On November 13th, I walked into the Channel 4 News studio in Buffalo for something bigger than a media appearance. I wasn’t there for publicity. I wasn’t there to “promote a brand.”
I was there to honor a legacy — my mother, Brenda Marie Gigi — and to pour love back into the community that has supported me through my hardest seasons.
For the first time ever, I went on live TV solo. No co-host, no team behind me. Just me, my story, and the mission behind Cheatcode Athletix and the Built Different movement.
But the most important moment of the day was not the cameras — it was presenting a $2,000 Pink Legacy check to Steph, who has been courageously battling breast cancer.
This wasn’t just a donation.
It was a message:
You are not alone. You are built different too.
Why This Moment Meant Everything
A year and a half ago, I was grieving my mother, navigating life, and trying to turn my pain into something powerful. She always pushed me to be different, to stay strong, to chase something meaningful.
Built Different was born from that.
But when the Pink Legacy hoodies dropped, something shifted. People didn’t just buy a hoodie — they connected with the message. They shared their stories. They talked about loved ones they lost. They talked about the ones still fighting.
Then there was Steph — modeling with strength, courage, and honesty.
She wasn’t just a model. She was the heart of the campaign.
So giving her $2,000 on live TV… that was one of the proudest moments of my life.
Buffalo Showed Up for Built Different
Stepping into the Channel 4 studio and seeing how they welcomed me, how they respected the story, how Chelsea connected with the losses I’ve been through — it reminded me why Buffalo is special.
People here have heart.
People here fight for each other.
People here are built different.
It was about connection. About real people supporting something real.
More Than a Brand — It’s a Mission
Cheatcode Athletix isn’t supposed to be like every other streetwear brand.
It’s storytelling.
It’s legacy.
It’s community.
It’s pain turned into purpose.
When people wear Built Different, they’re wearing the message I learned from my mom — that no matter what life throws at you, you keep going. You rise. You don’t fold.
Seeing my brand on live TV, seeing Steph hold that check, seeing Buffalo stand behind this mission… it showed me that what I’m building is bigger than clothes.
It’s a movement.
What Comes Next
This is only the beginning.
More drops.
More community work.
More storytelling.
More ways to give back.
More things that make you stop and say: “This brand is different.”
I want Built Different to be something Buffalo can be proud of — something rooted in love, strength, and real impact.
To everyone who bought a hoodie…
shared a post…
pulled up to an event…
sent a prayer…
or simply believed in me…
Thank you.
We’re only going up from here.
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