A Tiny Wish - My TeenMag Opportunity

by Kari Highman
(USA)

I was praying to God at Church one Sunday last year. I was saying my thanks, and telling him about events in my life, and one of them was an audition for a magazine cover, called TeenMag, it's a local magazine company in New York, that distributes their magazines all over the USA. I talked my mom into letting me go to the audition, and we flew out to New York. I met with the publisher, Mary Sampson.

She asked me some questions, like if I thought that teens today should wear makeup, and I said "No. Because teens today should embrace their natural beauty. Not pay 50 dollars on products that will cover up their skin and hide their features. Girls today should feel empowered enough and confident enough to go out with no makeup on, with their heads held high, because they should be proud of themselves for being a non-conformist, and taking a stand for the Real/True/Inner Beauty Campiagns. That is what I do everyday. I do not even own any makeup and I'm 15. I only use Chapstick in case my lips get dry. (laughs)." Another question was, "What do you want girls to know about taking care of themselves?" My answer was, "Well, they should always try their best to eat well, and get some exercise. But, also, regarding beauty, they should keep their skin in shape too. By washing it with warm water and a washcloth every morning and night. And, also, if they want, to make their skin smell wonderful, use a body wash in the shower in a light, sweet-smelling fragrance." I answered quite a few other questions. Anyways, my point was to this story, that I got the job! I was put on the cover of TeenMag! I was so happy, because they even did a cover story on me, using some the audition stuff! I was glad because in the photos they took, they left them just how they were, no touch-ups, no nothing, so that way, girls could truly see what real beauty was.

I thanked God, because he helped me feel confident enough to go to that audition, and he helped me realize that I could do anything. I love God so much, and to this day, I still thank him for that wonderful opportunity that I got to share with the world my story on Teen Beauty.