Fly Like a Girl began in 2019 when I was an Instructor Pilot in the T-38C Talon. I sketched an idea from a photo I took with my helmet on that eventually became the image you see today. I chose the phrase “fly like a girl” because “like a girl” is everywhere in pop culture—and almost always synonymous with “worse.” This patch takes that phrase back and repurposes it: “Hell yes, I fly like a girl.” The artwork quickly became about more than the phrase; it was about representation. You can’t dream of being something that you don’t know exists. Putting a tangible piece of representation into a young girl’s hands is incredibly powerful—especially when that representation has the same skin tone, hair texture, or eye color as she does. This artwork not only inspires young girls to see themselves in the patch but also educates everyone that there is a place for women in aviation.