Corine Lewis

Corine Lewis is a leading advocate in the fight against sexual abuse and violence against women. Having gone through more than a decade of physical and psychological trauma, Corine's powerful new memoir represents a chilling account of living life in the public eye while masking the pain of rape and domestic violence.

Through hard work, determination, perseverance, and faith, Corine's journey has become a story of resilience and resurrection. She has recaptured her power and speaks out in a powerful way to encourage and empower other women everywhere.

As a young girl, Corine pursued her passion for cheerleading, achieving excellence at a state, national, and international level. She was a four-year member of the Willamette High School state championship team; the first freshman to make the nationally elite University of Oregon cheerleading squad; a four-year member of the Portland Trailblazer dancers; and the coach and choreographer of the 2005 USA National Cheerleading Stunt Championship team. During her time with the Blazers, Corine performed during the 1992 NBA Championship Series against the Chicago Bulls and for the 1992 USA Olympic Basketball Team - "The Dream Team." Corine had a distinguished fifteen-year career as a cheerleading coach and choreographer at the University of Oregon, where she led hundreds of cheerleaders in numerous bowl appearances, including the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl, Aloha Bowl, Sun Bowl, Holiday Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl. Corine also served as the coach of the 2009 USA National Hip Hop Dance champions and has conducted cheerleading camps throughout the US, Europe, and Canada.

In 1996, Corine was crowned Mrs. Oregon International and later starred in the Comcast Sports eleven-week reality series The Making of an Oregon Cheerleader. Corine served as a co-host of the talk radio sports show "Hard Hittin' Radio” and as an on-field reporter for the televised Blue Grey All-American Bowl.

Corine shook the internet when her picture was tweeted out by an Arizona Cardinals player during the 2015 National Championship game between the University of Oregon and Ohio State. The tweet went viral and was viewed by more than a million people.

In her new book, "SMILE, Chin Up!", Corine tells a sometimes difficult account of what it's like to be raped and undergo nearly ten years of domestic violence. Here, Corine describes a set of warning signs that she calls the "Red Flags & Risk Factors" and a set of empowerment principles entitled the "CL Way."

Corine enjoys travel and meeting people. She's a regular at the gym and gives new meaning to the term "survival of the fittest." She is a mother of two and has been informally counseling victims of sexual assault and domestic violence for more than ten years. In advance of the book release, Corine plans to launch a podcast to serve as a platform of hope, inspiration, encouragement, and women's empowerment, helping victims all around the world tell their stories.

Part of Corine's healing process is to advocate for those who are going through what she went through. The SMILE, Chin Up! Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(3)c organization built upon the values of education, empowerment, and equipping survivors with what they need to thrive. Started by a survivor, advocate, and entrepreneur herself--Corine--the Foundation believes in a world free from abuse. Read more here.