Tiki had a difficult childhood. She was abused by a family friend, hit by a drunk driver, and then moved away from her childhood home when she was in middle school. She ended up running away from home and looking for a way to survive. She began making money as a dancer and married at a young age. Her adult life was no easier than her childhood, and she ended up homeless. But God was with her and guided her to the Orlando Union Rescue Mission where she found healing and hope for a brand-new life.