I never thought I’d be writing this.
Five years ago, when I wrote the last article for Crown of Beauty Magazine, I thought it was over. After running a thriving ministry and magazine since 2013, I was getting ready to birth a new dream: move to Nashville, Tennessee! I had transitioned from full time magazine editor, to full time author, and was ready for a new season!
I had no idea what the adventure would hold. Would I pursue a music career in the City of Dreams? Would I publish more books? Become a full-time Podcaster? Transition into overseas mission work? The possibilities were endless!
My move was exciting & exhilarating, but also hard. In a city where EVERYONE is doing something cool, I struggled to find my place. I had just surrendered the absolute coolest thing I had ever done in my life (running a magazine, hosting conferences, collaborating with amazing Jesus-lovers all over the globe!), and laid it on the altar. The season had changed, and I needed to move on.
If I’m completely honest with myself, I feel as if I’ve spent the past 5 years floundering, a little insecure, a little confused, asking all the classic questions;
how much should I be “waiting” on God, and how much should I be pushing through to make my “dreams come true”?
At 32 years old, I was really hoping to have my life figured out by now. I would’ve loved to be married and dancing with my babies around the kitchen table. It might’ve been nice to have a NYT Bestselling book, or an open door to build an orphanage in India. You know, big, exciting, trying-to-catch-your-breath from the thrill of the adventure, kind of stuff.
Don’t get me wrong, these past 5 years have been sweet, and fulfilling, and challenging, and rewarding, all at once. But if I’m totally real with myself, there was a small part of me that stopped dreaming when I got to Nashville. Maybe it was intimidation. Maybe it was fear. Maybe I got sung to sleep by the the culture and the algorithm and the thousand of voices competing daily for my attention.
I spent the better part of last year, asking God, “WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? Why do You have me here!? What am I supposed to be doing with my life?!”
And finally, in November, right before my birthday, the answers came. I woke up, dead out of my sleep, in the middle of the night, as my spirit literally exploded with vision. All at once, everything danced before my mind - Crown of Beauty Magazine - the electric covers, the gorgeous photoshoots, the unforgettable conferences…I could see it all. Everything I’d ever asked the Lord for. Everything that had yet to come to pass…Dreams I had literally forgotten about. It was all erupting back to life, faster than I could keep up with.
Needless to say, I didn’t sleep that night. I heard the clarion call loud and clear.
Crown of Beauty Magazine isn’t finished.
There is a WHOLE new generation of girls who need to know the truth of who they are in Christ. They need big sisters, strong women of faith, to come alongside, pour into them, and reveal Jesus. The brokenness we’re facing in our world is intensifying with each passing day. I so often find myself uttering the words, “I can’t imagine being a teen in today’s world”. Or, “What happened to magazines!? Why did they all have to die off? Why can’t we just slow down and flip through the pages of a magazine, rather than get sucked into our phones?”
And I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. Which is why the resurrection of Crown of Beauty Magazine, is not my project.
It’s yours.
God is raising up a collective of voices, a generation of Godly women, who know what it means to be faithful, in season, and out of season. He hasn’t just planted a message inside of you, He has shaped your whole life to become that message. And it’s time for you to share. To pick up your pen, or your microphone, or your paintbrush, or whatever creative avenue He’s called you to, and it’s time to share.
He is reviving dreams. He is breathing His Spirit upon the dead and dry places, the secret dreams that have been long buried, the prayers that have been faithfully cultivated in the dark, secret places.
Now is the time for these things to sprout up. Sweet sister, God is going to give you a platform. He is going to open doors for you. Sleeping Beauty, it’s time to awaken.
CASTING THE VISION
The grand vision for Crown of Beauty Magazine is a quarterly, in-print publication centering around Biblical womanhood, whimsical party ideas, timeless fashion, Kingdom creativity, and what it looks like to live a flourishing, full, royal life, as daughters of the King.
We’ll host conferences, retreats, podcasts, and Bible Studies. Our mission?
To release captives by releasing the truth of Isaiah 61! To bestow beauty in exchange for ashes. To leave a legacy for this next generation of girls. To let them know they’re not alone, and God has an amazing plan for their lives!
CASTING THE CALL: Crown of Beauty Ambassadors
This vision is far larger than anything I could execute on my own. I told God,
“I’m not going to do this if it’s going to be just another ‘Livy’ project.
YOU have to bring the women to lock arms with and pursue this dream together!
YOU have to stir up the desire in those who are destined to collaborate on this!”
I’ll be partnering with seven Crown of Beauty Ambassadors. Women (or teens, no age limit here!) who embody the passion of Jesus and walk in a unique, Kingdom expression of what they feel called to. Whether that’s writing, music, content creation, business-building, acting, or being a faithful stay-at-home mama… I’m seeking kindred spirits, Proverbs 31 and 1st Peter 3:3 kind of gals!
Our Ambassadors Team will:
-grow in friendship together!
-commit to praying for this project
-share Crown of Beauty content, posts, and updates on their social media
-create content for our social pages (or do collab posts)
-have front row, first dibs on opportunities to collaborate and submit to the magazine (could include writing, photoshoots, photoshoots, video-shoots, podcasts, etc.)
-be marketed & promoted to our audience, as an official ambassador!
Slots for Ambassadors are limited, because I want to foster a close-knit community for our Team! Apply here!
CASTING THE CALL: Crown of Beauty Interns
{UPDATE: INTERN POSISTIONS ARE NOW CLOSED}
If your heart is literally doing backflips of excitement over reading these words, and you’ve been DREAMING of getting the opportunity to work at a Christian magazine and build something from the ground up, keep reading! 😍
I’m looking for writers, photographers, designers, scrapbookers, or girlies who just love working in Canva ;) who long to use their creative gifts to make a true impact!
I’ll be hand selecting four interns to work on our debut issue! We’ll be tackling this project in 3 phases!
Phase One: Establish and Explore
Build online content & grow our audience!
Phase Two: Rise and Build
Prep, plan, and put together the issue! (We’re talking photoshoots, interviews, articles, ads and formatting!)
Phase Three: Market and Celebrate
Release and market the issue!
The truth is, this project can’t get off the ground without a team. If you’re even considering the possibility of pitching in, I just want to say, thank you, in advance! Even if you’re not chosen as a final intern, I want to celebrate you & your heart to use your gifts for His glory…you’re an absolute superstar & I can’t wait to connect with you!
Apply Here! {Intern Positions are Now Closed}
What Will This Space Look Like?
You might be thinking, “Wow, Liv, that sounds like a lot of work. I’m not quite up for all that, but I’m excited to see where this is going and watch it grow! What sort of things will you be posting here?”
I’m so glad you asked! This space is going to be full of fun posts & notes, as we share on topics like:
-Biblical womanhood
-Pursuing your God-given dreams
-Party planning
-Adding more whimsy to your life
-Fashion
-Travel
-Literature
-Disney (oh, you know there’s gonna be fandoms)
-Christian music, film, and television
-Missions & Media
…and so much more!
In fact, we’ll be accepting Guest Posts & Collabs on all of these topics! Submit your article here, for the chance to be featured on our Substack!
And so, there we have it. I can’t wait to go on this journey with you!
Before I sign off, here’s a reminder of the ways you can get involved!
#1 - Subscribe & Restack!
If you’re jazzed about the idea of a magazine like this existing, show your support by letting the world know! Orrrr at least letting your followers know, hehe.
#2 - Leave a Comment!
What are your thoughts? Do you think we can actually pull this off?!
#3 - Apply to become a Crown of Beauty Ambassador {Open!}
Who knows, we might just be future besties! <3
#4 - Apply to the Internship! {Closed}
We’re going to have such a blast.
#5 - Submit a Guest Post!
Get your writing out there, and let’s collaborate! <3
Love you all!!!
XOXO,
~Livy Lynn
Hi, I just found your account and it looks like we have some mutual interests! I'd love to connect if you're willing!
YAY YAY YAY!!!