What is the backstory on your Derby Name?
I’ve always been awkward but it wasn’t until I hit my 30’s that I feel like I settled into it. I finally decided I liked being the weird kid and just quit fighting it. I don’t have it all together, I say the wrong things, I’m a bit of a hot mess, but it’s fine! Embrace the mess. And the Rex bit comes in because I’m not one of those graceful, gliding skaters….I’m more of a stompy little dinosaur.
What do you do when you aren’t playing derby.
By day I am a baker/decorator in a local cupcake shop, and by night I am a “cake lady” with a home-based cake business. I really love making fancy fondant cakes and figures and blowing people’s minds and expectations.
Why did you start derby?
I have been a derby spectator for nearly a decade but have always been told, and just sort of accepted, that I wasn’t tough enough and would get murdered out there. I’m not really sure what set it off, but one day I decided I wanted to do something just for me, and something hard. I hadn’t rollerskated since I was a kid so I started taking my kids to a rink and when I found out I lived right by the South Side practice rink, I figured it was all lining up and I signed up at a bout despite barely being able to roll…and I didn’t learn how to stop until boot camp.
What advice would you give to new skaters starting roller derby.
If you even have a tiny interest, just try it; you may surprise yourself. It’s insanely fun, even when you’re on the floor. And it’s fun to see your body react and grow stronger as you ask it to do new things. You don’t have to be amazing on day one, just roll and be stubborn enough to stick around to see what happens.
