From Trauma to Trophies: Guerdy Abraira on Healing, Truth, and Redefining the Win
- Miami Vibes Magazine
- 3 days ago
- 12 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
Editor in Chief Dr. Cybil Bonhomme | @cybil.007
Photography Giano Currie | @gianocurrie
Creative Direction Matt Dillon, The MD Effect | @mattdillon1983
Featured Talent Guerdy Abraira | @guerdydesign
Stylist Sandra Madjdi | @sandramadjdi
In a city that celebrates reinvention, Guerdy Abraira has long embodied resilience with style, substance, and soul. Known globally as a top-tier event planner, a cast member of The Real Housewives of Miami, and a woman who has built an empire rooted in grit and grace, Guerdy is now stepping into one of her most powerful chapters yet. In her deeply personal book From Trauma to Trophies, she opens the door to conversations many avoid—about survival, healing, boundaries, and redefining what it truly means to win. In this candid Miami Vibes Magazine interview, Guerdy reflects on love, legacy, cancer, motherhood, authenticity, and the quiet strength it takes to rebuild yourself from the inside out. This is not a story of perfection—it’s a story of presence,
purpose, and owning your power without apology.
February is often associated with love and reflection. What does this month represent to you personally in this chapter of your life? For me, February is a check-in month. It is love, but the real kind, the kind that shows up when life is hard. It also makes me pause and look at how far I have come, and how much I do not want to take any of this for granted.
When readers first open From Trauma to Trophies, what feeling or realization do you hope stays with them long after the final page? I want them to feel like, okay, I am not the only one. And I want them to walk away thinking, I can change my life even if I have been through a lot. Not in a perfect way, just in a real way.
The title alone is powerful. What does “trauma” mean to you today, has your definition evolved since writing the book? Yes, it changed. Trauma is not just the big, obvious moments. It is also the stuff that sits in your body and shows up in how you move through life, how you try to control everything, how you keep going even when you are running on empty. Cancer added a whole new layer. It forced me to really look at what stress and survival mode had been doing to me for years, and it made me rebuild myself from the inside.
Writing about trauma can be deeply vulnerable. What was the hardest truth you had to confront while putting this book together? The hardest truth was realizing I used being busy as a shield. I thought if I kept working, planning, creating, handling everything, then I was fine. But a lot of that was me avoiding the parts of my life that hurt. Cancer made it impossible to keep pretending I could power through everything.
Healing isn’t linear. How do you honor your healing on days when strength feels harder to access? I slow down. I stop acting like I have to be strong every single day. Some days I rest more, I keep my circle small, and I let myself feel what I feel instead of forcing myself to snap out of it.
In the book, you speak about redefining success. What does “winning” look like for you now? Honestly, I already “won” by the world’s standards, I’ve got the husband, the kids, the home, the car, the life people chase. But to me, the real win is what’s underneath all of that: real love, unwavering support, and knowing exactly who I am and what I’m worth. My mom always told me and my sisters that we are diamonds and we don’t break, so we move
accordingly, with resilience. And when your path to success is already written, that’s winning to me.
Not only were you already the truest definition of a “Housewife” before the show, but you were also a successful businesswoman, recognized as a top planner by Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. How has that real foundation shaped the way you show up on camera? I’m grateful I built a real foundation before TV ever came into my life. The truth is, my story is built on real grit, real love, a real career, real pain, and real triumph, so I don’t feel pressure to “create” a version of myself for the cameras. That authenticity is what makes the connection with the audience feel genuine, because what they’re watching isn’t forced. And because it’s real, it’s also opened the door for extensive brand partnerships that actually make sense for me. A lot of the feedback I get is that people connect because it feels true, and I’m genuinely grateful for that. And something that’s been really humbling is hearing that sharing my cancer journey has helped save lives.
How has embracing your truth changed the way you show up as a wife, mother, friend, and leader? I am more honest about what I need and what I cannot carry anymore. I do not try to be everything to everyone. I also appreciate my people more, especially Russell and my boys, because they truly showed up for me through all of this. I lead with more clarity now, and I protect my energy better.
If trauma once shaped parts of your identity, what shapes it now? Honestly, my identity used to be shaped by adaptation. I had to. Different countries, different languages, different rules, different expectations. So I became a chameleon before I even knew what that was. That’s in my story, the constant resetting, the constant figuring it out. But now what shapes me is self respect. I know who I am, I know what I survived, and I know what I built. I’m not trying to be palatable anymore and that’s the flex.
What lessons from the book have directly impacted how you make decisions today? Honestly, what shapes me now is boundaries. Trauma taught me to be polite, to be helpful, to be “good,” even when I was uncomfortable. It taught me to adapt so much that I didn’t always stop and ask, what do I want? Cancer changed that. So now I move based on what feels real for me.
Long before the recognition, what did you build inside yourself that made you unstoppable in your career? Confidence, but the kind that comes from merit. I learned early that I wasn’t going to wait for permission or rely on who I knew. I built my reputation by doing the work, being consistent, and being able to back up what I promised every single time. That’s why I talk about the chapter in my book called “The No That Made Me Dangerous,” because it’s about a real moment where a door was closed in my face, and instead of walking away, I forced it open. And then I made sure it could never be closed again by executing at a level that left no room for doubt, no excuses, no reason to push me out. And when people think I just made it out of the blue to the top, no, I earned it. I earned the recognition from Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. I earned my place in rooms where some people may not have expected me, but once they saw the work, it made sense. That’s the power, being able to back up what you deliver.
Earrings: Nordstrom - nordstrom.com; Rings: Inclusive Jewelry - @inclusivejewelry
Being in the public eye comes with pressure. How do you remain authentic? Honestly, I don’t try to control every narrative. I’ve learned that being liked can’t be the goal, being myself has to be the goal. And part of that is letting myself have real, normal human emotions. People act like crying is some kind of weakness or like you’re not allowed to feel things in real time, but that can’t be my concern. If I feel like crying, I cry. If I feel like laughing, I laugh. I let myself move through it. That’s a huge part of what my book talks about, the Let Me Theory. Let me feel. Let me be. Let me process.
That’s how I stay authentic. And honestly, I think everyone should feel free to be who they are. Any mother would tell her child, “Stay exactly who you are, you were made that way on purpose” and that’s what my mother told me. So for anyone to think I should change myself now just for their comfort, at our big age, it’s kind of a silly ask when you really think about it. Do you, and let me do me. That’s the beauty of this world, we’re all different for a reason.
What responsibility, if any, do you feel comes with sharing your story on screen, on such a large platform, especially on the Real Housewives of Miami show where so many people are watching? My responsibility is to be real, even if it’s messy. I’m not the person who can script myself and pretend everything is fine just to keep it moving. Not all conflicts get wrapped up neatly, and the audience knows that. But I also don’t believe in skipping what actually matters.
It’s like being served dinner where they only bring you the appetizer and the dessert, but not the entrée. The entrée is the real “meat” , the real issue. If you avoid it, it doesn’t go away, it just sits there. And I’m not here to float in some fake reality Viewers aren’t stupid. They can tell when we’re dancing around the facts.
How do you balance vulnerability with boundaries in the age of social media? I think I’ve been one of the most vulnerable reality TV stars in terms of letting people in. I shared my cancer journey with the world, and that’s not a small thing. But people will judge no matter what, so you have to know where your line is and stick to it. For me, the biggest boundary is my kids, they’re protected at all costs. Liam is more social than Miles, and if Miles doesn’t want to film, we don’t film. Period. That’s me being a mama bear. Not everything is for consumption, and I’ve already shared a lot. I just hope people see that and respect it. At the same time, there’s so much more I’d actually love to share. People definitely haven’t seen the full dynamic of my extended family—It’s full of big personalities, like Russell’s sister’s partner, Briscoe who’s a Miami rap legend, it would be fun to show more of that too on social media.
What conversations do you hope this book sparks? I hope this book gets people talking about what we carry quietly, and how much we normalize running ourselves into the ground trying to please everyone else instead of putting ourselves first. I want people to feel like it’s okay to stop pretending everything is fine, because that’s the only way real healing can actually happen. And I hope it pushes you to have full conviction in who you are, because you can’t be all things to all people. Once you accept that some people will love you, some people will hate you, and some people won’t really have an opinion either, it gets a lot easier to live in your truth. At the end of the day, as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and feel proud of the life you’re living and the legacy you’re building, that’s what matters most.
You share in your book that Housewives wasn’t your first TV opportunity. How do you view the demand that was already there? It reminds me that if you keep your head down and stay focused on what you’re building without needing public applause, it will still get noticed. Years before Housewives, a separate production group approached me with a show idea that would’ve followed the behind the scenes of event production, very Rachel Zoe vibes. I actually turned it down, and I talk in the book about the reasons why. After that, I was approached by HGTV to do a holiday special called Holiday Crafters Gone Wild, and I did it and had the best time. It was during COVID, so it honestly gave me something to look forward to during a really hard time for so many people. Then came Housewives.
And recently, I got an unexpected call about something with a major streaming platform. But I want people to hear this too: TV should never be the thing you solely rely on to make you, because it can also break you. Russell has always told me that TV was something he could see me doing, and honestly, I did it because it felt inevitable. But it’s not for everybody, and it’s important to have a foundation outside of it, something real you can stand on, no matter what happens on screen, you’re solid off screen. And beyond that, making sure you have something that can’t be taken away from you, no matter what, that’s the real power.
Miami is a city of reinvention and resilience. How has this city shaped your evolution? Miami absolutely shaped me, but it’s not just Miami, it’s the world. The world shaped me. Haiti is my roots. France is where I learned confidence and how to carry myself. And Miami? Miami is where I had to figure it out for real. New language, new culture, new rules, new people. It forced me to get it together fast, because in Miami, it’s sink or swim. And I think that’s my secret sauce, I’ve lived in different worlds, so reinvention isn’t something I fear, it’s something I know how to do. Miami taught me how to keep moving, how to bounce back, and how to reinvent myself without losing who I am. That’s what’s kept me unpredictable, in a good way, because I can always pivot, rebuild, and come back stronger.
When you think about legacy, what do you hope your sons learn most from your journey? I want my sons to learn that your value is not something you wait for other people to hand you. You build it. You protect it. You don’t follow crowds just to fit in, and you don’t shrink to make other people comfortable. A big part of my life lesson is learning you have to be a little selfish in a healthy way, because if you keep giving, overextending, and trying to be everything for everyone, you end up paying for it later. That’s legacy to me, raising men who know who they are, who stand on character, and who don’t confuse attention with worth.
How did writing this book change you? It reminded me that I’m more than what I produce. For years I was Guerdy the planner, Guerdy the fixer. The book brought me back to being Guerdy the person, just Guerdy.
There’s been a lot of buzz about your absence during the Miami stop of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip celebrating Bravo’s 20th anniversary. What can you share about that?
Truthfully, I wasn’t contacted for that, and it was surprising, especially since I’ve been part of the reboot from the very start. It would’ve been nice to be included and celebrate the milestone. But what matters most to me right now is staying locked in on me and the here and now.
Are there any new projects you can share with us right now? Yes, I actually just signed a major social media brand deal to help spread awareness around something that’s very dear to me, and you’ll be seeing that activation soon. What I love most is that I’ve personally used it and it was literally life changing for me, super authentic. And I’m also in early conversations about a capsule collection, but I can’t share what the product is yet because it’s still in development. I’m patient when it comes to getting things done the right way, but trust me, the wheels are always turning in my world. I GUERDYFY everything.
What does your next “trophy” look like? My trophy is looking back at me in the mirror. I am the trophy.
Finish this sentence: “If my story teaches anything, it’s that…” If my story teaches anything, it’s that you can go through real trauma and still build a beautiful life. You are not stuck. You can heal, you can change, and you can become a stronger version of yourself.
What does living beautifully and bravely mean to Guerdy Abraira today? It means being fully myself, on purpose. My book is really about that, coming back to who I’ve always been underneath the noise. You don’t get made by accident. The way you’re wired, your voice, your story, your edges, your softness, it’s all part of the design. Living beautifully and bravely means I don’t question that anymore. I move like I belong, because I do.
As this chapter of her life continues to unfold, Guerdy Abraira is no longer measuring success by how much she can carry or how perfectly she can perform. Her greatest victories now live beneath the surface—in the peace she protects, the boundaries she honors, and the intention she brings to every choice. From Trauma to Trophies is more than a book; it’s a reminder that healing is possible, even after life’s hardest moments, and that strength doesn’t always roar—sometimes it rests, reflects, and rebuilds. For Guerdy, living beautifully and bravely means choosing truth over expectation,
alignment over burnout, and love that shows up when it matters most.
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