"My Experience at Super Bowl 50": Contest Winner Shares Highlights

Entry written by Super Bowl Contest winner: Angela Porras

Going to the Super Bowl has always been #1 on my bucket list, and is considered a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people. When I found out I had won the contest run by NFL WAGS, I was beside myself. Not only was I ticking this dream off the list, but my favorite team of all time was actually playing! I don't know what the chances of this happening is, but it happened, and there were a lot of things to organize leading up to it. It was a whirlwind trip, but the best experience of my life to date.  I just wanted to give a special thank you to LeShonda Martin and WAGS Redefined for gifting me with this amazing experience (two tickets to the Super Bowl)! I don't know if I would have ever had the chance to do something as special as this, and it meant everything to myself and my guest, CJ. We are forever grateful.

Words couldn't describe my experience, but I hope the pictures will help.

I was still in Australia when I was informed of my win, and wasn't set to come home for a few weeks. I quickly rearranged my flights from L.A. to San Francisco and packed my bags to leave a few days later!

Trying to book a hotel a week before the Super Bowl would have been a nightmare if not for a dear friend residing in SF. Not a bad view! The luck continues...

Once settled in, I had to explore the city. It was still very surreal at this point. San Francisco had really put a lot of effort into transforming the city for the big event!

It's not every day you get to wander the streets and cross paths with NFL Legend Marshall Faulk! Throughout the week, many NFL players engaged positively with fans, and if you were lucky enough some of them even became your Lyft driver!

There were parties everywhere, even on Fisherman's Wharf! Some more exclusive than others, like this Denver Broncos fan party. My invitation was lost in the mail, but that didn't stop me from crashing it!

It wouldn't be a dream vacation without a little shopping. Not sure these are for me but just think: Someone in the world owns these shoes.

The night before the big game, Thomas Davis found out I played women's football. He was so impressed he called up David Gettleman and they put me on the roster. I didn't even have to try out. What are the chances? Not sure how Cam is gonna feel when he finds out he has to change his number.

As you can see, I fit in just fine!

Finally! IT IS GAME DAY. I've never been more excited to be  smashed among the masses as we waited to get in!

The Super Bowl was a star studded event! Elvis even made an appearance, and he roots for the Panthers!!!

Sometimes you just need a larger than life LUUUUUUUUKE.

Here is the most surreal moment of the entire trip. I don't know how to explain the feeling I had taking this photo, seeing this field, getting ready to cheer on the Panthers. Soon after this photo was taken, Lady Gaga took the stage and gave a phenomenal performance of our National Anthem. It was truly an amazing experience.

The Panthers weren't doing so well going into the half, but in all honesty, it was REALLY hard to care once Beyonce hit the stage! All of the performers were incredible, but who can top Queen Bey?!

CJ and I were finally reunited on American soil on game day and had an incredible experience together, and I could not have won this competition without her. She had a crazier schedule than I did, and had no plans to travel to the U.S. until we won this competition. The day after the Super Bowl she flew back to Australia to participate in a football camp to try out for the Australian team!

The outcome of the game wasn't what I had hoped for but I still left that stadium feeling like a winner. A lot of people apologized to me when I returned home, which was confusing. You win some, you lose some and it's your attitude that determines where to go from here. If I had known my team would lose, I wouldn't change a thing.

- Angela

20 Things I would tell my 20-Year-Old Self

 “A voice for NFL wives, fiancees and girlfriends while connecting, inspiring, and empowering our audience. We desire to influence our community by changing the conversation.”  It’s refreshing to come across a mission statement like this in a world where people seem to connect more readily over superficial things and values.  LeShonda Martin created WAGS Redefined with the intent for it to be everything that her mission encompasses.  I feel like it’s only appropriate for my first blog post to thank LeShonda for creating a faith-based community for women to connect and also to share a real life example of a connection I made as a result of her efforts. I recently met @CieraLiguori through @NFLWags when we realized we were both in the LA area.  We met for coffee in Santa Monica the other day and spent three hours chatting all things “real.”  Ciera is just beginning the journey through her 20’s while this gal over here is savoring the last year of it :-) It got me thinking about this past decade of my life and some of the things I have learned…and am still continuing to learn.

• I learned the phrase “Train your Eyes” recently…learn to look at challenges from a different perspective. Be grateful for the things that DON’T go your way…these are the moments you really grow and really get to know yourself.  
• Time is valuable.  Don’t waste it on trivial things. Be more selfish with your time and give it to those that truly matter.
• If you hate your job you need to find a new one. A career can take over your soul especially when you get comfortable with a paycheck.  Stop and make sure what you’re doing aligns with your God-given gifts & abilities.
• You’ll be OK…whatever you're going through, no matter how hard it is, in time you will be OK.
• Learn to love your body…flaws and all. Eliminate the word diet from your vocabulary. Everything in moderation and drink more water.
• Learn the art of taking power naps.
• Change is scary and uncomfortable. Just know that the first step is the hardest.
• Don’t gossip.        
• Be patient with your parents…they aren’t getting any younger.
• Travel every opportunity you get! And do things that scare you. Mine included riding in a helicopter, and zip lining.
• Volunteer…anything that makes you think outside of yourself.
• Read more!!! From blogs to books, make this part of your daily routine. (Currently reading: Purpose Driven Life)
• There’s strength in vulnerability…there’s also a fine line between vulnerable and victim.
• Spend time alone everyday.
• BE KIND.

After the NFL: Yonka and Ryan Clark Know Family Values

This week's WAG Feature is on Yonka Clark, wife of Ryan Clark, and mother of three. I first heard about Yonka from my friend Sara, another NFL wife who stated that Yonka taught her a lot during their time with the Steelers. Sara raved about Ryan and Yonka's relationship and parenting skills, so I had to learn more about this supportive and inspiring woman. One conversation with Yonka and I can see why so many are drawn to her. She has this warmth about her and wisdom for days. Read my interview with Mrs. Clark below...

• Children: Daughter Jaden (17), son Jordan (14), and daughter Loghan (11)
• Cities You've Lived in with NFL: visited NY and NJ, married after 2nd year in New York; Northern Virginia, and Pittsburgh
• Current City you call Home: Baton Rouge, LA
• Favorite place to visit: I love Puerto Rico. I would visit once a month if I could. The food, music, colors, vibrancy…there's something about the spirit of Puerto Rico that just does it for me.
• Your first car: 1998 white Dodge Neon
• Music on your playlist: Adele "Hello", Tamar Braxton and Future "Let Me Know" (those two songs are on rotation)
• Hobbies: I absolutely love skincare. My 11 year-old owns her own business so I am also her momager.

Money is not some sort of elixir that masks you from all the normal troubles that come with being a human being. - Yonka Clark

Q&A

PERSONAL DETAILS:

LM: Where are you from originally and how did you get to where you are now?

YC:

I am from a really tiny town called Ama, Louisiana. It is so small that we don't even have a traffic light. It's funny because the Landry brothers (Dawan and LaRon Landry) who both play in the NFL and Pokie Chatman (WNBA head coach) are from the same town. We're all related in some way.

LM: How did you and Ryan meet? What's your love story?

YC:

Ryan and I met at my cousin's high school graduation picnic. He was friends with my cousin, Haven. We knew of each other, and when we first met we did not like each other. I just felt like he was this arrogant football player and all the girls were falling all over him; I was not interested. He thought I was the snootiest, meanest girl he'd ever met. We both attended college at LSU but Ryan was a year older than me. LSU is huge so seeing a familiar face as a freshman in college was comforting…it changed the way we perceived one another. The rest is history, and this year, we celebrate 12 years of marriage.

ON THE NFL:

LM: What are some of the challenges of being married to an NFL player and what do you like about it?

YC:

My approach was a bit different than most women. I did not like the title "NFL wife" because I was not married to the NFL; I am married to Ryan. The NFL wasn't my identity and it wasn't what made me me. Having that mentality helped when it came to retirement as well because there wasn't this attachment to the league. I just wanted to be a good wife and mother.

Whatever energy I had left, I wanted to help other people.

What I liked most about the NFL was getting to know like-minded women who just wanted to support their husbands. The NFL life is an exclusive, yet shared experience. Those women became a network of people to support you through certain things that family and other people won't understand. Not to seem like we're better than anyone but there are things that others outside the life just won't understand.

LM: What is one piece of advice you can give to other women that you wish you would have known prior to your husband entering the NFL?

YC:

You're enough. You, as you, are enough. You don't have to wear this label, or look like this, or talk like that, or sit in here, or drive that car. You are perfect as you are. Another thing I would say, especially to new wives, fiancés and girlfriends: care more about the commitment that comes with your ring than the carats that are in your ring. I've seen women discussing rings and ring sizes. Rings don't keep you warm at night. They don't roll over in the middle of the night and bear hug you. They just don't.

LM: Do you believe there are any misconceptions of NFL WAGS? If so, what is your view?

YC:

Oh my gosh! There's a million of them and you don't have enough time. I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that having a large income fixes everything! Your husband making a lot of money fixes everything. Since my husband makes a lot of money, I shouldn't complain about anything. I shouldn't have any issues. I'm sorry, but that's not real life. I think if there's anything I wish would go away, it's that. Money is not some sort of elixir that masks you from all the normal troubles that come with being a human being. That's major for me.

POST-NFL Life:

LM: Talk about what the transition has been like since Ryan retired?

YC:

We've been out an entire season now. It's great because he's been working for ESPN so he's still plugged in and he's part-owner in a training facility here in Baton Rouge: Traction. His job with ESPN helped to ease the withdrawal symptoms that some guys feel when they have to step away from the game. Ryan was very smart about setting up his post-NFL life while still playing the game.

NFL players always have some sort of extra requirement besides playing on the field, such as interviews. On a call to ESPN, Ryan said, "I'd love to come in and do an internship." He started to forge those relationships around year 8 or 9. His commitment to work in the offseason, unpaid for ESPN, really set him up for what he's doing now. He has a 75-day contract. He flies there and then he's home the rest of the time. He still sits on the executive board for NFLPA and holds a position with the organization's Mentorship Program. This year will be his final year on the executive board. He is still trying to make a connection between high schoolers, the NFL, and NFL union. His goal is to effect those who are eventually going to be at the NFL at an earlier point.

We never vacationed during the offseason. There was really no time as he worked at ESPN and rehabbed and trained for the next season. There were times we missed him, but I supported him through that. Looking back on it, I'm so glad I did because he walked straight out of football and into not one, not two, but three jobs! I just wish I could stress that the NFL is temporary to the women in this position. Even if you have a 13, 14, or 15-year career, there is going to be life after football. I think it's important the guys and their wives talk about life after football while he's still active and plan accordingly. The NFLPA (

NFL Players Association

) has these amazing off-season career building programs for our guys. Unfortunately, most of the time the NFLPA resources are not taken advantage of.

ESPN: Ryan Clark thoughts on Cam Newton

https://vimeo.com/119999938

LM: What are you able to do now as a family that you weren't able to when Ryan played for the NFL?

YC:

Definitely having Ryan present for a lot of the kids' events and award ceremonies has been special. Ryan was in the NFL for 13 years so that was a large portion of our kids' lives and they understood what came with his job. When you're in the NFL, football comes first. It just is what it is. There are no holidays, sick days, etc. They [kids] also understood that even during the offseason, he probably still wouldn't be able to be there. Our family has dinner once a week where we go out and hang; He's just more accessible to us now. For us, that's a big deal! That's Disney world to us. We call ourselves the Clark 5. We were away from extended family for all those years so we became our own little unit.

LM: I've noticed that many people, in and out of the NFL, seem to adore the relationship you have with your husband and also admire how you both are raising your children. What do you think has been the key to your success? Talk about your family values.

YC:

When coming into the NFL, you see a lot of different set ups of what the family can look like. We kind of did them all. The first three years Ryan was in the league, the kids and I were home in Louisiana and he was in New York and Virginia. When we were with the Steelers, some seasons we stayed in Pittsburgh year round. Other seasons we started school in Pittsburgh and spent the other half of the year at the home base [in Louisiana]. Our biggest priority was always that we stayed together. Ryan didn't have to parent long distance and I didn't have to parent as a single mom without him. We're from the South so family is extremely important to us. We wanted our kids to first and foremost be kids, even though they were in extraordinary environments. We're hard on them. We teach "Yes ma'am. No ma'am" in our household; there's discipline. Our children understand that there are boundaries for them but they're for good reasons.

LM: Is there any advice you would like to give NFL families regarding life in the NFL or after?

YC:

The first thing I'll say is there is no handbook or guidelines. You have to do what works best for your family. You have to decide what's right and what's perfect for your situation. It can be tough talking to women because I don't want to influence them: "Oh, we've been married all these years and we've done it this way so that's the best way." It's just not true. As a family, you do have to make a commitment at the very beginning to put aside any selfishness. The commitment needs to be there far after the warm and fuzzy feelings leave. Trust me, the warm and fuzzy feelings will leave sometimes. It gets rough. No matter how good it is, it's going to get rough. You have to make the commitment to be there. It really is about constant adjustment. You have to be flexible.

ON HERSELF:

LM: What would you like people to know about you?

YC:

Well, that's kind of hard because I never really want people to know anything about me. My children are the only perfect thing that I've ever done in life. If I can create three little people who are productive and healthy human beings, then I feel like I've done my job as their mother.

It's difficult for me to see life beyond them, though I'm transitioning now. I am in the process of developing a tween skincare line. My Lolo (daughter Loghan) is starting to have facial issues and I'm unsure of what to use. My two passions are children and skincare so now that my own kids are getting older, I am pursuing that avenue. I'm big on organics and natural products. I actually have a girlfriend who has her own skincare company: Andrelle's by KCJ. She and I are collaborating on this line.

LM: You mentioned that your youngest daughter Loghan has her own business. What's it like as her momager?

YC:

Loghan has always had a passion for cooking. She was tiny and standing on a chair helping me in the kitchen. When we finally let her get an Instagram about a year ago, she started following all these bakers. She said "Mommy, can I try this or try that?" Over time, her desire to try out new recipes developed into a baking business, Yummy Desserts by Lolo, LLC. Loghan is running her business on her own.

She's a one-woman marketing tool. She will talk to people and hand out her business cards. All of her desserts are custom and hand made. She's dedicated and cares about what people think about her craft. She wants to do right by her customers. She'll say, "Well mom, they're paying for this so it needs to be right!" I don't know where she gets it from. It's not like my 10-year-old has gone to business school. People are amazed when they see it's not me doing it! It's her.

It's a difficult situation as a 35-year-old woman taking orders from a 10 year-old but we want to support her dreams. She'll make a list of things she needs and I'll go get them! Although she's running a successful business, she still plays volleyball and plays with dolls.

Our oldest daughter is in fashion design and my son is into sports. I think the NFL environment has matured them. They are comfortable in every situation. They're comfortable being kids and they're comfortable being in a room full of adults. That's rare. I'm learning everyday that that's rare.

I need them to be okay so when the world says that they're not okay, they'll respond with "No, that's not what my mom says." You can make your own way.

LM: What are your goals?

YC:

The biggest thing for me is finding my place outside of Ryan and the kids but still striking a balance. I still want to be able to maintain being his support system and being there for our children. Ryan travels a lot for work and when he comes home, it's important to me that he returns to a clean home, happy kids, a fresh dinner; the comforts of home. Home is where he relaxes. I don't want to drop that because he still needs that. That is my role as his wife. I want to maintain being a support system to my family, but I also want to step out being Yonka. This is where I say, "To be continued." This is a new year and it's fresh and I'm approaching things I haven't before.

It's scary and exciting.

-LM

NFL Wife Jaid Reid and Husband, Eric, Love to Give

Eric, Jaid, and Lani Reid

This week's WAG Feature is on Jaid Reid, wife of San Francisco 49ers Safety Eric Reid. Mrs. Reid is an incredibly sweet, down to earth, and private woman. I was honored when she agreed to the interview for WAGS Redefined. We discussed her personal goals, life in the NFL, and stereotypes of NFL WAGS. Read the interview after the break ...

I'm not a fan of being in the spotlight. My priorities are supporting Eric, taking care of Lani (our daughter), and making sure our family is good. - Jaid Reid

NFL WAG Stats

• Name: Jaid Reid
• Husband: Eric Reid
• Anniversary: July 19, 2014
• Husband's Tenure and Teams: 3rd season. Drafted 1st round to the 49ers in 2013.
• Children: Step-Daughter LeiLani (6 years)
• Cities You've Lived in with NFL: Santa Clara, CA
• Off Season Home: Bay Area, CA
• Favorite place to visit: Cape Town, South Africa
• Your first car: a white 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport (my mom's old car)
• Music on your playlist: Frank Ocean (Channel Orange), Miguel, Adele (25)
• Hobbies: I'm really into art. I paint a lot and have recently gotten into ceramics. I go to a studio in Berkeley to do ceramics. I also love decorating the house and cooking/baking.
• Interesting Facts: I was in event planning for a well-known chef in San Francisco previously.
• Your favorite memory: My 4th birthday party. It was at my grandparents' house in Cape Town. I had a Dalmatian cake and wore a pink dress.

Q&A

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

LM: Where are you from originally and how did you get to where you are now?

JR:

I was born in Cape Town, South Africa during the Apartheid. It was a crazy time, because I come from a biracial family. We moved often when I was younger: Portugal, then Chicago (dad's hometown), then New Orleans. My dad left when I was really young, so I don't have much of a relationship with him. We settled in New Orleans, LA where my mom raised my sister and I by herself. We stayed in the states because she knew there were more opportunities for us here. After Hurricane Katrina, we moved to Dallas, TX.

LM: Was your house damaged by Hurricane Katrina?

JR:

Our house was salvageable. It stood 6 feet off the ground, so it suffered minor water damage. We were fortunate compared to other people and our friends. My family never moved back to New Orleans, but I eventually found my way back to Louisiana for college where I attended LSU. I graduated the same year Eric left for the NFL draft and then we moved out here to California. My sister now lives back in New Orleans, and my mom has moved back to South Africa with her new husband and is loving life.

LM: How did you and Eric meet? What's your love story?

JR:

We met through mutual friends at LSU, but were both in relationships at the time. One day, at my friend's birthday party, we were talking and realized we were both single and became inseparable from that moment on. We married soon after we moved to California.

NFL LIFE

LM: What are some of the challenges of being married to an NFL player and what do you like about it?

JR:

I'll start with what I like. Eric's career has given us a platform to do a lot of work in the community. We are passionate about giving back. Recently, we've worked a lot with the Dreamcenter in Baton Rouge, LA, Eric's hometown. The NFL platform allows us to influence lives on a larger scale and to be positive role models in people's lives. It's crazy how many more people we can reach out to simply because Eric's in the NFL. I love that about it!

I think making friends has been a challenge for me. I used to be hesitant about disclosing Eric's profession because I thought people would want to be friends for the wrong reasons. I've since gotten over that and have found a really good group of friends here. Oh, and camp! Camp is challenging since Eric is gone for four to five weeks at the beginning of every season.

LM: What is one piece of advice you can give to other women that you wish you would have known prior to your husband getting drafted?

JR:

I would say embrace the opportunities that are presented to you by the NFL. Put yourself out there and don't be shy…because I was! I'm just now starting to take advantage of everything that the league has to offer. Do it while these doors are open, because it doesn't last forever. Make as big of an impact as you can, while you can.

LM: Do you believe there are any misconceptions of NFL WAGS? If so, what is your view?

JR:

Yes, I think that there are generalizations made about all NFL WAGS based on what the media portrays about a few. There is a stigma that NFL WAGS as a whole live superficial, materialistic, and sensationalized lives. Those women do exist, but through my experience, that isn't the case for the majority of wives, fiancés, and girlfriends. The ladies in the league that I'm friends with are some of the most humble and down to earth people I've met in a long time.

LET'S GET PERSONAL

LM: What would you like people to know about you?

JR:

I'm a really private person. It actually took a lot of convincing by Eric to do this interview. This is Eric's career and I'm here to support him through it. I'm not a fan of being in the spotlight. I don't have a Twitter or Facebook account. I have an Instagram but struggle with posting photos, because I don't want people to know every detail of my personal life. I struggle with social media in general, because I feel like it's changing the world and not for the better. People are so vain these days. My priorities are supporting Eric, taking care of Lani (our daughter), and making sure our family is good. I guess if there's anything I want people to know, it's that being an "NFL wife" does not define who I am.

LM: What are your goals?

JR:

My family goals are to be a loving wife, to raise our kids with morals and integrity, and to give back to the community. It gets a little complicated with my career goals. I have a BS in Nutrition and Food Science and experience in the corporate world, but I'd like to do something in a more creative atmosphere. I mentioned earlier that I like art, so I've recently started taking classes at Cal State Berkeley to explore that path.

LM: What are you most proud of?

JR:

I think I'm most proud of being a first generation college graduate. My mom and dad didn't go to college, neither did my grandparents. My family was incredibly proud of me, so it made me feel really accomplished. I'm also so proud of Eric for being such an amazing dad and husband. He has a different mindset and outlook on life than most people his age. I'm really proud of the man he is and the family we're building together.

LM: What are you passionate about?

JR:

I'm passionate about serving God by helping those in need. Eric and I are on a mission to do something bigger than ourselves. We are not only involved with the 49ers community events, but with personal ventures like the Baton Rouge Dreamcenter. Eric and I have teamed up with Healing Place Church to renovate the Dreamcenter, a facility that will help people for years to come. In its completion, this 45,000 sq. ft. building will house women and children, feed the hungry from its industrial-sized kitchen, provide after school programs for at-risk youth, and hold Sunday services. It will be a place to teach values and rebuild broken lives. It's a blessing to be able to bless others.

-LM