Tee Marie Hanible shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Tee Marie , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What battle are you avoiding?
The battle I am avoiding is with myself, holding myself to the impossible standard of living up to every single goal I have set. I have accomplished things I once only dreamed of, serving 20 years in the Marine Corps, building a nonprofit from the ground up, writing a bestselling book, and creating spaces where people feel seen and empowered. I have even done things I never planned, like starring on a hit TV show and being completely transparent for the world, for millions, to see. And yet, there is still so much more on my list.
One of the deepest battles is personal, finding my birth family and finally getting the answers about who I am and where I come from. That search is not just about curiosity, it is about reclaiming the missing pieces of my story and giving my daughters a more complete picture of our legacy. Some days I wonder if I will have enough lifetime to finish everything I have set in motion, from the missions I have created to the personal truths I am still chasing.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
am GySgt Tawanda “Tee” Marie Hanible, USMC (Ret.), a 20-year Marine Corps veteran, bestselling author, television personality, and unapologetic advocate for veterans, at-risk youth, and marginalized communities. After serving as one of the first female Marines deployed to Iraq in 2003, I founded Operation Heroes Connect, a nonprofit that mentors youth and supports veterans through impactful programs, events, and resources. My journey has taken me from foster care and the South Side of Chicago to the White House, receiving the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and countless honors for service. I am also the founder of the Black Queens Matter Travel Club, Gritty Apparel, and Soiled Beauty, each a reflection of my passion for empowerment, culture, and unapologetic authenticity. Whether I am starring on a hit TV show, speaking on national news, or building community through my brands, my mission remains the same: to lead with grit, give back without limits, and create spaces where people feel seen, valued, and inspired.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who to be, I was a fearless, big-dreaming girl from Chicago who refused to be defined by her circumstances. I was the kid who could see possibility even in the middle of chaos, the protector who stood up for others even when I needed protecting myself. I was curious, bold, and unapologetic, with a fire in my spirit that no foster home, no hardship, and no “you can’t” could put out. That same girl still lives in me she just now wears the armor of experience, the wisdom of survival, and the grit of a woman who built her own path.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized silence was holding me back from truly living. I have been through my share of losses, the brutal murder of my father, losing people I loved far too soon, and the heartbreak of three divorces. For a long time I kept moving, thinking if I stayed busy enough I could outrun the hurt. But I learned that pain does not go away just because you refuse to talk about it.
There are times when I still get worked up, and you can still hear the heaviness of that pain when I speak. The shift happened when I started sharing my story, the wins, the setbacks, and the moments that broke me open, in my book, in front of TV cameras, and in the programs I built for veterans and youth. I realized my transparency gave other people permission to speak their own truths. My pain became my power the moment I chose to stop hiding it and started using it to inspire, connect, and build something bigger than myself.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is absolutely the real me, but it is not the whole me. What people see in public, the Marine veteran, the nonprofit founder, the author, the speaker, is all true, but it is the part of me shaped by experience and purpose. The real me also has quiet moments, private struggles, and unfiltered emotions that are not always on display. I believe in showing up authentically, but I also believe in protecting certain parts of my life so I can keep them sacred. Lately, the public has also seen my frustration and angst with the current political climate, because I cannot separate my voice from my values. If something matters to my community and my country, I speak on it, even if it makes people uncomfortable.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me when I am gone is that I showed up for people, no matter what. That I lived a life rooted in service, whether it was on the battlefield, in my community, or in spaces where my voice could open doors for others. I want them to say I was fearless in my advocacy, unshakable in my values, and willing to speak truth even when it was uncomfortable.
I hope they remember that I used my platform to empower veterans, uplift women, and give a voice to the overlooked and underserved. That I was not perfect, but I was real, and that my transparency gave others permission to own their own stories. And most of all, that my life’s work inspired people to believe they could overcome, rise, and leave their own mark even in this chaotic world.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealteemarie/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorteemarie
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