Thank you for shopping with us bbs! Get 20% off on your entire order and 50% off on select products now through Dec 31! Use code XMASTIMOI at checkout!

Why I’m Fighting Back — And How You Can Help Timoi LLC vs. Sand Oner LLC

by SUSANA DE LEON

For those who know me, you know that art isn’t just what I do, it’s how I’ve survived. My name is Susana De Leon, but in the art world and on the streets, I’m known as TIMOI®, short for Trapped In My Own Imagination. I’m an independent artist, street art pioneer, and the creator of the Big Eye Dolls and the expansive universe of the Zovereignty Galaxy.


For over 20 years, I’ve poured my soul into my characters... painting, designing, animating, and giving life to beings that represent freedom, resistance, and beauty in all its forms. My dolls are bold, diverse, and fierce. They’ve become mirrors for people who rarely see themselves represented in mainstream art or media. That mission has always been sacred to me.


But behind the vibrant art is a truth I can no longer carry in silence.

 

 

 

💔 The Harm I’ve Endured

 


I’ve been the target of art theft, defamation, and psychological warfare... much of it at the hands of someone I once saw as a peer: Sandra Merlos, known publicly as Sand Oner.


For years, Sandra has created derivative works based on my original characters and storylines, gaining fame and profit from art that traces directly back to my vision. But the harm hasn’t stopped there. She has:

 

  • Spread lies about me personally and professionally

  • Mocked the way I speak, move, and even how I look

  • Weaponized false narratives to isolate me and sabotage my career

  • Gaslit and erased my contributions while imitating the very essence of my brand

 

Her Original art before she stole mine:

This is what she was doing in 2009 and 2010 before stealing my art.

And this is only one sample of the derivatives she created. She even copied my tag style. She basically ripped off my whole brand while trying really hard to erase my legacy. These characters are not exact replicas of mine, they are derivatives of my copyrighted dolls. Protected by copyright law.

As a result, I’ve lost followers, partnerships, and vital income. The emotional damage has been deep... made worse by the fact that most people have no idea what I’ve been through behind the scenes.


I’ve also survived violence and trauma that I now believe may be directly or indirectly tied to this pattern of erasure and retaliation. I still suffer from chronic pain daily because of the trauma I endured.


I’ve tried to heal. I’ve tried to let it go. But silence hasn’t protected me.

 

 

 

⚖️ Why I’m Taking Legal Action

 


I’ve made the decision to fight back legally, not out of revenge, but out of necessity.

I’m seeking justice not just for myself, but for every artist who has ever been stolen from, silenced, or erased.


Filing a case requires resources, attorney fees, court costs, documentation, and time.

I’m also continuing to run my small business and keep my art alive through it all.


That’s why I’ve launched a GoFundMe campaign:

Click here to support my legal fight 


Your donations will go toward:

 

  • Legal consultations and filings

  • Evidence organization and IP protection

  • Emotional and physical recovery costs

  • Maintaining operations for my registered LLC, TIMOI®

 


I know how hard it is out here. If you can’t donate, please share my campaign, engage with my posts, and tell others about my work and story.

Visibility is power, and every single share counts.

 

 

 

🛍️ Prefer to Support by Shopping?

 


I’ve made that easy too.

Shop art prints, stickers, tote bags, keychains, crop tops, and more... all designed by me, and many featuring characters like Calo, Frankirella, Holly, Briana, and Lizeth.


🖤 I even have stickers starting at just $2+

🖤 Every order comes directly from me

🖤 You’ll be supporting a woman-owned, artist-run, trauma-surviving, truth-telling business

 

 

 

✨ This Is Bigger Than Me

 


This case is about artistic survival.

It’s about reclaiming my name, my story, and the legacy I’ve spent years building.

It’s about calling out a system that celebrates stolen voices while punishing the ones who dare to speak up.


If my story resonates with you, please help however you can... share, donate, shop, or simply send love.


Thank you for riding with me.

Thank you for choosing truth.


– Susana De Leon / TIMOI®

Back to TRAPPED IN MY OWN IMAGINATION THOUGHTS AND NEWS