Music Spotlight: Lauren Alaina on “Getting Good” at Being You

COUNTRY MUSIC’S LaurenAlaina

Is Getting Good at Being Herself

by Abigail Nibblett

Fresh off a runner-up fi nish on American Idol, sixteenyear-old Lauren was hustling to break into the music industry. She expected the hard work that came with the territory. But she wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of vicious insults about her appearance. “The negative comments that hurt the most were about my weight,” the singer remembers. “People called me fat. One blog went as far as to call me ‘Miss Piggy.’ It was extremely hurtful and severely damaged my self-esteem.” Eventually, the remarks pushed the teenage artist to develop an eating disorder.

I know He made me exactly how He wanted me.

“I really struggled for a few years, until it caused some serious health problems for me,” Lauren admits. “I started doing therapy and learned how to deal with that scrutiny, because no amount of confi dence in the world prepares you for total strangers to have an opinion about you. In times of sadness or frustration about myself, I try to see myself through God’s eyes. I know He made me exactly the way He wanted me.” Over time, Lauren began to love herself again. Her music career took off , and when she was about to make her next big appearance on national television, this time as part of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, she says she faced a “true test” to her growth as a woman. As Lauren felt waves of anxiety from being under the spotlight again, she became determined to push herself and connect with people—including the young girls—watching at home. While she’s proud of her fourth-place fi nish, she feels her biggest accomplishment is something no one can see but her: growing into a woman she’s proud of. Today Lauren’s using her platform to encourage fans to identify self-sabotaging beliefs and looking at themselves with kinder eyes. “The people I respect the most in this world have nothing but love for me, so why can’t I give that love to myself? I can—and so can you! Loving yourself makes the people who love you most so happy. It especially makes God happy.” As her career reaches new heights, Lauren realizes there’s one constant keeping her grounded through it all: “In my life, God has never left me. I know He never will. That’s where I fi nd my peace.”

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast. Put your phone in Camera mode and hover over this code to hear more of Lauren’s story! You can fi nd Lauren’s new book, Getting Good at Being You, at your favorite book retailer today.