American singer Natalie Grant promoted modesty after posing for a magazine cover in a swimsuit. Grant shared a photo of herself holding up a copy of First for Women in a lengthy Facebook post on Sunday, July 26. Instead of shooting down the opportunity by dismissing it as secular, she prayed to God and came up with "a list of parameters," so that she could uphold her Christian virtues.
"With a larger circulation than People magazine, when they first asked me I said "YES!" But then I learned it would be a summer issue and I was asked to be in a bathing suit. My first reaction was "NO! No no no no no no!" But then honestly, I prayed about it," wrote 43-year-old Grant.
Grant initially thought that the magazine company might not agree to her terms. She had three non-negotiable terms on her list. Grant's three terms for the photoshoot were that she would wear a one piece bathing suit, the photo "must be completely modest," and that the photo of herself must be the "real" her, without "a crazy amount of photoshop" to make her "look way younger or thinner" than she is.
To her delight, the magazine agreed to all of her terms. Grant said that after praying about the opportunity, she "had a total peace from God to do it." A featured article covered her story on how she beat depression and lost 40 lbs. She knew that the women who read her story might be led to research her name, and would learn that she is unashamedly, a "Jesus girl."
"Self care is not selfish but smart. And Godly. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I want to care for my inner and outer self. When I do, I am a better follower of Christ, better wife, better mom and all around better human being wink emoticon At 43 years of age I feel in the best shape of my life, physically AND spiritually," wrote Grant.
Grant also shared that she wanted to be a role model for her three young daughters. She wanted them to see that she accepts herself, makes the most of every opportunity, and does it "with modesty." She described her method as "rockin what you got for Jesus." Grant is the second Christian music artist to be featured in the cover of the magazine. The first was Amy Grant.
