I can’t even believe the vortex of powerful, consuming emotions that have overtaken me in my two days in Israel so far. There are so many things to tell you about, it’s hard to know how to channel it in one post. But if I were to impress upon you anything, it would be that this is undeniably the Holy Land. God is here and my faith and trust in Him has deepened.
The Miss USA Who Felt Ugly Because of Cystic Acne
I was 12 years old when I had my first break out. I remember being in the 6th grade and learning how to apply concealer for the first time. I walked through the hallways wondering why I was the only girl with bumpy skin crusted over with foundation that I was too young to wear. I was thankful for it because at least it hid some of the redness.
The Rise Up Princess Cover Reveal and a Letter from Kristen
One day, someone spoke words to me that changed my life forever. I was doubting my purpose in life and my friend said to me, “Kristen, don’t you know that you are a daughter of the One True King?” I had never heard or even thought of that before. But yes, he was right. This was revelational, eye-opening, a complete paradigm shift to the way I had been seeing myself and living. This meant I was royalty. This meant I was His Princess. This meant I was born for royal purpose.
I Didn’t Think Rape Happened to Girls Like Me
I’d like to say that I’m writing this having reached the goal I made for myself when I was a little girl in Sunday school after first hearing about how chastity pleases God. I wish I had made it to my wedding day a without any prior sexual encounters. But unfortunately, that’s not my story. And I learned the hard …
How a Miss DC USA Dealt with the Cyber Bullies
I competed at the 2010 Miss USA/Universe Pageant, representing the District of Columbia. I didn’t grow up a painted baby, meaning, I did not grow up competing in Toddlers and Tiaras pageant system. From the age of six on I was a competitive equestrian and highly decorated Junior Olympian in swimming. My time outside of school was spent either in …
The Depression Issue No One Is Talking About
I’ve struggled the past few days to find the right words for this. I’ve been angry, hurt, and disappointed in my friends and acquaintances. While I have no doubt that the cyber world is tired of hearing about depression, especially after the past week, I am about to bring it up again. No, I won’t be discussing a celebrity. I …
The Family Affair That Redefined My Reality
There I was, home from college, working at Costco and for the first time living in an environment where I attracted attention from males. Word had gotten around that I was a virgin and sadly, this made me intriguing and a target. There was a pool created wagering on the loss of my virginity and going to work was increasingly difficult. Eight-hour shifts pushing carts, followed by long workouts at the gym were my way of holding life together.
How a False Belief Will Destroy You
What I did not know at the time or could have even understood at that age was that my mom had caught my dad in an affair with one of her best friends. Children, if left to process without guidance, do not have the capacity to manage chaos. If no one tells them otherwise, they will conclude it is their fault.
I Lost Myself & God Found Me
Last year I read the “She Is More” blog constantly. It was so cool hearing all the different stories of what woman had been through and it was somewhat inspiring. I was never a religious person and when it came to the faith based blogs, I would most likely just skim through them or scroll past them.
From a Miss CA Teen USA: How The Pageant Industry Shaped My Body Story
While preparing for Miss Teen USA my mom and I discovered a book called the Perricone Prescription developed and written by dermatologist, Dr. Perricone. This diet was perfect for me because the focus was not on calorie restriction but rather on reducing foods that create internal inflammation.
I Thought Someone Not Leaving You Was the Same as Someone Loving You
Ladies, if a guy is really good at telling you things that make you feel like Kate Middleton, just know: he did not practice those lines on his sister.
He Lied, Cheated & Left Me Alone With a Bag of Oreos
Now that I’ve reentered it, I’m ready to go running back out. Why, you might ask? Because men are cruel.
A Letter to the Father That Doesn’t Know How Awesome I Am
What an odd thing to know about a person that you don’t actually know at all, right? I know this because this is actually one of the few things that you HAVE told me. Remember two years ago when I emailed you for the very first time?
How God Set Me Free of Abuse, Neglect & Drugs
A life of neglect and abuse left me empty, ashamed and on the road to death, but God had another plan….
A Mother’s Day Letter from Three Daughters
Dear mama bear,
I know I’ve written you many letters before and you know how much I admire you. But this year, I have been reflecting on who you are as a woman, your years before you became a mama and a wife and how it all led up to the rock star Proverbs 31 woman that you are now.