You Are Beautiful: A Model Makeover from Insecure to Confident in Christ

by Ashley Reitz, Lorilee Craker (With)

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL shows young women who feel like they are not thin/pretty/good enough how to find true confidence as they discover their identity in Christ.

Have you ever felt like you were not enough-not pretty enough, thin enough, or enough enough?
You will never be all that the world demands you to be-it's impossible. Just ask curve model Ashley Reitz, who struggled for years with feeling overlooked, frizzy-haired, round-faced, and chubby. Her insecurity, disordered eating, and weight issues derailed her happiness and set her on a treadmill of constantly trying to be enough and never succeeding.
Even after Ashley grew up, graduated from beauty school, and launched a successful international modeling career, it took overcoming some painfully dark circumstances to provide her with the needed clarity and strength to confront her deeply rooted insecurities. She realized she had to surrender daily, actively seeking her acceptance and finding her worth in Jesus alone. Finally, she realized the truth: She was already beautiful.
And so are you! Join Ashley as she explores topics of confidence, beauty, positive body image, and the maddening-and futile-pursuit of perfection. Like an encouraging friend and sister, Ashley speaks truth and healing into your life as you:
Rethink your true source of identity and confidence.
Choose physical and spiritual wellness over our culture's unnatural fixation with being "skinny."
Take back the power you and millions of others have unwittingly handed over to the media.
Learn to believe God's words of love and value about you, every day.
Are inspired by a formerly insecure "hot mess" who has been transformed through seeking her confidence in Christ alone.
Believe that you are enough, because Jesus said so.
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224 pages, Hardcover

Published December 12, 2017

About the author

Ashely Reitz works with top agencies as a "curve model," offering her a platform to promote a healthy body image to young women. She has been an ambassador for a popular movement called Healthy Is the New Skinny and has been on the board for Miss SW Florida USA. Ashley has appeared in major magazines such as Seventeen and in national ad campaigns for Avon, Macy's, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Along with her "match" B.T., she was a fan favorite on FOX TV's reality show Coupled. Follow her at ashleyreitz.com.

Reviews

[Mel · Rating 1 out of 5]

under the guise of Christianity, but this child of a pastor doesn't seem to know God's word, based on her encouragement to females that don't line up with scripture.
The author is incredibly self-absorbed and more than a tad whiny.
I wouldn't recommend this book.
Instead of this book, I'd recommend
Before You Meet Prince Charming: A Guide to Radiant Purity
by Sarah Mally
for young women.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book for teens and young women who are caught up in the drive to be physically beautiful. Retiz had unreasonable expectations for her body, even at a young age. She desperately wanted to be noticed, to be appreciated, to feel important. She thought modeling would fulfill all those needs. But after a successful international modeling career, she still fought insecurities. She realized that she could find her worth in Jesus alone.

Reitz grew up in a Christian home (her dad was a pastor) but she shares here what she has learned through her life experiences. While she writes about lipstick and mascara, she has come to the conclusion that what is really important is who you are in God's eyes, not man's. She knows the reality of God always being present and knows that true confidence is found in Christ. She knows that God notices her and that her worth is found in Him and not in her appearance.

Reitz is very honest in sharing her experiences. There was a sexual assault and a subsequent time of not pursuing God and being somewhat distant from her family. There was her appearance on a dating show after shockingly informing those interviewing her that she was a virgin. Out of those kinds of experiences come some good advice about life and looking for men to fulfill needs only God can.

I recommend this book to teens and young women. You'll find out the true meaning of beauty from one who has been in the industry. You will be challenged to know God as your true source of confidence. You'll have opportunity to journal your own thoughts with the questions Reitz provides at the end of each chapter.

Food for thought: “We are only as beautiful as the way we treat others, only as pretty as our behavior and actions.” (47) “Physical beauty will fade over time, but spiritual beauty is timeless.” (87)

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Leslie McKee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever felt you weren’t enough or were overlooked? Unfortunately, it’s a feeling that’s all too common in today’s society, with standards that are often impossible to live up to in many cases.
Reitz is a model, but her book shows that she didn’t live a perfect, problem-free life. She lets the reader see the struggles she faced for years, including weight issues and deep-seated insecurities. In this book, she wants the reader to walk away knowing one thing: You are beautiful!

Reitz addresses a number of topics, including confidence, beauty, a positive body image, and the impossible pursuit of perfection. She wants the reader to listen to what God is saying to them instead of focusing on society’s message.

This book is geared a bit more for teens or young adults, but it contains truths which are relevant for women of any age. Reitz explains biblical confidence, which can only be found in God, and she encourages the reader to put their self-worth in the hands of God vs. other people.

Each chapter ends with a section called “Beauty Box,” which is a summary of the chapter, as well as a time for reflection. The book contains lots of personal stories woven throughout, along with Bible verses and is a quick read, overall. Reitz presents her story in an easy-to-absorb way, and it is full of encouragement, as though listening to a good friend share advice.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the FirstWords Blogger Program. I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Are Beautiful: A Model Makeover from Insecure to Confident in Christ by Ashley Reitz was an amazing reading experience.

Ms. Reitz takes us through a lifetime of struggling with insecurity. She shares how she had an unhealthy self-image and battled with various eating disorders and how she learned to navigate through an industry that is most culpable in promoting unrealistic beauty standards.

Her rousing story of transformation through faith in Jesus’ unconditional love caused her to rediscover the invaluable treasures hidden within her. Those truths empowered her to use her public platform to help others avoid pitfalls and unhealthy life choices that could possibly result in irreparable harm spiritually, mentally and physically.

This book is well written with very brief chapters and a concise summary at the end of each chapter smartly entitled, “Beauty Box”. These summaries highlight major points in each chapter and include several follow-up questions to prompt the reader to reflect and take some action steps.

I highly recommend this book for all young women and believe it would be an excellent teaching resource for small church groups seeking to mentor and groom the next generation of women, as well as required reading for future beauty pageant contestants.

Ms. Ashley Reitz, thank you for sharing your story and inspiring others to trusting Jesus Christ too.

I received this book free from the publisher through their book review bloggers program and I was not required to write a positive review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

In our world today, it is easy to feel as one is overlooked or not slender enough. The feeling of not being "enough" is very common in our society today with standards that are impossible to live up too and media that bombards us daily with images of women that we "should" be. Yet, these are all lies and Ashley Reitz dispels the lies as a model in "You are Beautiful." She lets the reader into a world where she too faced the lies of perfection, weight issues, insecurity and wanting to look perfect as a model. However, she has come a long way in her journey and has wrestled with this battled. Her message, "You are beautiful! "

Reitz hits on a variety of topics including perfection, confidence, beauty, body image and identitiy. In the end, she wants the reader to grab their Bible, listen and take the word of God in as truth and the most important media, rather than listening to society. If we would stop focusing on the world around us and see us the way God see's us, we would love ourselves and have a healthier image of who we are in Christ and his purpose for us.

This book is perfect for tweens, young adults or college age students. It would be perfect for those who are in those formative years and are struggling with who they are. However with that in mind, this book has amazing truths for a woman of any age, especially as this book is full of encouragement, told from a Biblical perspective and is a quick read. I highly recommend it. I give this book 5/5 stars. A favorable review was not required.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Are Beautiful: A Model Makeover From Insecure To Confident In Christ by Ashley Reitz with Lorilee Craker is the truth of a young woman's personal journey to find her own beauty and to discover what it really means to be beautiful.

Sharing stories from her own life, Ashley takes us through the slides, curves, and reality checks of going from feeling unseen and overlooked to embracing the beauty that God has placed within each one of us. For every "good Christian girl" who feels like she's not "pretty" enough or "skinny" enough to be special, Ashley's honesty and refreshing humor is like sitting down with a trusted friend and a warm cup of hot cocoa or tea. Not only will her story make you feel like you're in good company; but each chapter concludes with "Beauty Box" tips and questions designed to help you learn from her struggles and experiences in order to bring you closer to God and His plans for your beautiful life.

I would highly recommend this book to any young women who want a practical, down-to-earth look at life, love, and the beauty that so often seems to escape us. This book is made for all the girls out there that have ever felt as though they just didn't quite fit in being themselves. Even you! 4/5 stars.

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary print copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own.*

[Oak · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Are Beautiful: A Model Makeover from Insecure to Confident in Christ by Ashley Reitz encourages young women to feel confident in their God-given beauty. Reitz is a “curve model,” and I enjoyed reading about her experiences in the modeling world. Reitz has such a positive, healthy approach towards life, and she sounds like a great role model for girls. The media often sends messages about body image that are damaging to girls, which makes books like You Are Beautiful much needed in society. Women need to remember that God created them beautifully, and Reitz’ book cements that message.

One of my favorite chapters in the book was “Curve,” which talked about reacting to the curveballs in life and being resilient. I also really liked the chapter “Beautiful,” which talked about things that make someone beautiful, such as their wisdom and compassion. The “Beauty Box” reflection questions at the end of each chapter were a great addition to the book. The book shows what true beauty is, and Reitz encourages women to be confident and secure in their identity in Christ.

*I received this book for review*

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful for those who have insecurities and anxiety.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really shifted my world view and helped put things into perspective

[Jessica]

True, inspiring, practical