Beauty Unmasked

GFG reader Heather Wood shares her thoughts on self-esteem, the media, and true beauty through poetry.

Seventeen Says Subtle is Sexy

Seventeen magazine recently featured a bit about celebrities changing their styles. They featured one woman who typically dressed in an immoddest way, showing lots of cleavage. They gave her a style makeover, changing her look from -- well, "hoochie mama" as What Not to Wear's style expert Stacy London would say -- to a more moddest, but even more stylish, look. "She's really learning that subtle is sexy," Seventeen told us. It's a fresh look.

Sometimes girls think that if they wear super low-cut shirts and short shorts and bouses that barely cover their stomachs, they'll be noticed. Someone will love them. But that's not the case. If you dress immoddestly, you'll only be getting the wrong kind of attention. You'll be noticed by people who, deep down, you really don't want to be noticed by. And the good guys? Well, they're not going to go for you because they want to find a girl who honors who body and dresses like she respects herself. Next time you hold up a super-short dress or a miniskirt that barely covers your bottom, think again. As Seventeen would say, "Subtle is sexy."

NEW Mag for Christian Teen Girls!

Many girls were sad to find that popular Brio magazine was being sold to another publisher. Focus on the Family also closed Breakaway, the Christian teen guy magazine.
That's when Christian writer Susie Shellenburger decided to launch a new magazine for Brio fans -- SUSIE. In May, there will be an ever better version of Brio at your mailbox, filled with even more beauty, celebrity, media, and faith-building articles. I can't wait! I've talked with Susie Shellenburger, and she says she's very excited about the mag as well. She says that Cody Linley (Miley Cyrus' on-screen boyfriend on Disney Channel show Hannah Montana) and Alison Stoner (Cheaper By the Dozen, Camp Rock) will both talk about their faith in the May and June issues.

UPDATE: Susie is now available. It's a great source of inspiration for anyone who wants to live for God. I encourage all of you to check it out.

Media vs. Modesty

Flip through any fashion magazine and you’ll see women wearing next to nothing. Being “hot” today usually means showing lots of skin. So do you ever think you need to dress like that to get a guy’s attention? Have you ever believed that’s what it takes to fit in?

Let me tell you something. While a lot of girls these days are walking around nearly naked, that doesn’t mean you have to. I know a lot of modest girls who don’t wear those trashy outfits, and those modest girls are still beautiful – even cooler than the immodest girls! You don’t have to expose your body to a sinful world to be pretty.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 says that God wants us to be modest and to dress ourselves in good deeds (which a lot of people forget to put on). There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be beautiful or noticed. However, honoring God comes before everything else. Period. That’s it. When you dress modestly, you’re worshipping God! You’re telling the whole world that you’re a young woman who’s so cool – inside and out – that you don’t need to show your body to be noticed.

Make a habit of modesty and dress yourself in loving behavior that honors God – and yourself!