Everyone's path out of addiction is a little different. For Ashley Victoria, the grip alcohol had on her was strong. So her response was to get stronger. 

"It got to the point where we had our children removed from our home," recalled Victoria. She described her level of alcoholism as having both feet in the ditch.  The children were five and three when they were originally taken into care. "It was traumatizing for the whole family." 

She described angry shouting matches with her husband who was also drinking heavily. "The police were called numerous times."

At the height of her alcoholism, she would drink as much as 26 ounces of hard liquor and a case of beer in a day. 

One day I woke up and said, "I need to get this helped, she said. "Not for anybody, but for me," she added. "I need to go find what is happening in here."

It started with Alcoholics Anonymous, and she reached out for other supports wherever she could find them. "There was counselling and addiction clinics and eventually I was strong enough to put myself into a dance program, and as well into the gym."

Photo Credit: Contributed

"When I saw what was happening to me it created an emotional growth that I didn't know was coming." Ashley found herself literally 'working out' her problems. 

But all of the supports she got along the way were part of her recipe for success. "Not just one way was going to help me," she said. "I needed everything."

Victoria was eventually reunited with her children and is now an aspiring fitness model. 

"I am currently contesting for the Miss Jet Set 2020 Contest," said Victoria.