Kylie Bisutti, former Victoria Secret Model, talks about her life journey and relationship with Christ in this email interview. On Feb. 6, she will be guest speaking at convocation, which will take place 11 a.m. at the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists.
Can you briefly tell me your background? Why did you want to become a model?
Becoming a model was something that I had always dreamed of from a very young age. After watching TV shows like “America’s Next Top Model,” it made me want to become a model even more. Growing up it seemed like models lived such a glamorous and fulfilling life.
How did you become a Christian? How did Christianity affect your modeling career?
I became a Christian in high school after learning about the Lord’s love and forgiveness of the things I felt like I couldn’t even forgive myself for. Being a Christian affected every aspect of my modeling career over time as the Lord changed my heart and sanctified me.
Why did you leave the modeling industry?
I left the modeling industry because the Lord called me out of it. I couldn’t reconcile living my life fully for His glory while being involved in an industry where I was consistently being pushed to do things that dishonor the Lord to advance my career. I was posing provocatively and causing men to stumble as well as promoting to women that it is OK to use your body as a symbol of sex for attention and money. Mostly everything I did to further my career was not honoring to the Lord and brought others into destruction.
Your memoir is titled “I’m No Angel: From Victoria’s Secret Model to Role Model”. What kind of role model do you want to be?
I desire to be the type of role model that glorifies the Lord in all things and shows others that true beauty comes from within. When I was modeling, most people wanted to learn my hair tricks or how to lose weight. Now girls come to me for advice about body image issues, living for the Lord and modesty.
What do you do now?
I’m now a stay-at-home mom and author and speaker.
Anything else you want the readers to know?
I used to live my life to glorify my own name and to get attention. Now my desire is to bring glory to my Lord and Savior. My entire life is different because of my relationship with Christ. And it is in every way better, even without all of the attention, fame, or money a lucrative modeling career could provide.
