Gigi McMillan shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Gigi, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
One of the most common misconceptions about Purple Runway is that we provide emergency services for survivors of domestic violence and intimate partner abuse. While we wholeheartedly support survivors, we are not a crisis response organization. Instead, Purple Runway focuses on the crucial next phase—what happens after the storm.
We help survivors reclaim their identity, rebuild self-worth, and develop the emotional tools necessary to break the cycle of abuse for good. Our work bridges the gap between emergency intervention and long-term holistic healing. We walk with survivors as they design a new chapter rooted in self-love, empowerment, and resilience.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Gigi McMillan, and I’m the Founder and Executive Director of Purple Runway, a survivor-led organization, and I’m also a Thriving Survivor myself. Purple Runway began as a simple fashion show designed to shine a light on the epidemic of domestic violence. It was an experiment in healing, wondering if bringing survivors together to see their beauty reflected in them could help them begin to reclaim their power.
What makes Purple Runway so unique is that we are led by survivors, for survivors. We’re not just telling stories—we’re reshaping systems. We are individuals who have chosen to reclaim our agency, refusing to live in guilt, shame, or silence. We see ourselves not as victims but as victors, using our voices to advocate for legislative change and holistic support for those who are navigating life after abuse.
Our approach combines trauma-informed therapeutic care with holistic healing practices and community-based accountability. We focus on the emotional, physical, and spiritual work required to ensure survivors not only survive but also truly thrive.
Personally, I once believed I could find peace by excelling professionally, being everything to everyone, and putting myself last. But none of that eased the internal pain or helped me break the patterns that led to more unhealthy relationships, romantic or otherwise. True healing came when I committed to doing the hard work: examining my behaviors, setting firm boundaries, and building a life rooted in self-worth.
Has the journey been difficult? Absolutely. But has it been worth it? Without a doubt.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
As a military brat, one of my earliest memories of feeling powerful was in the third grade, when I won second place in a school writing contest about what the American flag meant to me. I’ll never forget hearing my name announced over the school intercom that morning; it felt like the world stopped just for me. The prize was a week’s worth of ice cream at lunch and a feature in the local newspaper. My parents still have that article to this day.
What’s especially powerful about that moment is the contrast. It happened during a time when I was silently experiencing my first childhood trauma at the hands of a family friend. Yet that moment of recognition, of being seen and celebrated for my voice, remains one of the brightest memories of my childhood. It showed me, even then, that my words held power, even when my world felt out of control.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You won’t know how or when, but you will be okay.
You will grow into the woman you were always meant to be.
You will learn how to rescue yourself and get support when needed.
You will rise and help others rise with you.
You will be loved by someone who sees you, supports you, and stands beside you through every stage of your becoming.
You will learn how to keep your cup full, because you’ll finally understand that pouring into others doesn’t mean emptying yourself.
You will no longer run on empty, and you’ll welcome those who believe in building community, not just connections.
There will be no rushing, no chasing, only alignment.
You will coast into the right moments, carrying every lesson as a stepping stone toward your greatest vision, shared with those who are growing beside you.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the industry tells itself is that a standardized checklist can work for every survivor. But domestic violence is complex; it involves fear, coercion, manipulation, and threats, whether the abuse is physical, emotional, or financial.
I absolutely believe that emergency services are vital; they stop the bleeding, both literally and figuratively.
However, what is often overlooked is the gap that follows. That’s where too many survivors fall through the cracks and end up in repeated cycles, with different people, but the same patterns.
The truth is, healing doesn’t come from a checklist. It stems from real-life connections, from community, from learning how to shift mindsets, redefine relationship expectations, and, most importantly, discover who you are beyond trauma.
This is the work that changes lives and what reduces the epidemic of violence impacting women, men, children, and families.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I laid down my name, my role, and every possession, I would still be whole.
What would remain is my energy, and the light I carry into every room. My authenticity. My boundaries. My unwavering hope is that others find their peace and rise into their purpose.
Even without a title or a platform, my voice would still echo with integrity.
I would still be a woman rooted in truth, led by love, whether it’s love for others or love that protects my peace and inner essence.
What I stand for wouldn’t change. What I accept, and what I refuse to tolerate, would remain. Because who I am has never been defined by what I own or what I’m called (I’ve had many names), but by how I choose to show up in the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.purplerunway.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purplerunwayofficial/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purplerunway/
- Other: I have a podcast (Beautifully Unfiltered with Gigi) that will launch on YouTube in the fall, and the other channels will be closed for a fresh start.
Image Credits
Danielle Nichole – Photographer (Images 1, 2, and 3)
Duane Melton – Image 4
