Andrea Leigh’s memoir Do You Still Like Football: From Harley-Riding Rancher to Fashion Icon: A Journey of Courage and Reinvention is a story that refuses to fit neatly into one category. It is part life story, part manifesto, part guide to self-discovery, and part love letter to authenticity. What begins as the account of a rancher, husband, father, and pharmaceutical executive soon unfolds into something far deeper: the journey of a woman who dared to look into the mirror and acknowledge a truth that had been waiting for her all along.
By all standard measures, Andy, as she was known then, had built the American Dream. A successful career in the pharmaceutical industry brought security, while a marriage and family life on a ranch grounded in sustainable practices offered both beauty and meaning. Yet beneath the outward picture of success was a persistent sense of incompleteness, a quiet calling toward something more. That unspoken longing would eventually lead Andrea to confront herself with honesty, vulnerability, and ultimately, courage.
The memoir traces her transformation with disarming clarity. Leigh does not gloss over the emotional terrain of transition. She describes the challenges of navigating her marriage, where love endured but expectations had to shift, and the difficulty her parents faced in reconciling the child they once knew with the woman standing before them. Her candor makes these chapters resonate all the more. The grief, the questioning, and the reimagining of relationships are not portrayed as obstacles to be overcome once and for all but as evolving processes shaped by love, communication, and patience. In the midst of these changes, Leigh recalls her mother’s simple but powerful affirmation, “just right”, words that capture the essence of acceptance better than any lengthy explanation could.
Fashion, for Leigh, became more than an industry. It became an arena of self-expression, a stage on which she could claim her identity publicly and joyfully. Moving from a Harley-riding rancher to a fashion icon was not just a change in appearance but a transformation of presence. Through her work as a stylist, speaker, and coach, she now inspires others to recognize that their lives, too, can be reimagined. Her motto, “I am the expert in my experience”, underscores her belief that every individual has the authority to define their own path.
The book also confronts misconceptions about gender identity with refreshing honesty. Leigh observes that most people are more indifferent than hostile, and that indifference can be liberating. When others are too preoccupied with their own struggles to judge, space opens up for authenticity to flourish. She highlights the importance of seeking supportive communities that encourage growth rather than reinforcing negativity, reminding readers that we always have a choice in where to place our energy and attention.
Beyond her memoir, Andrea Leigh’s professional journey extends into coaching and leadership. Retiring at the top of her game after three decades at Pfizer, she shifted her focus to helping ambitious professionals break free from societal expectations.
Do You Still Like Football is not a story of chasing more. It is a story of choosing alignment, of choosing to live as one’s true self despite the weight of expectation. In its honesty and playfulness, the memoir challenges readers to ask themselves what authenticity means in their own lives. Andrea Leigh’s journey, from ranch to runway, from corporate success to personal reinvention, offers not just inspiration but a roadmap for anyone standing at the edge of change, wondering whether they too can step into a life that finally makes sense.
Available via Amazon
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