Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth), whose filibuster of a Republican abortion bill made headlines, has a long history of persisting against tough odds, CNN reports.
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Davis, who stood and spoke for 13 hours on Tuesday at the Texas Capitol, reportedly went from being a teen mom to graduating from Harvard Law School.
She began working after school at age 14 to help support her single mother and three siblings, according to her campaign website. "By 19, Wendy was a single mother herself, working two jobs to make ends meet in hopes of creating a better life for her young daughter."
She pursued community college, then transferred to Texas Christian University. With the help of scholarships and loans, she graduated first in her class. She went on to graduate with honors from Harvard Law at the age of 33.
She also had a second daughter.
While standing during the filibuster, Davis wore pink running shoes. It was unclear whether the color was chosen because anti-abortion Republican feminists have been referred to as "pink elephants." In 2010, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin spoke of a "stampede of pink elephants," promising a movement of GOP women against abortion.
Read more at CNN.
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