We were lucky to catch up with Monika Hilton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Monika, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Hi, I’m Monika Hilton and 7 years ago, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Scleroderma meaning (hardening of the skin) It’s a connective tissue disorder that also causes chronic pain, skin tightening, joint stiffness, fatigue, intestinal complications and potentially organs failure.

Scleroderma has caused deformities in my hands/fingers my arms and serverly limited my mobility.
I never heard of this disease until I was diagnosed 7 years ago and since then, ive been researching as much as I can and sharing what I learn. I display full transparency on my social media platforms. I’ve even started a You Tube channel called Teal Talk with Mo.

Scleroderma has changed my life physically, mentally, spiritually and financially but my ambition to leave a legacy as a multi entrepreneur is unrelenting.
I was a competitive Chef and cake artist for over 20 years, (www.TheMoExperience.org) once competing on Food Network’s Cake Wars and Netflix’s Sugar Rush, with a huge clientele in the southeast area as well as the entertainment industry and I can no longer cook/bake nor decorate cakes due to the loss of mobility in my hands and not being able to lift, bend, or stand for extended periods of time.
Though Scleroderma caused a few detours I’ve still managed to become a Realtor, 2 time Author, an Artist (painter) and I just started a podcast called Teal Talk with Mo.

God has given me the courage to be transparent through the challenges of these changes of life.
I would like to take advantage of any opportunity to share with the world what Scleroderma looks like and how its affecting me.
Thank you for sharing your platform and helping me spread awareness by sharing my story.

You can also help by purchasing a Scleroderma Tshirt in my honor, my books or purchasing any item on my website and a portion of all sales for June (Scleroderma Awareness Month) will be donated to the Scleroderma Foundation.
Www.TheMoExperience.org

Thank you for your time and consideration. Blessings to you.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Scleroderma caused deformities in my hands/fingers my arms and serverly limited my mobility, in essence, it stole my confidence, my livelihood, my future.
I never heard of this disease until I was diagnosed 7 years ago and since then, ive been researching as much as I can and sharing what I learned. The more i learned the more I rebuilt my confidence. I display full transparency on my social media platforms. I’ve even started a You Tube channel called Teal Talk with Mo.

Scleroderma has changed my life physically, mentally, spiritually and financially but my ambition to leave a legacy as a multi entrepreneur is relentless.
I was a competitive Chef and cake artist for over 20 years,once competing on Food Network’s Cake Wars and Netflix’s Sugar Rush, with a huge clientele in the southeast area as well as the entertainment industry and I can no longer cook/bake nor decorate cakes due to the loss of mobility in my hands.
Though Scleroderma caused a few detours I’ve still managed to become a Realtor, 2 time Author, an Artist (painter) and I just started a podcast called Teal Talk with Mo.
I hope to encourage people, especially those with disabilities, never quit! You can do all things through Christ that strengthens you.

God has given me the courage to be transparent through the challenges of these changes of life.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Everything about my life today illustrates my resilience before and after my diagnosis. No matter how hard things got, i never gave up.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I am currently in the midst of pivoting in business and in life. Baking was everything to me. For Over 15 years prior to my diagnosis, my family & I owned and operated 3 bakeries, an events facility and a restaurant, I competed in Hollywood twice, i was an interim chef for a year, built a large celebrity clientele and wrote a cookbook. I absolutely loved cooking and baking. After being diagnosed with Scleroderma, i rapidly lost the ability to perform most of tasks i had grown to love doing every day of my life. I was terrified, lost, depressed. Didn’t know what to do with my time. I thought my professional life was over.
During Covid 2020-2022 i experience the worst of my disease. I lost a lot of weight, my physical appearance and abilities were debilitating and I didn’t like who I saw in the mirror. I became a couch potato and didn’t realize how detrimental that was to my declining health, until I did…
I Decided I didn’t like the person I had become and needed to make some changes. I had to come to terms that I couldn’t bake anymore but life must go on!
I enrolled in Real Estate school & became a Ga Realtor in 2022. Then I started working on my 2nd book, I Decided published in 2023, I expanded my brand with sauces, seasonings, tshirts and books. I began being more vocal about my experience and encouraging people that quitting is not an option.
I Decided life was worth living.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.TheMoExperience.org
• Instagram: TheMoExperience25
• Facebook: Monika Hilton
• Linkedin: Motherealtor22
• Youtube: Teal Talk with Mo

Image Credits
Monika Hilton