Full Name
Christy Sims
Speaking At
Speaker Bio
A native of Atlanta, Christy is a public speaker, an author, a nationally-certified and licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a survivor of and advocate against domestic violence. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Marketing from Georgia Southern University and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University. Christy is also a member of the National Board of Certified Counselors, the American Counseling Association and Chi Sigma Iota National Counseling Honor Society.
Christy Sims is a devoted mother of two whose life was forever changed on April 28, 2013, when her ex-boyfriend severely disfigured her by dousing her with sulfuric acid. She sustained third and fourth degree burns to over 20 percent of her body, including her entire face, neck, chest and arms. After the incident, she remained in an induced coma for two months and endured numerous lifesaving surgeries at the Grady Burn Unit in Atlanta. She emerged from the coma with a resolve to survive, to return to her children and to pursue the prosecution of her abuser. Due to her diligence, her abuser was finally brought to justice on July 17, 2015 after a two-year fight.
Christy is the first reported case of an acid attack in the state of Georgia. To date, she has undergone 13 surgeries to reconstruct her disfigured face and body, and her personal struggle has propelled her to advocate and support other survivors of domestic violence. She has spoken out vigilantly about her experience via numerous public speaking engagements and media outlets, including V-103, WAOK, 104.7, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Channel 2 Action News, Fox 5 Atlanta, CBS Channel 46, 11 Alive News, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, The New York Daily News, Jet Magazine and Headline News.
Her story went international when she was featured on the award-winning Al Jazeera international news show “The Stream,” which reached 280 million viewers worldwide. She has also been featured innumerous blogs in the U.S. and internationally. Her story was featured on the T.D. Jakes Talk Show, Inside Edition, Crime Watch Daily, The Doctors, TBN and, most recently, People Magazine South Africa as well as The Guardian and Woman’s Own Magazine in the UK.
Christy’s story has touched the lives of millions around the world and has possibly prevented other cases of domestic violence. She received the Fortitude Award on April 12, 2014, the Courage to Act Award on October 11, 2014, the Community Empowerment award and the Uplift Award for her work in advocating against domestic violence. In 2015, the Fulton County Commission honored her with the official Proclamation of April 25th as “Christy Sims Appreciation Day” in Fulton County, Georgia. On August 21, 2017, Christy was recognized during the nationally televised Atlanta Braves baseball game as a Braves Community Hero. Christy was so the GA State Spokesperson for Marsy’s Law of GA, a crime victim’s right law which passed on November 8, 2018 by 80 percent of GA voters’ due largely to her efforts.
Christy’s memoir, “Yellow Tulips on A Cloudy Day: A Survivor’s Journal” was released in the fall of 2016. Her second book, “Flutter: A Guide to Growing and Thriving Through Life Change” was released in October of 2019.
Christy Sims is a devoted mother of two whose life was forever changed on April 28, 2013, when her ex-boyfriend severely disfigured her by dousing her with sulfuric acid. She sustained third and fourth degree burns to over 20 percent of her body, including her entire face, neck, chest and arms. After the incident, she remained in an induced coma for two months and endured numerous lifesaving surgeries at the Grady Burn Unit in Atlanta. She emerged from the coma with a resolve to survive, to return to her children and to pursue the prosecution of her abuser. Due to her diligence, her abuser was finally brought to justice on July 17, 2015 after a two-year fight.
Christy is the first reported case of an acid attack in the state of Georgia. To date, she has undergone 13 surgeries to reconstruct her disfigured face and body, and her personal struggle has propelled her to advocate and support other survivors of domestic violence. She has spoken out vigilantly about her experience via numerous public speaking engagements and media outlets, including V-103, WAOK, 104.7, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Channel 2 Action News, Fox 5 Atlanta, CBS Channel 46, 11 Alive News, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, The New York Daily News, Jet Magazine and Headline News.
Her story went international when she was featured on the award-winning Al Jazeera international news show “The Stream,” which reached 280 million viewers worldwide. She has also been featured innumerous blogs in the U.S. and internationally. Her story was featured on the T.D. Jakes Talk Show, Inside Edition, Crime Watch Daily, The Doctors, TBN and, most recently, People Magazine South Africa as well as The Guardian and Woman’s Own Magazine in the UK.
Christy’s story has touched the lives of millions around the world and has possibly prevented other cases of domestic violence. She received the Fortitude Award on April 12, 2014, the Courage to Act Award on October 11, 2014, the Community Empowerment award and the Uplift Award for her work in advocating against domestic violence. In 2015, the Fulton County Commission honored her with the official Proclamation of April 25th as “Christy Sims Appreciation Day” in Fulton County, Georgia. On August 21, 2017, Christy was recognized during the nationally televised Atlanta Braves baseball game as a Braves Community Hero. Christy was so the GA State Spokesperson for Marsy’s Law of GA, a crime victim’s right law which passed on November 8, 2018 by 80 percent of GA voters’ due largely to her efforts.
Christy’s memoir, “Yellow Tulips on A Cloudy Day: A Survivor’s Journal” was released in the fall of 2016. Her second book, “Flutter: A Guide to Growing and Thriving Through Life Change” was released in October of 2019.
