Tracy Broughton was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but grew up in Orange County, California. She was born a fighter, three months pre-mature. Doctors said that she was not going to make it, but she had other plans. She survived. Then a few years later, Tracy was kidnapped at 3 years old. Her father’s car was stolen with Tracy in the back. Fortunately, she was found when the thief abandoned the car. In elementary school, her mother, Brenda, was diagnosed with stage four cancer and given six to eight months to live. In spite of the diagnosis, Brenda assured Tracy that she would see her graduate high school. Tracy dealt with her mother’s illness and many challenges, including abuse in the household, throughout junior high school. She moved eight times, in and out of the state, within several years. Tracy even moved out at 14 years old and lived on her own for a period of time, with the help of her parents, because of the uncertainty in the home environment. Tracy helped take care of her mother and three siblings, as well as worked while she was going to school.
She attended Irvine High School where she discovered her joy for painting, was a Senior Class Vice President, and was a Scholar Athlete. She lettered in soccer, dance, speech and track-and-field, played tennis and volleyball, and was even a cheerleader. She was honored with the Most Valuable Player award in soccer and selected to the ALL-CIF team. Then unfortunately in October of 1991, she was in a serious auto accident where the car flipped off a mountainside. She sustained severe injuries and was airlifted to ICU. The doctors told her mother that she would not be able to play sports and would be lucky if she was even able to stand. Not only did Tracy stand, she went on to again play sports and won the City Championship in track-and-field, was featured as the Irvine World News Athlete of the Week and the Orange County Register Sports Cover Athlete. She even holds some of the school records in track-and-field to this day!
After fully recovering from a 1991 car accident in high school, and then coping with the subsequent passing of her mother only two months after graduating, Tracy continued to persevere and went on to pursue a professional modeling career. She was signed with two of the top agencies, Bobby Ball (BBA) and Elite-Stewart Talent. She modeled in print and runway, appeared on television, and danced for Disney. She has graced the covers of Black Passion Hair Magazine, Stylist Magazine, and was featured in the NFL Catalog. She test-modeled for many well known photographers who used her photos later in her career. Tracy was casted in music videos for Jeffrey Osborne, Tina Moore, Black Street and TuPac. In 1994, on a dare, she decided to compete in a fitness competition. Sponsored by Power House Gym and Met-Rx she trained for only a short period of time, and was appointed Fitness LA, which enabled her to compete in the 5th Annual National Championship Fitness America Pageant, held in Long Beach CA, where she placed 7th in her group.
In December of 1996, Tracy was involved in a second car accident where she sustained severe injuries that left her hemiplegic, paralyzed on the left side of her body. Again the fear of never walking again. Through therapy she worked on strengthening her core and the right side of her body. She went on to make public appearances, win contests and eventually resumed her entertainment career from her wheelchair. This began with her contacting photographers whom she worked with in the past who believed in her modeling ability even with her disability. They helped her book jobs, which included the Cover of the Shades of Color Swimsuit Calendar, with photos that they had taken before her second accident. With these tear sheets she continued to book many other modeling jobs, and began the next stage of her modeling career.
First, she was a Spokesmodel for Colours by Permobil Wheelchair Company, helping Colours become the frontrunner in innovative marketing for the disabled and advocating the positive aspects of their lifestyle and strong positive image. Tracy was featured in one such innovative marketing campaign. Created to dispel the stereotypes of the disabled, these ads highlighted models with disabilities intermingled with those without, causing the viewers to question, “Who’s challenged? …Who’s not?”
A pioneer who has paved the way for the disabled, Tracy Broughton next signed with The Shot Model Management which specialized in representing models with disabilities. The mission of the agency: “Among America’s 50 million disabled, are a number who meet the exact standards of professional modeling. It is our continued mission to represent the most exceptional of them.” Even though she was paralyzed on the left side of her body, she competed for Swimsuit Illustrated, where she finished 4th runner-up.
From her wheelchair she went on to book print, runway and television jobs. She was featured in Nordstrom Catalog, Wells Fargo Bank marketing materials, Clear Channel Billboard, swimsuit calendars, a Toys R US commercial and on several TV shows, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, American Journal, and Extra.
Tracy became pregnant and then her career was interrupted when she was sexually assaulted while in her wheelchair. She endured the trauma and became a loving single mother of identical twin sons. When the boys were 5 weeks old Tracy became homeless and had no help from their father. He has still to this day never met his sons. With the help of her friends, Tracy picked up her life and continued to pursue her dreams. She was crowned Ms. Black California USA 2003, and she was featured on COX Communications and NBC Life Moments. Additionally, she was honored with the Goodwill Industries Walter Knott Service Award for advancing public awareness and opportunities for people with disabilities.
An entrepreneur of two of her own businesses, a florist shop in Santa Monica, CA and then a legal insurance business, which she still runs today, Tracy has achieved success in the business world as well. This is evidenced by being a corporate trainer, a sought-after public speaker, Top Recruiter and Top Producer. While she is proud of all these accomplishments, it is the time freedom afforded her by the business that she still most values…the time freedom to heal…the time freedom to raise her children and do the things that she loves. With this time freedom, Tracy recently, in spite of her disability, reinvented herself and competed and won the title of Ms. America 2011!
Beyond family and business, Tracy also finds the time to be a servant leader. She volunteers with many nonprofit organizations including, The HerShe Group that supports foster children, Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill Industries, and Phenomenal Women. She supports her community by volunteering with food drives, walks, soup kitchens, shelters, and church outreach programs that help people in need both in and out of the country.
Many were impressed that she quickly and fully recovered from her first car accident in 1991, but it was her recuperation from her second car accident in 1996 that has made her a symbol of persistence and courage. After her accident over 14 years ago, 11 of those years in a wheelchair…Tracy is now walking, with the help of a crutch!
