If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission. In 2017, Victoria Garrick Browne gave a TEDx talk that resonated deeply with viewers. A collegiate athlete at USC, Garrick Browne shared her journey from walk-on to starter on a national champion volleyball team, revealing her struggles with anxiety and depression along the way. She emphasized the demanding nature of being a student-athlete, leading her to seek help and eventually become a mental health advocate.
Now, at 27, Garrick Browne has founded The Hidden Opponent, a non-profit raising awareness for student-athlete mental health, and hosts the REAL POD podcast. With over 1.4 million followers on TikTok, she openly discusses topics like body image and PCOS.
Her advice for parents of student-athletes includes sharing personal experiences to create a safe space for conversations and ensuring unconditional love, regardless of performance. Garrick Browne also advocates for open discussions about period health and seeking help for menstrual symptoms. “I want to encourage them that they can,” she says.
