ALL HAIL THE QUEEN: From Trials & Tribulations To Triumphs & Victories

By Shatroyia Phillips and Odamia Miller

"When they called me "Plus-Sized", I declared it "Queen-Sized" instead. "

Shatroyia Phillips has always done things her way, -with a Queen-Sized Attitude & a Queen-Sized Boldness. Since her life positioned her as the first in everything, she was forced to take the lead -ready or not. Life didn't give her any instructions or mercy. Instead it gave her hard solid blows that knocked her down to her knees; Trials & Tribulations that are unbearable to some, & only survived by the Chosen. Once she had risen, it hit her again until she learned how to stand. And once she learned how to stand, then life handed over her Crown.

There is always an order to things, & in all things there is a Hierarchy.

-All Hail The Queen.

Broward business woman and socialite Shatroyia Phillips, the winner of the 2013 Miss Miami Plus Size Pageant has released her autobiography in April 2014. The tell-all entitled “All Hail The Queen: From Trials and Tribulations to Triumphs and Victories” is her first-hand account of her life and how she was able to turn her trials into triumph.

Phillips is the daughter of the high profile “alleged” drug kingpin Elroy Phillips who has been proven to be wrongfully convicted but still awaits release from Federal custody. Ms. Phillips’ literary offering is a bold, raw testimony of how she faced abandonment in her earlier life which led her down the same path of incarceration as her parents.

The novel takes you through a twenty five year span of Ms. Phillips young and adult life. The novel is candidly honest and in her own words “Inspiring”.

The self- titled “Plus Sized Socialite” says she was inspired to write the book after winning the 2013 Miss Miami Plus Size Pageant. “I was amazed at the amount of women that reached out to me after the pageant. There were teenaged as well as adult women who told me their personal stories of struggle with self-esteem and self-image because they were full figured, and how I inspired them. I wanted to do more. I wanted them and everyone else to know that beauty and success comes in all sizes.”

“All Hail The Queen: From Trials and Tribulations to Triumphs and Victories”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shatroyia Phillips
• Release date: May 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9780996051019

Book preview

Autobiography

PO Box 552415

Miami Gardens, Fl. 33055

www.allhailthequeenbook.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher, author or legal representative or both parties, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Copyright © 2014 by Shatroyia Phillips

All rights reserved.

First Published by Shatroyia Phillips

Edited by Terrance Rex Edwards

ISBN-10: 0996051007

ISBN-13: 978-0-9960510-0-2

ISBN-13: 978-0-9960510-1-9(eBook)

I want to dedicate this book to my mother, Chandria Hanna and my father Elroy Phillips.

Mom, you’re always a great support system for me. You always have my back and have always believed in me. You’ve always cheered me on throughout my life and I appreciate you so much for that. You always said I’d grow up to be something special and through your faith and prayers, I have come this far. I can truly say that I have been blessed and am highly favored to have the best Mom in the world.

Dad, some people think that walls divide, but not for us. I’ve still been able to seek your guidance and knowledge even though I can’t see you as often as I like. I just want you to know that your drive and ambition to succeed in life had fueled my life. Those qualities have made me the successful woman that I am today.

I am truly, a Daddy’s Girl.

So to the both of you, I thank God for choosing you as my parents. Together you guys made one hell of a daughter. If it wasn’t for the two of you, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today.

Shaun: My smart and beautiful little sister, thank you for always helping me when I need it most. You give me advice, even when I don’t like it and you always keep it real. I am so proud of you and of your accomplishments. Now that you’re finished with Law School, I can hire you as my private attorney.

Seven: My go to guy for all of my graphic designs. Whenever I call, you always give your best. Without you the cover of my book would never have been what it is. You’re the best little brother ever! A girl wouldn’t know to ask for more. Thank you for everything. I love you so much and can’t wait to be blown away by what you have to offer the world. I wish you and your company Perfect Design Studios massive success.

Rex: My love, my business and life partner, my best friend. My fiancé. It’s every woman’s dream to find their knight in shining armor, but I found better than that. I found a King. You are the missing piece to my puzzle and since I’ve found you, my life has been filled with accomplishments and sheer joy. I couldn’t have asked for anything more in a man. I love you with all of my heart and I wish us many years together filled with life, love and laughter. Cheers to LOVE, & to new endeavors.

O’Damia: Thank you, this book is the bomb! I hope the world is ready for this.

Prologue

Chapter One: Trials

Hello World

Troyia, the Explorer

Welcome to Jam’ Rock

Fearless

Sister, Sister

Head of the Class

Daddy Don’t Leave Me, Mommy Don’t Go

Déjà Vu

Daddy’s Little Girl

A Big Mistake

Surrogates

The Transition

Uprooted

Big Girls Don’t Cry

Chapter Two: Tribulations

Temptation

Push It To The Limit

Greed

Guilty Conscience

Dame El Dinero

Bond Money

When It All Falls Down

A Vicious Cycle

Concrete Condo

So many Tears

County Blues

Cell Division

Flimsy Red Hat

E.O.S (End of Sentence)

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

No Honor Amongst Thieves

Girl Talk (Tea Time)

It’s A Movie

Can’t Curse What’s Blessed

Chapter Three: Triumphs

The Devil Is A Lie

REX

Kiss of Life

In Too Deep

Our First Trip

Real Love

A House Divided

Chapter Four: Victories

Power Couple

Work Hard, Play Hard

A New Foundation

Let My Daddy Go

Happy

Casting Call

A Busy Schedule

It’s Showtime

Crown Me

Epilogue

Backstage the scene is nothing short of sheer nervousness. The dressing room is filled with contestants, assistants, make-up artist, and stylist. There are only five of us left and among us is the new Queen. The light buzz of conversation coming from the other four girls and their entourage couldn’t compete with the drumming of my heartbeat in my ears; not even the chick rapidly taping her nude colored glossy nails on the counter could. I was a ball of nerves sitting in a couture dress to say the least. I wiped my hands on a napkin to rid them of the extra moisture as I tried to slow my heartbeat. I looked around the room for the angels, but they weren’t there. They would always come to me since I was a small child. They’d appear and just hover over me with faces of peace. No matter what was happening in my life at the time, when they appeared I knew that everything was going to be okay. And it always turned out to be.

We were on the last leg of the pageant as my make-up artist Kazumi touched up my mascara, then moved onto my lip gloss. I mentally replayed every moment of my presentation and performance tonight. I was sure to keep my back straight and a smile on my face while on stage. I made eye contact with the judges, I was clear and articulate when I spoke and I was sure to give my attention to the audience during my performance.

Did, I miss anything?, Did I forget anything? I searched my memory but came up with nothing. I gave my all out there, and now it’s left up to the judges.

Five minutes! the stage manager called out, and that was enough to snatch me out of that moment of calmness and send my nerves back into a frenzy.

Oh goodness, can anyone else hear my heart beating? I wondered as my hair stylist began to spray and sheen my bouffant into stiff pageant hair history.

I looked around the room and everyone else’s expression mirrored mine; pure anxiety. We were the last five. We’d it made through auditions, cuts, and the competition and now we’re on our way to see who will be crowned the first Queen of the Miss Miami Plus Size Pageant. I’d never been so nervous in my life and I think it’s because I wanted it so badly.

Where are those angels? I looked for them.

I needed something to calm me so I bowed my head to say a quick prayer, and instantly I felt my Mother’s and Grandmother’s love and prayers surrounding me. I felt their love coming from the theatre. We are all so connected that we feel when one of us needs the other, and they knew I needed them now.

Two minutes ladies! the stage manager re-appeared in the doorway, and as if possible, my heartbeat was thumping louder than an African drum.

I looked at Valentino while he made sure that my dress fell and laid on my voluptuous curves just as it was designed to.

You look perfect, he said with a smile.

Thank you, I managed through the knots in my stomach.

It’s Showtime! the stage manager yelled, what seems like seconds after his last appearance in the doorway.

We walked out of the dressing room and onto the stage immediately. All of us. We were the last ones and this was the moment of truth. Between us, we were draped in beaded and satin gowns, spiked and sequenced stilettos and hair sculpted and sprayed to the gods. We were a line of full figured beauties awaiting our fate, and within moments our fates would be revealed to us.

I looked out into the crowd and found my Mother and Grandmother’s supportive faces. They smiled and I knew they loved me no matter what the outcome would be. I bit back the nervousness so that they couldn’t see it. I needed them to stay strong for me. I needed their strength to get through this. I looked over and found my rock, my love, Rex. His eyes were glued to mine. He was sending me his love and support. He is my biggest supporter and fan, on and off the stage. His eyes told me that they were proud of me. I needed that.

We watched as the host was handed the envelope. She was smiling brightly, and everything about her was pageant perfect and in place, even down to her pearly whites.

We have a Queen she announced and the crowd went wild.

Everything around me started to move in slow motion. I looked out at the crowd and the audience seemed to double in size. All eyes were on the stage and again, I looked for the angels.

Please, where are you? I need you now more than ever I thought to myself.

This moment was so intense that I wanted to cut and run off the stage. I wanted run all the way home and dive into my bed and under the covers where things are always calm. I resisted the urge to bolt and stood there poised with a smile. She opened the envelope and the crowd fell silent. You could hear a pin drop out there but inside my head was my heartbeat banging in my ears. I looked over at Rex again and his eyes met mine. He smiled and I heard her say,

And the winner is...

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which [the Lord] has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12

Hello World...

I was the first of everything in my family. The first daughter, the first grand-daughter, the first niece, and of course the first to be spoiled. My grandmother’s home was huge, larger than every other house on the block, complete with a pool and a playhouse built just for me. My childhood was a happy one. I was surrounded by love and grandparents that gave me everything in abundance.

To me the house was like a large forest and I was an explorer on a mission to discover and tryout everything I could. There was so much imagination to be had from the interior of the house alone. It had high ceilings, antique furniture and plush carpet. The wood paneling is what gave it that forest kind of feel. I would crawl around with my fingers and toes digging into the softness of the carpet and imagined it was the soft grass of the forest’s floor. Throughout the house I’d go looking and learning about my world around me. I would crawl into the living room and come to a stop before the magic wall. At that time, I had no idea it was just a mirror. But to me it was amazement.

It made everything appear twice; me, my grandmother, the furniture and even the angels.

I would play in front of the magic wall for what seemed like forever. Or at least until Granddaddy and Nanny, (my grandmother) felt content that I was occupied enough with the magic wall and would turn their attention to something else. That’s where the real adventure began, and it started with the stairs.

Every time I’d go near them someone would come grab me and say the same thing.

Oooh noooo! Those stairs are not for you Troyia.

It’s like they all agreed on what to say to me, but in my mind I was determined to prove them wrong. The stairs were for everybody else in the house, so why not me? I wanted to climb them and see what all the fuss was about. I wanted to see the house from up there where the stairs led to. I was sure that more discoveries were up there waiting on me to find them. I looked over my shoulder and when I saw that my grandparents were into the television show they were watching, (I specifically remember the Jeffersons) I bolted as fast as I could towards these forbidden stairs. I looked up to the top and it seemed a long way to go. But I was up for the challenge.

This, I believe was my rebellious and independent nature showing up early. It stayed with me throughout the years, but we’ll get to that a little later.

So, I moved toward the first step and it seemed pretty easy. I couldn’t understand why I was being kept from what seemed so harmless to me. I climbed up the first one, then moved to the next one. Then the next one, and the next one. Then I heard my grandmother moving in the other room. I knew it was just a matter of time before she came looking for me once she noticed that I wasn’t in the front of the magic wall anymore...

Troyia?! she called.

That was my queue to get moving. I reached and climbed those stairs as fast as I could and I was half way there when she came and grabbed me off of my feet.

No, she commanded, and carried me into the den with her and my granddaddy.

I failed that day. But failure was something I never wanted to get used to. Frustrated, I looked out of the back sliding glass door at the ocean in our back yard. –well at least it seemed like an ocean. It was massive and seemed to go on forever. I eyed it admiringly, and I knew that once I’d conquered the stairs, my next feat would be waiting for me; the pool. I smiled as the sunlight danced on the surface of the wave rippled water.

I lived with my grandparents until I was three years old, and every day was Shatroyia Day. I was always dressed in the prettiest dresses and hair bows. I was the apple of their eye, and they were mine too. I went everywhere with them.To the grocery store, the hardware store, to the gas station and so on. Life with them was more than any kid could ask for, and every time we went out I’d come home with a new toy.So needless to say, I was always ready to go.

Life was great. And when my Mom and Dad would come over everything was