I came into this world with an uncertain beginning. At somewhere between 10 and 12 months old, I was found wandering alone at a bus terminal in South Korea — a small child with one small set of belongings, discovered by a passerby who brought me to local authorities. I spent the next 10 months in a Korean orphanage before being adopted by an American family in Portland, Oregon, where I arrived on October 22, 1984 — welcomed by a new mom, dad, and two brothers, Aaron and Micah.

I grew up in a conservative Christian household, attending private school before transferring to a large public high school. After graduation, I built a career at Wells Fargo, working my way up from entry level all the way to private banking and investments.

In my early twenties, I was introduced to poker. I fell in love immediately. I taught myself online, learned quickly, and discovered a deep passion for mixed games — which became my specialty. By 2006, I walked away from banking entirely to pursue poker full time.

Life had other plans first. I got pregnant with my daughter in 2009 and stepped away from the felt to focus on what mattered most. I resurfaced around 2015 and spent the next decade playing cash games and tournaments part time. Then in mid-2025, I made the decision to go all in.

As a woman in a male-dominated space, I have never waited for a seat. I pulled up my own chair. That experience led me to create Her.Edge — a training program built for women, by women, covering mixed games and all forms of poker.

I also co-founded Pokermongirls alongside two fellow women poker professionals — a multi-revenue ecosystem covering buying, selling, trading, live pack breaking, and content creation.

I have always felt extraordinarily lucky to be here. I carry that awareness with me every single day. I live with an attitude of gratitude. Not as a catchphrase, but as a way of life.