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Paula Deen has survived her worst nightmare.

"I used to have dreams that I lost everything," she told People magazine for its latest issue. "And when it finally happens, you think, 'I'm still alive.'"

Deen, 67, is not only alive but staging her comeback nine months after she admitted in a deposition to using the N-word and companies like the Food Network and Smithfield Foods dropped their multi-million dollar deals with her.

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"I'm fighting to get my name back," the southern chef told People.

Deen recently announced that her newly formed Paula Deen Ventures, which includes Paula Deen Foods and Paula Deen Media, received between $75 million and $100 million from investment firm Najafi Companies.

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But at her lowest point last summer, Deen told People she struggled just to get out of bed.

"When I woke up each morning, it was like my world was crashing down again," she said.