Valarie's journey through trauma has shaped the woman she is today. Her father passed away from drug addiction when she was twenty-five and five months pregnant with her first child. Her husband, Mark, died on April 25, 2019, from esophageal cancer, and sixteen days later, on May 11, 2019 her friend Sarah passed away from alcoholism. These losses prompted Valarie to find a way to process the grief that felt stuck in her body, leading her back to ballet after not dancing for over twenty years. In December 2019, she faced another devastating loss with the death of her grandmother from dementia. In March 2021, Valarie was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. After undergoing treatment, she poured her experiences into creative outlets, launching her podcast "Dancing in the Rain with Valarie" and beginning her modeling career at the age of forty. Valarie also became an advocate for breast cancer action and uses the acronym GEM-genetic testing, examine your breasts, and mammograms. She is a mother to four amazing children, ballet instructor, life coach, motivational speaker, podcaster, model, certified WARRIOR Rhythm instructor, and is getting ready to publish her first memoir.