The arrival of my new set helped me realize that it has been 3 years since my first set was bought by SG (5 years since my first hopeful set)! It's been one long, strange strip so I'm just going to try and cram as much babbling about the last few years as I can, below. TL:DR; SG has changed my life and I couldn't be happier about it! ♥
Let's start at the beginning: I became a hopeful in summer 2009, 5 years ago. 2 years and 6 'hopeful' sets later all of my blood, sweat, and tears paid off when Alissa Brunelli and I's first set together, "Geeky," was bought after only a week in MR. I'm not even going to lie, tears were shed, celebration sex was had. And everything only got better from there...
Looking back at my hopeful sets with @ronintally has shown me how much I've grown and changed since I joined the site 5 years ago! If it weren't for Ron approaching me on MySpace forever ago I don't know that I ever would have had the confidence to submit a set to SG on my own. I'll never be able to thank him enough for everything he's done to help me over the years!
I saved up all of my spare cash for close to a year when I found out Alissa was coming to Florida for a tattoo convention. I did something I had never done before and took off on a 3 day trip to Miami and back, by myself, to go meet Alissa and chase my dreams! I had submitted 6 sets in the previous 2 years as a hopeful and literally cried when I got the news I had gone pink, I was so over the moon. It was my first time shooting with an SG staff photographer, and my first time meeting an SG, Luscious, whom is absolutely amazing and inspiring!
From there on, I started stepping out of my comfort zone to take more chances. With my anxiety, I often have a hard time even leaving my house, but becoming an SG gave me the confidence to put myself out there. I started making regular trips to Ohio to visit the Ohio SG's, attend Hell City's, and start my sleeve which I'm still working on. I met so many other amazing girls and great friends and have so many of the most amazing memories! Some moments of note: I went to Hell City in Arizona and met & shot with Sean while attending my first ever SG convention, the spring after I got to shoot a multi with the amazing Phecda which became my second set to go live, and then went to Vegas the following year with some of the most amazing SG's to take part in the most awesome shootfest I've had the pleasure to be a part of. I've gotten to shoot with Alissa, Sawa, DarrylDarko, and Brewin and have an amazing time! I got the chance to shoot with Corwin Prescott for SG, a huge goal of mine, when he came through Florida earlier this year. Honestly, so much has happened that the years seem like such a blur now! Going through all of my old blogs has made me feel so nostalgic!
(Fun fact, Corwin Prescott shot the set below, "Sweet Sunshine," spur of the moment in my backyard! There are actually 2 different chairs in this set, as one collapsed while I was sitting on it. Good times.)
That summer I was lucky enough to meet my bff Todd and get to shoot a spread for InkedGirls Magazine in New York. My spread was published here in the US and over-seas in Australia. I'll never forget this experience and I'm still prouder than words can express that I got such an amazing opportunity!
None of this would have been possible if it weren't for my amazing support system here at home. In my time on the site I've become both a wife and a mother to the most amazing people in my life. @davieglass has been my biggest supporter and fan since day 1 and I can safely say I never would have had the balls to do ANY of this if it weren't for him. Any ladies reading this far: find yourself a man who will support you and your dreams at all costs. There's just nothing better than having someone in your corner who believes in you and pushes you to do things you'd be too afraid to do alone. Thank you, Lucas ♥
And thank you to all of you who have supported me and watched me grow over the years. Without all of you guys I would be just another girl working in just another head shop. I can't thank you guys all for helping me achieve my dreams! You guys are the best. Without question ♥
ALL of this has lead up to this moment. To who I am right now. Being an SG has done WONDERS for my self confidence and sense of self. It's inspired me to do things I never thought I'd do before. I'm a Suicide Girl, and it feels awesome. Because of SG I can now say that I have some of the hottest friends around, that I've done things others only dream of. I've been in an international magazine spread. I've gotten a back corset piercing. I've traveled open ended to other cities chasing opportunities and adventure. I'VE TOUCHED PHECDA'S BOOBS AND THEY ARE GLORIOUS (not as glorious as she is, though. Easily one of the nicest girls I've ever had the pleasure of knowing!) I've partied at a mansion in Vegas. I've danced on stage at a sold out Blackheart Burlesque show (terribly, but that's not the point. I did it. I. Did. It... Me. Whom is terrified of everything.)
SG has made me more confident, more happy, helped me follow the drive to become the person I wanted to be when I started this mission so many years ago. I couldn't be happier, and I couldn't have done it without every single one of you! ♥
Lastly, before I go, I have to thank everyone for all of the love and support they've left on my latest set, "Hot Donna," that @sunshine and I shot this summer at my old job location.
(I've since received a promotion and run my own store :D) I'm seriously blown away by all of the support and can't believe that it's currently the #12 most popular set released this month. That is HUGE, I haven't had a set do this well in ages and it means so much to me! Here's hoping I'll get the honor of seeing it on the front page one of these days! But hey, id there's anything I've learned on this journey, you guys can help make anything possible! ♥
Thank you guys for the years of love and support. I'll never be able to say how much it means to me,
-♥- Annasthesia
