on the field can be interesting, to say the least. What’s the most welcomed advice you’ve received? And the most outrageously inappropriate advice?
Most welcomed advice tends to come from the pros that come play with us most weekends like Jesse Stevens, or our Grit guys, I know almost all of them, they play and do well at semi-pro and genuinely care about us succeeding so I listen to them; the first advice I ever got was “just keep talking, just communicate” I had no idea what they were talking about because I didn’t know anything about tournament paintball yet, but that advice is sooo useful and true after I figured it out.
Most inappropriate advice; nothing in particular; tends to be a situational thing, like we’ll go play at a new field or a tournament or new teams will come to X Factor and some guy will see us play one point and have very childish advice like I just started playing yesterday or something… I just stare at them.
If you could have any marker in the world, money is not an issue, what do you rock?
I really want a red and silver CSR with all the back inserts. Yep. But I don’t know if I’d play with it… I’ve owned and sold 2 CS1.5’s since having my CS1 because she just shoots right; that’s my girl and she’s always reliable. I’ve had semi pro players tell me she shoots amazing, soooo…
Tell us your favorite Pinup memory!
Well, I am not very good at recall; and I’m ALWAYS with Cherry; the owner of Pinups… so is a pinup memory also a Paintball Ladies/Rejects memory? I really don’t know.
While paintball is obviously your number one, what else do you do for fun?
Wait, paintball is supposed to be fun? I kid. Uhhh… for fun… I like serial killer documentaries, reading, cooking, building things, and yard work. I don’t have another full time hobby (I have commitment issues) but I really enjoy my home and anything related to it. OOH! Bowling! I love bowling; I should go this weekend. Haven’t been since Covid started.
Thinking back to your start with the pinups, what surprises you the most about the organization?
That it is absolutely not in anyway a profitable organization. OMG. For real, every dollar either goes back into new photoshoots, production, or to even sponsor the new d5 line at world cup!
As someone that plays, but has also tackled the responsibility of team owner and coach, which is more fun… Calling the shots or taking them?
Oh man… that’s a tricky question. I like to think I balance coaching and playing well, but probably not as well as if I only got to watch and coach, or if I only got to play. I’d rather coach than be coached though. So that one. I think. I’d rather coach at events, and play at practice.
What would you say to those that want to give paintball a try, but are unsure how to get started?
I’d tell them to come out on a Saturday when less of the hardcore gunners are there, the paintballs don’t hurt nearly as much as you think they will, and rec ball is a fun way to get your toes wet but speedball is where the excitement is.
Okay, so we love paintball. But with all things, it can’t be sunshine and roses all the time. In your experience, what is the toughest part about loving paintball?
IT’S SO EXPENSIVE. And can be heartbreaking. No matter how much you practice or the money you spend, there are just better teams out there. You put your everything into it just to get smacked because you just can’t seem to close it out, or one teammate isn’t getting the support they need on one side of the field to do their job, or you can’t correct in the way that gives you an advantage. But I do get to travel, and go places I never thought I’d ever go, and I’ve met some of the best people in the world. My boyfriend and my best friend came from paintball. There’s a player in every lower state (and multiple across Texas) I can call if I needed to, and they’d show up! I have way more female friends than I ever thought I’d have, and they actually like me! I think. There’s so many people that support me and believe in me than I could have ever imagined.
