“I think the biggest misconception about female athletes is that we’re tomboys and that we’re not pretty; we’re not girls — we’re just like male figures in the sport. We’re not! We’re females too. We still like to get dressed up, we still like to put makeup on, we still like to go out on dates and be treated like women.

“I define myself as not only an athlete, but as a strong woman who’s overcome so many things. As a young girl, I did not know my mother — I didn’t meet her until I was 16 years old. I missed out on some of the things that most females get to do, like talk to their moms about makeup. My father and my brothers raised me to be a tough tomboy. I was bullied at a young age and through my early teenage years by my father. My upbringing brought me to the greatest thing in the world that I’m so happy I’m doing: fighting.

“I’ve always had an athletic build, so sometimes I didn’t fill out tank tops the right way, or I couldn’t wear certain outfits because my legs were bigger, my calves were bigger, or my body was more athletic than your typical female, with a big chest and a giant butt and skinny legs. To me, it took me getting older that I was like, ‘You know what, I like how I am.’ I like having big legs! I like having wide shoulders! I like those things now.”