Ebony Fashion Fair model Jada Collins reveals the ugly story behind her pretty face in her new book, Be-You-Tiful: The Three Fold Process to Becoming You. The book has received praise ranging from Pastor Paula White and Ebony magazine CEO Linda Johnson Rice to the New York Times Book Review. In the book, Collins argues that beauty is only skin deep and recounts her own story of childhood molestation, abandonment and fear. She recalls her father sneering, “You’re just like your ugly momma.” 

She didn’t realize that those nasty words would eventually damage her self-esteem.

By the age of eight, Collins hated her life, and wanted to run away from home but stuck around to protect her younger sister, whom she felt was the only person who genuinely loved her. Then, in the sixth grade, a boy walked up to Collins and said: “You’re pretty like a model.” This compliment revolutionized her life and changed her self-image from self-loathing to self-love. From that day on, she set out on a mission to encourage other women to pursue their purpose over pain. Ms. Collins’s advice for the young women pursuing their dreams is:  1) Be who you are without force or strain , 2) Pursue your purpose despite your pains, negative influences, or lack of resources. 3) Don’t lose focus of your own identity by compromising your beliefs 4) Take responsibility for harnessing hurt and pain but also take ownership of your happiness and joy.