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It’s not easy being fabulous and paralyzed, yet somehow Tiffany Giddes manages to pull it off. Happily living in LA with her wife, but a Florida girl at heart, Tiffany knows exactly what it takes to adapt to her surroundings. She’s a serious adaptive powerlifter, and has been both a movie producer and actress.
From skydiving to starring in her own original film, Tiffany is a woman who loves to live loud and proud. Read on for her story.
Why She’s Fearless
Originally from Ft. Myers, Florida, Tiffany made the big move to California to pursue an acting career in 2008. Her injury occurred just 6 years earlier at the age of 19. Like so many spinal cord injuries, she was involved in a car accident with everyone walking away except her. Since her injury, Tiffany has been on a determined streak.
Once in LA, she teamed up with Teal Sherer, another SCI superstar (and actress) we’ve profiled. Tiffany’s first goal upon arriving in LA was to produce and star in her own film. Her film Collision, was the first movie to feature two female wheelchair-users (both she and Teal) in leading roles.
The story is about a girl who becomes paralyzed and befriends another paralyzed woman. The two then set out to seek revenge (but of course learn at the end of the film that revenge is not the answer). Tiffany was able to raise the $20,000 on Kickstarter to complete the film (and she did her own stunts). Watch the trailer
Also after moving to L.A, Tiffany became a spokesperson for Colours Wheelchairs, the hip wheelchair company known for creating completely customizable manual wheelchairs. Tiffany traveled with the Abilities Expo around the country to help with their company.
Tiffany is also a lover of all things extreme – like scuba and driving ATV’s. She also skydives and surfs with the adaptive surfing organization, Life Rolls On. Her love of extreme sports made her a natural fit for powerlifting, which is now her main focus. Her first powerlifting competition was in 2014 at the Santa Barbara open, where she won a medal. Also in 2014, Tiffany met the woman she eventually marry, Kariel Young.
What’s Next?
Tiffany has been a dedicated powerlifter and strongman for several years now, and has won several medals along the way. It is definitely a sport that suits her. Her coach is Chair Merrell and she trains out of a gym in Torrance, California, called the Torrance Training Lab.
— Follow Tiffany’s powerlifting career: The ParaLifter
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