Leigh Anne Tuohy

Dubbed a “warrior princess” by author Michael Lewis in his best-selling book The Blind Side, Leigh Anne is the inspirational matriarch of the Tuohy family. A Memphis, Tennessee native, Leigh Anne attended Briarcrest Christian School and went on to graduate from the University of Mississippi, “Ole Miss,” with a Bachelor’s of Science in Interior Design. There Leigh Anne met Sean Tuohy, her husband of 27 years. Both were active and ambitious college students: Leigh Anne was a cheerleader, campus favorite, homecoming maid and active member of her sorority. Leigh Anne owns “Flair I,” an interior design firm with her mother and partner, Virginia Roberts. Her work has been featured on HGTV, in numerous publications, and she has designed for such clients as Peyton Manning, Scottie Pippin, Isaac Bruce and OJ Mayo. After recently appearing in the season finale of ABC’s Emmy-Award winning series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Leigh Anne will be joining the design team for Season 8 in the 2010-11 season.

The Tuohy family is actively involved in many civic and faith-based organizations, including Grace Evangelical Church, of which they are founding members. With The Blind Side as one of the most talked-about true stories of our time, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy are now sharing the story in their own words. Their highly anticipated book, In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving (Henry Holt and Co.) is now available in bookstores across the country. Leigh Anne inspires audiences through her public speaking to recognize the full potential of individuals in their community -- and to find value in those who society has deemed valueless. She shares her personal Blind Side observations, from seeing Michael Oher for the first time to how the experience changed her as a person -- and the Tuohys as a family.