I've always been a bit of an outcast.

If you have seen our socials you may see a familiar face pop up. I am Amy and have been a proud anti-stereotype for as long as I can remember.

Lanky and long with frizzy curls and a fringe were my key characteristics when I was younger plus, the fact I absolutely loved sports from watching to playing to competing.

Previously, as a swimmer in a hyper competitive environment I competed and succeeded at a high level but from the age of 13/14 a large majority of my friends stopped leading to me eventually giving up also.

After quitting swimming and I took up rugby and martial arts. Here things got TOUGH. Experiences include; trying to find a girls rugby team with enough players to warrant an hour training session once a week, beginning martial arts as the only girl in a dodgy part of town, being dropped from the school netball team for doing a 'boys' sport.

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This concept of being the ONLY girl was a very common.

After school and into university, a few years in commercial gyms and competitive environments the message became very clear that as a young woman the pressure to be perfect was everything.

I was forever stared and thought more about how I looked over my PB squat and given irrelevant advise on how to lift despite world class coaching I received from university just because I was a girl.

I just enjoyed feeling fit and moving my body. Wearing any outfit I felt confident in as my priority was to sweat and lift heavier.

Then I found Jiu Jitsu. A mental and physical game where I could meet my match and calculate beyond just physicality.

The support I was craving for years I found at my new gym. Where women supported women. Where everyone had a common purpose to improve in their sport.

I finally found hope.

Yes, there will always be continuous nay sayers but by not being the stereotype for once was finally working in my favour. I had found a beautiful community of women and friends that supported my growth and cared.

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We at Tough Cherry know personally the challenges endured to achieve athletic prowess if you choose to do a bootcamp once a week to competing for your country. The experiences of women I have met along the way have inspired our meaning and message as a company to be a foundation to all those looking beyond the traditional.

Creating garments and accessories to empower you to feel your absolutely best to train and compete with long term goals to provide a support system to young girls when dropping out of sport is so common.