Within moments of talking to Christine Nairn one thing is clear, she is proud to be a Nairn.
Her pride in her past began as a young child on afternoons in Maryland spent trying to beat her two brothers.
The sense of honor can be found in the past and present, from the moments of dirt and broken bones to the simplicity of pulling a jersey over her head.
“One of the biggest compliments I have gotten over the years is that I play like a boy,” Nairn said. “That is something that always reminds me of where I came from and because of that I still have that chip-on-my-shoulder mentality that was instilled in me when I was young.”
Growing up with roudy siblings instilled a fight mentality deep within Nairn that she carries with her on and off the field.
“It was always kind of tough love between us,” Nairn said, “But it has definitely taught me to play differently and think differently.”
It is clear to see how being the youngest has impacted her style of play.
Her style mimics how she went up against her brothers in their backyard when she was outmanned and outplayed.
“My game is just completely technical and tactical, because I am not the biggest, fastest or strongest,” Nairn said.
Off the field Nairn is proving that she thinks outside the box when it comes to finding what makes her happy.
“Away from the game we don’t really know who we are as people,” Nairn said, “We are so invested that it's hard to find other passions without taking away from your career.”
However, Nairn did find a passion that led her to begin her own clothing line, one that was founded on the idea of finding yourself and encouraging others to discover what makes them happy.
“It’s called Finding Euphoria and it is just about finding your passion and finding what makes you tick as a human being,” Nairn said.
Along with the brand, Nairn has a blog.
It is here where one can find the remnants of the little girl she once was, trying to be more than just the younger sister. Nairn shares stories from her past and how they have made her into who she is today.
One of her more compelling posts shares the stories of her life that led her to become comfortable in her own skin and encourages the readers to embrace their normal, whatever it may look like.
Now that Nairn has found what brings her joy, she celebrates the people that helped her do so by representing them daily on her back.
“I love my family very much,” Nairn said. “To represent them on the professional stage and be the first professional athlete in my family is something that is really special to me and to them.”
Bold white letters sprawled from shoulder to shoulder on her back read NAIRN -- five letters that hold the tales that shaped the player and the person.
“My hope is that I am representing the last name well and that I continue to show people how I grew up,” Nairn finished.
