Performer Nez Erok in a Ruth Tarvydas gown and with a Ferrari 458 at Xoticar.
Camera IconPerformer Nez Erok in a Ruth Tarvydas gown and with a Ferrari 458 at Xoticar. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie

Song of survival, strength

Staff ReporterMelville Gazette

The domestic violence only stopped when she moved out of home and got married at 19.

‘It took me a long time to talk about it because there was so much guilt and shame,’ the Mt Pleasant resident said.

‘I did a lot of self-development courses and that was really big for me.

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‘I read books and the first one said ‘to love yourself’ and I thought ‘what does that mean?’

‘What was familiar to me was depression, suicide attempts and bulimia.’

The mother-of-one’s best remedy was singing. In 2010 she released Beautiful as a dance track and was in the top 20 underground music charts for several months.

‘My mother would encourage me to sing and tell me that I was beautiful. She believed in me,’ she said.

‘It’s about giving people a voice, telling them they’re not alone in their suffering and knowing you’re beautiful.’

The acoustic version of Beautiful was released in 2012 and the film clip produced by David Le May that won cinematography awards in WA and South Australia, hit the market last year.

Ms Erok will perform the song at the Momentum Forum International Women’s Day Luncheon at Crown Perth next month.

The event promotes the prevention of violence against women and Xoticar is donating part proceeds from every sale made during March to the cause.

This year’s luncheon will include a Ruth Tarvydas fashion parade and guest speakers US Consul General Cynthia Griffin and Dana Vulin.

The fashion parade will feature the ’50 Shades of Grey’ dress worn by Ms Erok in the photo and My Kitchen Rules contestants Chloe James and Kelly Ramsey will be at the event.