Fiercely You

Who are some of the most confident, fabulous people on the planet? Drag queens-and Jackie Huba wants to teach you how to channel the courage and confidence of drag in your personal and professional lives.



We all want to be fabulous. But too often we let self-doubt derail us from pursuing our passions and accomplishing our biggest goals. This was the situation Jackie Huba found herself in. At the lowest point in her life she serendipitously stumbled upon the wonderful world of drag queens, and to her surprise, she found them inspiring and energizing. They were supremely confident, utterly fearless, strong, powerful, and unabashedly and completely themselves-no apologies, no compromises. So she immersed herself in the world of drag, eventually becoming a female drag queen herself aka Lady Trinity.

Fiercely You is a creative, playful approach to the serious problems that women face regarding confidence and risk-taking. Drawing on her own experiences and interviews with the world's top drag queens, Huba offers five keys to the Queendom that will help readers ignore criticism and live life more fearlessly. This is not a guide to drag, it's a guide to life-but in a sense, all life is drag. As RuPaul, the most famous drag queen in the world, herself says, “We're born naked, and the rest is drag.” Huba and her coauthor Shelly Stewart Kronbergs-who explains the psychology research that supports each of Huba's keys-help readers become the amazing person they see inside their heads and feel in their hearts.

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• CONTENTS
• Introduction: Setting Sail for the Queendom
• Part One: Why Fierce Matters
• Part Two: The Keys to Fierce
• Conclusion: Living Fiercely Every Day
• Epilogue: Doing Drag on a TED Stage
• A Drag Primer: Know Your Herstory
• Glossary of Drag Terms
• Notes
• Acknowledgments
• Index
• About the Authors

“When you become the image of your own imagination, it's the most powerful thing you could ever do.”
-RuPaul

“By weaving together critical research, compelling examples, and lively storytelling, Fiercely You shows us how to bring our boldest, most fearless selves to any challenging situation. This book is a game changer.”
-Claire Shipman, coauthor of the New York Times bestseller The Confidence Code

“Bold. Brave. Courageous. Confident. The real-life characters in Fiercely You astonish and motivate readers to stop worrying and start werking it.”
-Lisa Grimm, Global Associate Director, Social Media, Whole Foods Market

“Jackie Huba and Shelly Kronbergs aren't just fierce, they're wise. The message at the center of this book is one of empowerment, attitude, self-discovery, and freedom. Anyone can be as fierce as a drag queen! Paint those lips fire-engine red and you're halfway there. These sharp, sassy ladies will take you the rest of the way.”
-Jill Alexander Essbaum, author of the New York Times bestselling novel Hausfrau

“Fiercely You is an inspiring book that provides a creative yet clever approach to being our most confident selves.”
-Anne Murray, Senior Director, Marketing Communications, Southwest Airlines

“Who knew that the answer to women's problems with self-confidence would come from drag queens? Jackie Huba did-and she explains it all in her groundbreaking book, Fiercely You.”
-Liz Bullock, Director, Digital and Paid Media, Rackspace

“Fiercely You is an inspirational book that takes the reader through a journey of self-discovery. The authors share strategies to eradicate self-doubt and embrace all aspects of life with authenticity, joy, and confidence, rather than fear and uncertainly. It's a must-read for all ages!”
-Kathryn Ferguson, Senior Director, Marketing, SAP Americas

“Jackie has done it again! She has turned drag queens into role models for every woman by making new and surprising connections. This is truly a guide that all women can use to build their own confidence and perform fearlessly in their many life roles.”
-Jennifer Hughes, Global Director, Social and Community, Electronic Arts

“Fiercely You is your ticket to finding and setting free your playful, badass, bold, beautiful self. Step back, Jack. Jackie Huba's got one helluva ride for those who are ready to start expressing the version of themselves they've always wanted to be.”
-Victoria Labalme, performing artist, performance coach, and founder of Rock the Room

“Fiercely You is for every woman who has ever daydreamed about what she should have done or said. This inspiring yet practical book provides an action plan on how to live your life with greater confidence.”
-Virginia Miracle, Chief Customer Officer, Spredfast

“Hilarious and courageous, Fiercely You is the new how-to guide for women to build self-confidence and realize their true fabulous selves. Highly recommended!”
-Gemma Craven, Senior Vice President, McCann

“Fiercely You is a step-by-step powerful guide for women to learn how to be a force to be reckoned with. Using inspiring stories, Jackie and Shelly show us that we have the confidence inside to be whatever we want in this world. Just take the stage!”
-Kathie Jones, Global Controller, frog

“Fiercely You provides lessons anyone can take away on how to be strong, bold, fierce, and in control of your life, every day. It's a personal power development tool I would have loved to have had twenty years ago, when just starting my career.”
-Stephanie Pfeffer Anton, Executive Vice President, Luxury Portfolio International

“A wonderful combination of a personal journey, glittering (and fierce) examples, sound research, and delicious process, Jackie Huba's Fiercely You provides women with a fun and fresh tool for building, growing, and leveraging confidence.”
-Monique Maley, President, Articulate Persuasion, and creator of Command a Room Women's Leadership Program

“Fiercely You is an essential read for anyone seeking inspiration and guidance on how to stop worrying what other people think and start living boldly and vibrantly.”
-Lyn Christian, MCC, CFCC, founder of SoulSalt

“Fiercely You is packed full of tips and advice to tap into your inner diva and become the fiercest, most confident version of yourself.”
-Sarah Finley, cofounder and CEO, Social Arts & Science Institute

“Jackie Huba is a fearless role model for women who are holding themselves back from greatness. In this book, she shares the secrets to being the badass you always knew you could be.”
-Amy Swank, Vice President of Operations, Texas Economic Development Council

“Like Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In wrapped in a feather boa, Fiercely You is a masterful and marvelous study of female empowerment in the modern age.”
-Andrea France, retail software executive

“Fiercely You is an inspiring book that provides a creative and clever approach to being our most confident selves.”
-Maxine Clark, entrepreneur

“Confident. Remarkable. Strong. Courageous. Who doesn't want that for themselves? I do. I know you do too. In Fiercely You, Jackie Huba and Shelly Kronbergs want to outfit you with a new way of seeing yourself in everyday situations. No bustier or thigh boots required!”
-Jill Silman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Senior Performance Consultant

“Fiercely You offers practical insights and creative tips and tools that can help you work through your fears and ignite your confidence.”
-Barbara Miller, international speaker and speaking consultant/trainer

“How can thinking like a drag queen help people gain autonomy and self-assurance? Huba (Monster Loyalty) answers this question by showing readers how to conceptualize and actualize the person within. That's the essence of the book-pulling out that alter persona and bringing it to life without fear of condemnation. Certainly a big order, but, according to Huba, the outcome is immensely rewarding. Real-life stories dominate the text and make for fascinating reading if not guidance in realizing the nature of our true selves. VERDICT: A fun, insightful read that takes readers in surprising directions.”
- Library Journal