Meet Amanda Ganskow

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Ganskow.

As a child, I grew up with 15 other siblings; YES, 15! I started performing at the age of eight through seventeen as a Selena Girl(The Tejano Queen, Selena Quintanilla) as a trophy winner and performing in Denvers own capital and showcasing in every parade Denver held. Growing up in two separate homes, we did have major instability and an extreme amount of stress; which led me to drop out with an infant and obtain my GED. My plans to be a supermodel in NY, far from the life I was living didn’t quite happen how I’d dreamt. Little did I know that the runway still would be a major piece in my future.

Because of the hardships growing up, I married really young and had my first child at the age of 18. An abusive marriage and three daughter’s later, I quickly found myself at the very pit of darkness in my life. After fighting for my life in an abusive relationship for ten years and cycling the system for four years, I began the single mom life. Living in one of the most expensive states and learning to survive with three small children; wondering how to handle the heaping pile of bills weighing down on me, I knew that I had to do something that wasn’t going to be very comfortable; but it would get me on my feet while allowing me to be a full-time mother.

For the next five years, I worked as an exotic dancer in Denver’s top Gentleman’s clubs. Making the drive to and from Greeley to Denver, 4-6 nights per week, I endured the ride of exhaustion. My daughter’s were my motivation to keep going. That is where I learned a lot about a lot! Confidence, strength and a drive to do everything I set my mind to do; I gave myself five years and five years only to be in the industry and get out no questions asked. During this time, I fell into the fashion world, which has grown immensely in Denver. I walked fashion shows and did campaigns and photoshoots for top Denver designer’s and boutiques, growing as a fashion model. I walked shows including but not limited to: Denver Fashion Week, Denver’s Unique Week of Fashion, Luxe 303, Siren, Latin Fashion Week and so many others that are too many to name! Fashion and Modeling became my outlet and the world that helped me to stay focused on the right path.

Modeling made me want to do amazing things in my life; it made me see how much potential I had even if I had to be an exotic dancer to survive, I knew it was just for a season. As I came upon my five-year mark of dancing, I started to feel like I was stuck in this life with no way to maintain an income that would hold myself and my babies above water. With such a heavy weight and a lot of mixed emotions, I finally threw the towel in; trusting that the answers would come to me as to where to go next. During this transition, I found myself in a relationship with an amazing man that I met at church. Both members of the same church for over 6 years and never once crossed path’s, I believe he was the golden piece to my jigsaw puzzle! At the end of my rope and broken to pieces desperate to leave this industry, I left on a leap of faith. One short month after I retired, with this understanding, non judgemental man by my side; I was given the opportunity to work in the Oil and Gas industry.

Now here is where it gets really awesome! I started working as a Production Lease Operator working for Select Energy Services for major oil and gas companies; Working 14-18 hour shifts on 7 day stretches, through the night and into the early morning; I was in a man’s world and determined as all get out to succeed in this field. I HAD to. So, I walked onto a massive location, way beyond my own belief and comprehension; my goal became to be an operator for Noble Energy and learn their operations. Sure enough, after some changes to the route I was operating with for PDC Energy and just five short months into this brand new field, I was finally operating for Noble. By no means did I have an easy walk. No means. Because I was the first woman to operate in that area on a brand new top producing econode, I endured many obstacles and people that tested my strength. It was either walk away, or dig my boots into the ground and fight for my position. My gender would not keep me from succeeding where I was. I worked harder than any man would have to by learning the operations front and back and the engineering without wasting any time. After some major obstacles and set backs, I became the first female operator in the mustang are for Noble Energy. Not only did I get to operate and learn what I set my mind to learn, but I left as a trainer, teaching and guiding new operators to safely and efficiently operate the new econode’s!

This was where I realized without a doubt that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE as long as you are willing to keep going and endure, no matter who or what stands in your way. Thankfully, I had two determined and genuine leads who took a leap of faith on me and got me where I needed to be. I am forever grateful to them. Now, on a love story note, I re-married in June of 2019 to my Oilfield man I met at church! What a gift to my daughter’s and I. He helped and supported me through every obstacle I faced and helped me to overcome the struggle in being in a man’s field from leaving the strip club. He showed me real and genuine friendship; but more so, real love; most importantly he showed me respect. With every obstacle through being the first woman operator and the only woman out in this area, I found a sense of peace because I knew I had just set thepath for women to follow and do what I did without the obstacles I had to endure. Unfortunately, this journey came to an abrupt end for me. Mom duties called!

My heart is still left there on that Econode. My old Independent Woman! It was time for me to move on to the next chapter as a stay at home mom and wife. My husband and I bought our first house with our daughter’s and I am now studying to be a Real Estate Agent. I am also training to teach as a certified Zumba Instructor. My story does not hold glamour and fame but the really unique thing is overcoming and diversity. So many women struggle in the same areas as I have. Even men. Abuse in so many forms; raising children alone, working and sacrificing dreams. Sometimes we can be so hard on ourselves that we can truly believe that we are not capable of doing such amazing things. Not loving ourselves or believing in our abilities to be what we dream to be. YOU ARE. YOU CAN BE THAT PERSON.

My goal is to inspire and help others overcome obstacles and be successful. Success is far more than one example of what success should be, far more than a dollar sign. Each person is so unique and holds greatness to become successful in whatever they set their minds to. Even if success means having a great family and stability. That’s my dream; I have finally obtained that. The rest, just an amazing bonus with empty pages to write my story on!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not by a long shot. Growing up in American poverty with a lot of siblings and broken relationships would be a struggle in itself. Having children young and married into an abusive relationship held tremendous struggle. Along with being trapped in the so called “justice system” was by far a huge struggle. But nothing, and I mean nothing can compare to countless nights of dancing in the heart of Denver to make the money I needed to provide for my daughter’s.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am absolutely different just in the fact that I do not operate my own branded business. I came out of a world of dancing and nightlife working for myself as an independent contractor (erotic dancer.) Now, I am brand new to Zumba and deep in classes on my Real Estate journey while being a full-time wife and mother to a teenager and two other daughter’s and an english mastiff puppy! Because of the freedom I tasted dancing, I never wanted to have my freedom to work as my own boss taken away. Both of these new paths allow me to be available to my family.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have given myself more credit instead of falling into such a toxic relationship at the age of 15. I would have used my talent and my situation to move forward as a young adult instead of thinking I wasn’t good enough because I was being chained by the life I was born into. I wouldn’t have allowed others to make choices for me because of fear.

Contact Info:

• Email: amandaganskow88@gmail.com
• Instagram: @gypsy_victoria_official

Image Credit:
@angel_photography_with_shay
@alias.collective

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