She Lost Custody — Then Fought Back | Zee Wilcox, TX House District 98 Candidate

“I don’t even know how I survived the days.” After surviving childhood trauma, domestic violence, and rebuilding her life in America from nothing, Zee Wilcox believed the hardest chapters were behind her — until a Texas family court judge removed her 7-year-old daughter without evidence. In this episode of the Starter Girlz Podcast, Jennifer Loehding sits down with American citizen, small business owner, mother of three, stepmother of five, and Texas House District 98 candidate Zee Wilcox for one of the most powerful conversations to date. Born and raised under communism in Czechoslovakia, Zee grew up in poverty as the oldest of six children, becoming a caregiver at just nine years old. At 21, she immigrated to the United States alone, barely speaking English, determined to build a better life. Years later, after leaving an abusive marriage, she found herself facing what she describes as a broken family court system — temporarily losing custody of her daughter in a ruling that was later fully overturned. What followed was not only a fight for her child, but a deeper reckoning with power, accountability, and the responsibility to use her voice. This episode explores resilience, generational trauma, domestic violence, judicial authority, and why embracing the start sometimes begins in your most painful chapter. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE How early trauma can quietly shape identity, strength, and survival instincts The emotional cost of growing up in silence around abuse and instability What resilience looks like when starting over in a new country alone How unresolved wounds can influence the relationships we choose What it feels like to face a system that holds power over your family The emotional reality of losing custody — and fighting to regain it How financial strain compounds emotional trauma in prolonged court battles Why transparency and accountability matter in positions of authority What it takes to move from personal crisis into public advocacy How embracing the start sometimes begins in your hardest chapter ABOUT ZEE WILCOX Zee Wilcox is an American citizen, wife, mother of three, stepmother of five, small business owner, community advocate, and candidate for Texas House District 98. Born and raised in communist Czechoslovakia, she immigrated to the United States at age 21 with little English and no safety net. Through perseverance and grit, she built a business, a family, and a life rooted in resilience. After experiencing what she believes are systemic failures within the Texas family court system — including temporarily losing custody of her daughter in a ruling that was later overturned — Zee became a vocal advocate for judicial accountability and reform. She is now running for office with a mission to protect families, defend parental rights, and bring transparency to systems that directly impact children. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Teaser: “I Don’t Even Know How I Survived”01:00 – Podcast Welcome and Sponsor04:00 – Growing Up Under Communism09:00 – Childhood Trauma and Caregiving at Nine15:00 – Coming to America Alone20:00 – Learning to Survive in a New Country26:00 – Domestic Violence and Narcissistic Abuse32:00 – Leaving the Marriage40:00 – The TRO and Losing Custody46:00 – The Courtroom Experience55:00 – Filing the De Novo Appeal01:02:00 – Overturning the Ruling01:10:00 – Financial and Emotional Costs01:18:00 – Judicial Accountability01:25:00 – Running for Texas House District 98 CONNECT WITH ZEE WILCOX Websites: zeeforhd98.com and theintentionalstore.com CONNECT WITH STARTER GIRLZWebsite: startergirlz.comTake the 2-Minute Success Block QuizJoin the Community NewsletterWant to be a guest on Starter Girlz? Apply HERE