My name is Shenea Stiletto, and I am a World Class Cirque Artist performing currently with Circus Omnium: A Bold New Circus, Two -Time World Acrobaticgymnastics Champion, and USA Gymnastics Hall of Famer. I’m the first African American(biracial) woman to star in a lead character and acrobatic role in a Cirque Du Soleil production. I am also a SURVIVOR. As a black woman who has forged a very successful career in the circus arts; I would like to detail the difficult journey to becoming a success in this field, and how the gymnastics world mirrors that of the circus world with dynamics and politics within the environments being very similar. I have suffered racism, sexism, and sexual violence in both the circus and gymnastics worlds. I host the Live Like An Acrobat Podcast in an effort to bring to light the humanity of circus workers and competitive gymnasts, and the realities of these environments, and how they intersect with important social justice issues.