and why? What have you learned from watching them? RAQUEL MILLER: Great question! I think I always learn from the greats I have my favorites for sure but I don’t have just one. Here’s a few of my all time favorites Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali and Lucia Rijker. I study them all often at a different times and you learn different things but I think overall. The most important thing I learned and admire is how hard they worked just dedicating hours and hours strictly on their skills and honing their craft. SFND MAG: Women were allowed to competitively box for the first time at the Olympics in 2012 and you were there! Can you describe your feelings being a part of the USA Olympic Team at the 2012 games? RAQUEL MILLER: Yes, that was an amazing experience to be able to be a part of history. I got to go to London with team USA as a sparring partner and at the time, I had only been boxing for a little under two years. Overall, I was just happy to be there and witness history and to see so many women from all over the world representing our sport was amazing. It motivated and inspired me so much. SFND MAG: Business over Boxing can often be confused with ducking an opponent why do you think that is? RAQUEL MILLER: I think people don’t really understand how the business side of boxing works. You make decisions as a team and everyone has to be on board from the fighter, manager, and promoter. I could be ready to fight a girl but if my manager wants to hold off and wait or strategically move in a different direction at that time I have to listen and respect that if that plan makes more sense than the plan I had. So, the short of it is boxing is a business first and if you have a good team behind you they are always going to push you to make the smartest business moves. SFND MAG: Female boxers often undervalue themselves while laying it all on the line in the squared circle $1,000 and $2,000 fights when male boxers are getting that 10x over! Is it the boxer’s fault
for not knowing her worth or do you feel it’s her team’s fault for not instilling the value of the fighter? RAQUEL MILLER: I think it is a bit of both and its sad honesty because women train just as hard as the men do if not harder because we feel we have more to prove. In my opinion it is important for women to stop being afraid to stand up for themselves and start demanding more for their skills. Her team should be fully supportive of this and be pushing for the same things too. Better contracts, more money, and more visibility. I also wish women fighters supported each other more. It is enough room for us all to shine. SFND MAG: You are more than just a boxer for sure. Tell us about your Non Profit – Ladies In Power, and new athleisure line Pretty Beast? RAQUEL MILLER: I’m for sure more than just an athlete! I want to leave more than boxing behind as my legacy. I’m a boxer, nonprofit cofounder, community leader, and entrepreneur. My sister and I started Ladies In Power a mentorship based program geared to help girls transition into adulthood teaching them self-confidence, healthy eating/ lifestyle, mental health, financial literacy and more. We’ve been incorporated now for a little over 10 years and were growing. Currently looking for partnerships, donations, and volunteers for more information, they can check out our website at www.ladiesinpower.org. The Pretty Beast athleisure line will be launching this month and I’m very excited. I will be starting small with tracksuits, hoodies, t-shirts, and hats. The products will be available on my website launching soon www.msraquelmiller.com I will also post links on my social media accounts where you can purchase. SFND MAG: How much impact does social media have on the sport? Do you feel pressure to have to post workouts, fights, media events, community events etc... to gain popularity and notoriety? RAQUEL MILLER: Sometimes yes! Social media is definitely important for your brand and building and keeping people updated on what you have going on. Honestly, I’m not really a big social
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media person but I’m working on being more active and I’m in the process of developing a web based reality series with me and my close friends so people can get a look inside our lives and learn more about me as a person inside and out of the ring. So stay tuned for details! SFND MAG: What are you listening to in your headphones or in the gym when you’re working out?
RAQUEL MILLER: I’m currently bumping a little Ace Hood, Mistah Fab, Lil Baby, Meek and Nipsey Hustle. I’m a grinder and hustler and grind music does something to my soul. My close guy friends and teammates laugh and tell me I’m a boy trapped in a girl body because [LAUGHS] SFND MAG: I’m sure it’s a bunch of little girls who are growing up just like you grew up and are constantly being told they can’t or they won’t because their a girl , what advice to you have for them. RAQUEL MILLER: Walk in any door with your head high and the determination to be BEAST at anything you do and willing to work, so hard they cannot ignore you period! You belong; you can and never let anyone dim your light! You were born to shine and there’s nothing you can’t accomplish or do. Believe in the power of you! SFND MAG: I’m going to say some names give me the first word that come to mind! • BAY AREA – RAQUEL MILLER: Home •
Claressa Shields –
RAQUEL MILLER: Coming •
DiBella –
RAQUEL MILLER: Thankful •
Fight Like A Girl –
RAQUEL MILLER: Love •
Maricela Cornejo –
RAQUEL MILLER: Ready NOV / DEC 2018- SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM -
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