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January 29, 2008
Virginia 4-H Alumna Tackles Body Image in New Book
4-H alumna Nancy Redd has been making news lately. A native of Martinsville, Va., Redd published her first book Body Drama this past December. Feeling that there was an absence in addressing the insecurities women face with their bodies, Redd wrote the book to provide candid and practical advice to answer those dreaded questions that are on the minds of so many women. It gives a fair representation of all different sizes, shapes, ages and races of women that are oftentimes overlooked and not celebrated by mainstream media. Body Drama inspires women to embrace their body’s imperfections, referred as “drama,” and accept them as “normal,” regardless of what is depicted on television or in magazines.
Body Drama has already created a lot of buzz including features in USA Today, LIFE, and People and discussed on Good Morning America. The book also received a nomination for the 2008 NAACP Image Award.
Having graduated with an honors degree in women’s studies from Harvard University and being a former Miss Virginia, Nancy has the educational and personal experiences of how body image and the influences of society can affect a women’s self image.
Nancy attributes the 4-H program for making her into the person she is today. “4-H was the only program in my youth that enabled me to take full advantage of my own creativity and unique skills,” says Redd. A 4-H’er for 14 years, Nancy was a Virginia 4-H All-Star, former President of Virginia 4-H, former National 4-H Council and Virginia Board of Trustees member, and capnote speaker for the 2006 National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA) National Conference.
In February of 2002, Nancy won $250,000 after appearing on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and donated some of her winning to 4-H. As she continues to fulfill her goal to improve the quality of life for others, Nancy is proof that the values instilled in its members go far beyond membership as an adolescent. Nancy asserts, “We as 4-H’ers and former 4-H’ers should constantly carry the goal of bringing 4-H to the forefront in our communications and experiences, with pride and love for America’s best youth organization.”
To learn more about Body Drama, visit www.nancyredd.com.
Posted in category 4-H Alumni at 02:48 PM