18 Under 18 Highlight: Kylie Hunts-In-Winter
Posted in: 18 Under 18
In our Junior Achievement 18 Under 18 recipients series, we’re next highlighting Kylie Hunts-In-Winter. This powerful young waomn is inspiring to thousands of her peers worldwide.
We are honored to recognize her. Read on the hear why she was selected as an inaugural Junior Achievement 18 Under 18!
Kylie Hunts-In-Winter, Arizona Connections Academy, Gilbert 15 years old
Kylie’s Indian name is “Brave Woman,” which also was the name of her third great grandmother, a female warrior from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Although she’s only 15, Kylie already is a role model for young girls across the world. She developed her Brave Woman Instagram page to inspire and motivate strong young women in self-defense – the page has 30,000 followers and it keeps growing. An avid martial artist, Kylie’s goal is to show Brave Women in every state, country and continent.
Kylie began training in martial arts at age 3. Today, she’s training in five different styles and can claim numerous national and world championships in martial arts. Through her outreach, Kylie hopes to empower girls and women across the world. Already through her social media work, Kylie has profiled an all-deaf martial arts school in China, an Olympic wrestler, a school that helps homeless orphans in Thailand, a female boxer from Sudan, and an army drill sergeant who trains men to fight. Kylie is a recipient of the American Indian Excellence in Leadership award.
What do you want to be doing in 10 years? I see myself as a college graduate having my own martial arts school. I want to make sure I can help women and girls, making sure they have a safe place for martial arts and just life in general.
Who’s your biggest inspiration? Ronda Rousey. If you know about martial arts, she’s made a lot of contributions. I think that women need to be involved in UFC. She’s a great role model for girls.
What’s the best advice you’ve received? Don’t give up. Because there are a lot of people who’ll doubt you. Even if people support you there’s doubt.