From the time she was five years old until she was in her early twenties, our next guest and author Nadia Sahari was a victim of horrific abuses, many of which came at the hands of her own family. Born to Arab parents and, even though she grew up in the United States, the strict Middle Eastern rules for women remained in place. As she tried to assert her freedom she found herself being punished horribly for it.

Nadia Sahari was born in Beirut, Lebanon. She came to America at the age of two. She is 5'3" tall and petite in frame. Nadia is the eldest of eight children: five sisters and two brothers. She speaks fluent Lebanese. She has been an entrepreneur most of her life to help in the support of her two children. At times she worked three jobs a day, keeping a hectic pace which eventually led to a breakdown. But Ms.Sahari stood up again and continued the fight to make her dreams come true. She never gave up.  

She is a multi-tasker, always doing more than one thing at a time. She describes herself as like a little girl in a candy store. She can't take just one piece of candy, she wants to taste all the candy. 

In addition to her busy schedule, she is an activist for women’s rights, animal rights and the rights of children.  In her words, she says: "I love all people and all animals. I believe that anything or anyone who has breath deserves life and freedom from abuse or control and should not be killed by anyone. God created us and only God can take us. No one has the right to end someone else's life." 

Ms. Sahari has also been a guest panelist on the Oprah show. Oprah has requested a copy of Ms. Sahari's memoir. Currently, she is training, auditioning, and working on commercials and film. Recently she has been cast as Charlotte's Aunt in the movie Bandslam, showing in 2009, and as a Reporter in the movie Conflict of Interest, which will be showing in theaters in 2010. She is thrilled about both of these roles.  

In 2008, she was the cover girl in the  FEB/MAR issue of "The County Woman Magazine." 

This is the year for all things beautiful. Nadia loves this quote from Longfellow, "Ah, nothing is too late, till the tired heart shall cease to palpitate." 

Nadia's memoir Breakaway: How I Survived Abuse was revised and released in September 2009 and is available in most bookstores and  Amazon.com, Borders.com and Barnesandnoble.com. It is a must read for women and young girls everywhere. BREAKAWAY lifts the veil on her struggle for freedom from abuse. Until her twenties, she was a victim of many abuses, including molestation, repeated beatings, rape, kidnapping, illegal abortion, and several attempts on her life. Miraculously, she survived. Through it all, she clung to her dream to be an actress. She never gave up. Today, she is finally living her dream after years of healing and forgiveness.  She is free at last.