KC Derby Digest‘s featured Dead Girl for the month of June is the incredible Roxy Lawless!

Name: Roxy Lawless
Team: The Shotgun Sheilas
Number: G-26
Position(s): Blocker, Bump

How she discovered Dead Girl Derby:
When I started in derby, I played for the Springfield Roller Girls, and one of the skaters, Rusty Razorskates, practiced with DGD when she was in Kansas City. I knew I would eventually move to KC and when I did, I wanted to play with DGD; I liked the craziness of the then-OSDA and now MADE rules. I moved to KC in August 2010, and started with Dead Girl in October.

Origin of her derby name:
In Springfield, I started as Heddy Hither, but at my first bout, the announcer introduced me as Heidi Hitler. I liked it, so I kept it. Here, however, DGD already had a High D, so I needed to change it. A friend suggested Roxy and I added Lawless, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Favorite derby moment:
I have three favorite derby moments. The first is the night I met my husband at one of DGD’s infamous post-wedding bridal showers/bachelorette parties. He played for the Cowtown Butchers and hung around the derby scene, and it was just fate for us to meet that particular night. The second is when my mom and aunt came to watch me play in July 2011. My family lives eight hours away and I only get to see them one or two times a year. This was the first time they got to see me play derby, and coincidentally, it was the last game I played until this June. The next week, the doctor confirmed a little bundle of joy would be gracing our presence the following March. My third favorite moment is the day my husband and I got to meet our little future derby girl, Lexi Lawless-Floor Play. (And I expect her to play derby since she was on skates and hitting before she was even born.)

Favorite skater:
My favorite skater is Pippi Strongblocking. Pippi is an all-around amazing skater and such a great leader, mentor, and teacher. I have learned so much from her in the past two years. Dir-T Diana also ranks up in my book pretty high; she is always in a good mood, no matter how she feels or how little sleep she’s had. Plus, Dir-T makes skating look effortless. Lastly, I want to mention my derby wife, Sha’Ter’ra Thunder. She was out for a couple of months last year with a broken ankle and missed the first draft. When she came back, it was with a vengeance. It’s her determination I’m channeling this year and I’m pretty excited to play against her next month!

Derby philosophy:
Ya just gotta keep on rollin’! Nearly all week, I’m a wife, a mother, a boss, and an employee, but when I’m at derby, I get to be ME. I’ve heard rumors there was a bet whether or not I would come back (so I hope someone won something!), but in my mind, there was never any doubt I would be skating again. I live 30+ miles away, I can really only make one night a week, unless I tote Lexi with me, and the hits get a little harder the older I get, but derby is a part of me. I’m so thankful for a husband who is supportive of me ad understands that I need derby in order to stay sane and be nice person.