One of a kind // Up-cycled Screen Printed Tee

Fruit of the Loom // Size “3XL”

We love Britney here- I need to just start right there.

I remember the first time I saw the video for ‘baby one more time’. I was a 10 year old girl on the basketball team so all of the cute and sporty scenes really spoke to me. I changed my hair-do to two teeny tiny little pigtails above some sparse bangs and opted for baggy pants and baby tees.

Over time, in different places I lived, moving twice a week- my walkman became a better friend and family member than anyone I could think of at the time. Thus it felt like when Britney was singing “I will be there” - it was really for me. I still have to listen to it sometimes to feel better!

I taught myself how to dance to her songs by copying her dance moves and signature hair whips. I watched ‘making the video’ and was inspired to come up with concepts, storyboards and dance moves for upcoming Britney videos. I was 12 at this point, when I had moved into a very uncomfortable situation with my mom and someone she met on the internet.

Extremely isolated, living in some weird Brady bunch fantasy my mom created, I begged for a place of my own. Internet man said I could use the garage if I cleaned it out. I spent a week cleaning the shit out of that place and then, I had my dance studio. And since I won it fair and square- I had first dibs. At least while I was there on the weekends, sometimes weekdays when I’m going to school… ( hella complicated ass living situation shit)

In high school, my best friend, Josh, and I would lock ourselves in his mom’s room (complicated living situations!!!!!!) and dance our brains out to Britney. It was the most fun I’ve ever had in my entire life. Josh screaming at his mom to leave us alone for 10 minutes, “We need to listen to Britney!!!! “

On a side note- I’d like to also mention the years of ridicule I watched her endure. It was all noted- and it was all not cool! I was the kid (and still am) the kid that said it was punk rock to listen to whatever the fuck you wanted. Oh my god, if I had a dollar for every time I got called a “poser” lol

Let’s cut to 2007- I found myself in the mental ward of San Francisco general hospital. My now husband, then friend, brought a magazine into the hospital for me with this image on the front. I can’t explain the emotions it still brings out in me.

Goddess are amazing because they’re part human. They make mistakes, they fall, they learn, they get back up, they rise.

This image is not to dismantle her, but to pump up these instinctive choices that give us the chance to break free.

I love you Britney ~ thank you for being such a badass <3