I’m No Angel [book review]

I don’t completely know what made me pick up Kylie Bisutti’s memoir.  I saw her book sitting on the shelf at my local Christian bookstore and thought she looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place her – despite the cover declaring that she was a Victoria’s Secret Angel.  Never one to obsess over models, it was really no wonder that I was a little vague on the matter.  But, when I looked inside at the color-photo insert, I recognized her immediately.  In fact, those caramel highlights and innocent eyes belonged to the model who wore most of the clothing I had purchased from Victoria’s Secret Online, for my own wearing pleasure.  So, I bought the book.

I had intended to give the book to my 15-year-old niece without even reading it.  It seemed like a nice story about the connection of being beautiful to wanting to show off that beauty.  And I felt modest with my clothing choices, so I was happy with myself.  But then I felt driven to read it myself and now I have a whole different point of view on life.

What I like most about Kylie’s book is the way that she presents her story, chapter by chapter.  First she provides an applicable verse – not just a fluff verse, but a real doctrinal application that convicts a person to live life a certain way, knowing that “yes, the Bible really says that!”  After the verse, she shares her story in chronological order, just telling it like it is.  But the essential part of her style is the way she sets up each little tidbit, saying, “I was missing one of the key points about being a Christian…”; “…the paranoia kicked in…”; “It was becoming evident…”  Little insights tell the reader that Kylie Bisutti’s conscience was tormenting her.  And she ends each chapter telling the reader which choices she should have made at that stage of her life.

I’m No Angel focuses on fashion and Kylie’s life as a model, but there are several life applications that make it relevant for all aspects of life: (1) the Bible has a verse that talks about whatever you’re going through; (2) let your conscience be your guide – if it feels wrong, it’s wrong; (3) the money you use to buy products from immoral companies supports those companies’ choices – if you donate money to the cause, that’s the same thing as supporting the cause.  And this is very important: if you don’t like nude burlesque dancers, endless alcohol supplies, pornography, and body mutilation then don’t give your money to those causes.  Spend it somewhere else.

Spending your money somewhere else may sound like a rant from someone who’s just against looking pretty, but I’ve been there.  More than half of the clothes in my closet right now came from Victoria’s Secret and I don’t yet know where I’m going to find other clothes that fit my petite frame, and I don’t know what to do with the three VS catalogs that I receive in the mail practically every week.  I love the brand and it’s been my favorite for 15 years.  But I don’t love the lifestyle.  I never before put the puzzle pieces together that the public image is also the private lifestyle of these women, and while I always buy on sale, I don’t like that I’ve contributed so many hundreds of dollars to the cause.  And Victoria’s Secret isn’t the only clothing company that has this party atmosphere.  The essential problem is that the clothes are a by-product of the lifestyle, not the main endeavor.  The clothes are there to help us dress for the lascivious, sexy, juicy, ooh-la-la, bebe, resort lifestyle of disproportionate sex, leisure, and money that the company’s founders, leaders and employees are living.

While many people have chosen to live this way, or at least pursue life this way, the requirements and CONVICTIONS of Christians runs the opposite direction.  I don’t usually word my opinion about making life choices so strongly, but I’m No Angel leaves no room for luke-warm feelings about this matter and neither does the Bible:

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.  Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

– Matthew 6:24-33

Rating:: Must read.  Thank you, Mrs. Bisutti.

Click here to find it on Amazon.com:
See more reading suggestions at: Judge the Cover Recommendations (on Amazon.com)