Show Me the Ozarks August 2022

A manda Felix is a woman who knows how to turn tragedy into triumph. Born and raised in Joplin, Amanda has gone on to become a model, actress, published author and rising Christian singer and songwriter. She is also the founder of Be Still Ministry, in which she works as a teacher, coach and mentor to support women and children in need. Amanda has achieved all of her remarkable accomplishments through a scrappy resourcefulness instilled in her by her mother. Her story begins in Joplin, mowing lawns in exchange for voice lessons. “We grew up in poverty but never wanted for anything,” Amanda said. “My mom used to have me mow the neighbor’s lawn across the street and stay after to go over things on their keyboard with them as I sang. What I didn’t realize was my mom was exchanging me mowing the lawn for singing lessons.” Amanda said she’ll never forget the first time she sang in church. It was a huge turning point in her life. “I was little … maybe five or six years old,” she said. “I was frozen. I couldn’t do it. The next Sunday came around, and I froze again. The third Sunday, the pastor had said, ‘Okay, is she going to do it this time?’ They were always patient with me. My mom knew what I carried, and she saw a lot in me that I, of course, didn’t see in myself. But, I remember it was the third Sunday, and I got up and sang. I got a standing ovation!” Amanda continued to sing throughout her school years. Her family couldn’t afford dance lessons, so she learned from her friends. Despite the lack of formal training, Amanda attended NEO A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma, and then Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on dance scholarships. After graduation, she danced professionally for the Tulsa Talons Arena football team. “Things weren’t always easy,” she said. “I had to work extra hard for everything. There was no money backing me up, and no one in the stands cheering me on. My family was supportive but could never make it to come see me.” As Amanda worked hard to put herself through college and lay the foundation for her future, a series of tragic events struck her life that almost derailed her completely. “I started dating a man and moved to Arizona with him,” she said. “It turned out to be a very bad, abusive relationship. I was completely isolated. I couldn’t go anywhere. I couldn’t drive my car.” With the help of a friend, Amanda escaped that relationship with nothing but a suitcase and returned to Oklahoma. The next dark days struck when she lost her father in 2012. His passing was another huge turning point. She remembered a piece of advice he gave her: “Leave the boys alone and follow your dreams.” “So, I did that,” she recalled.

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