Be among the first to read Crowned in Beauty when it's released this summer.
YOU WERE GIVEN BEAUTY ON PURPOSE FOR A PURPOSE
Be the first to know when the book drops and get exclusive pre-order bonuses.
We all know the "right" answer:
God made you, so you are beautiful.
But let’s be honest about what happens on a random Tuesday when you actually look in the mirror. You see the new wrinkles. You see the changing body, the signs of aging, or that one feature you’ve been deeply self-conscious about since middle school.
You know in your head that you are "fearfully and wonderfully made," but in your everyday reality, you just don’t feel pretty.
And that disconnect does something to us, especially in midlife. We start to wonder, If I don't look the part, is anyone actually going to take me seriously? If I show up, will I just be judged?
So, we start dodging the camera and brushing off every compliment that comes our way. We step back from the very rooms and callings God placed right in front of us and call it humility. But the truth is, we feel displaced. We feel like we are living as strangers in our own bodies.
If that resonates with you, remember something important about Esther: she was an exiled woman, too.
She knew exactly what it felt like to be displaced, unseen, and brought into a system where beauty, favor, courage, and preparation all collided. Her twelve months of beauty treatments were not indulgence. They were preparation for a kingdom assignment.
I wrote Crowned in Beauty for the midlife Christian woman who feels sidelined in her own skin, senses she was made for more in this season, but feels unequipped to step into it.
This book will help you stop treating beauty as vanity and start seeing it as stewardship, preparation, and part of how God forms you for what He has placed in your hands.
Through Scripture, honest stories, and practical beauty rhythms, we’ll journey together to:
Step out of exile and learn how to receive care, attention, and compliments without apologizing for taking up space.
Close the gap between knowing God made you and actually feeling beautiful in the mirror.
Untangle the lie that aging, changing features, or physical imperfections disqualify you from being taken seriously in your calling.
See what God really says about your reflection and why your beauty has everything to do with your purpose.
Walk through eight practical "Beauty Treatments", covering everything from mindset and emotional health to skincare and movement, so you can prepare your whole self.
This isn’t a self-help book telling you to "try harder," and it isn’t a fluffy devotional.
It is a preparation guide for the woman who senses her most important moment is still ahead of her and is ready to stop sitting on the sidelines.
Ordinary women don't stumble into purpose.
They prepare for it.
Your moment is coming.
Early Reviews
I'm thrilled to see how the seasons of her life, and the iterations of growth she has gone through have culminated here. It's a remarkable undertaking to write a book at all -- especially one as clearly loved, researched, and thought out as this one.
Amber
You have written a BEAUTIFUL, LIFE-CHANGING BOOK!!!!!!!!
I LOVE how you brought the story of Esther to life and combined it with your amazing exercises…so beautifully written and I enjoyed reading it SO MUCH. ❤️
Gigi
I expected some "tips" what I didn’t expect was biblical foundations, journaling opportunities to discover hidden lies and then practical tools and habits to start creating improvements and healing not just to my face but to my soul.
Jenni
MEET THE author
Hey, I'm Michelle!
And I want to help you stop treating yourself like an afterthought. Because I believe your most important moment is still ahead of you.
I believe that because I’ve had to learn it in my own life too, through changing seasons, identity shifts, motherhood, midlife, beauty wounds, and all the little moments when God reminded me He was still writing something beautiful.
Today, I am an author, speaker, and the host of the Making Life Beautiful Again podcast. I’m a relentless beauty hunter—whether that means traveling the country as a full-time nomad, or teaching women how to care for their skin and bodies as part of their spiritual preparation.
I am a chronic tea drinker, a wife to an artist, and a woman who loves to pull up a chair and talk about what is really going on. But out of everything I do, my absolute favorite titles will always be Mom to my twin daughters and "Mimi" to my grandchildren.
Around here, we talk about the real things midlife women are navigating—from fitness and fashion to faith, confidence, and calling. So yes, we can talk about face exercise and your skincare routine. But don’t be surprised when we end up talking about the woman God designed you to be.
That is the heart of my message wherever I teach: beauty, confidence, and calling are more connected than most women were ever told.
Taking this message off the page and bringing it into the room with women just like you is one of my greatest privileges. If you are looking for someone to help the women at your next event step out of hiding, untangle their beauty wounds, and prepare for their true calling, I would love to pull up a chair with your community.
FAQS
Why did you choose the story of Esther for a book about midlife?
When we think of Esther, we usually think of a young beauty queen. But if you look closer, Esther was a woman living in exile, navigating a system that judged her entirely by her appearance. So many women in midlife feel like strangers in their own changing bodies. We wonder if we still belong in the room, if our voice still carries weight, or if our most important moment has already passed. Esther’s twelve months of beauty treatments weren’t a spa day. They were her preparation for a kingdom assignment. Her story is the perfect blueprint for how a woman prepares for the season God is calling her into next.
Is it vain for Christian women to care about beauty?
Beauty becomes distorted when it turns into comparison, obsession, or performance. But caring for what God entrusted to you is not vanity. Your body, face, health, confidence, presence, and visibility are all part of how you move through the world. This book helps you separate culture’s pressure from God’s design, so beauty becomes a place of stewardship and preparation instead of shame.
I’m not technically in "midlife" yet (or I'm past it). Is this book still for me?
Absolutely. While my heart beats fiercely for midlife women, the "beauty wounds" we carry and the mixed messages we receive from culture and church affect us at every age. If you feel like you are treating yourself like an afterthought or sitting on the sidelines of your own calling, this message is for you, no matter what season you are in.
Do I need to know Esther’s story before reading?
Not at all. Whether you have read Esther’s story a hundred times or never opened that book of the Bible, Crowned in Beauty will meet you right where you are. In fact, many women who thought they knew Esther’s story well have told me they saw it with completely fresh eyes. The details we focus on are ones most of us were never taught to pay attention to.
Is Crowned in Beauty just a book about skincare and fashion?
Not at all. While we absolutely talk about practical things like skincare, movement, and caring for your body, those are just the tools. This is a spiritual preparation guide. We look at beauty as stewardship instead of vanity. The goal isn't to look younger; the goal is to heal your beauty wounds, rebuild your confidence, and prepare your whole self for the calling God has placed in front of you.
Is this a Bible study or a book?
It is both, and neither fully. Crowned in Beauty is a narrative book that reads like a conversation: part memoir, part biblical teaching, part practical guide. Each chapter ends with a Beauty Treatment, which is a practical application exercise for your heart, body, or habits. You can read it on your own, work through it with a friend, or bring it to a small group. There is no wrong way to receive it.
Can this be used for a small group or women’s Bible study?
Absolutely. The Beauty Treatments at the end of each chapter make it a natural fit for small groups. Each one gives your group something to discuss, reflect on, and apply together. There is something powerful about walking through this material with other women, because most of us have been carrying these beauty wounds alone for far too long.
Will there be a workbook or study guide?
The chapter Beauty Treatments inside the book serve as your built-in study guide. Each one is a practical, reflective exercise you can work through on your own or with a group. Additional companion resources for each chapter are will also available. Stay on the waitlist for updates on any additional resources as we get closer to launch.
When does Crowned in Beauty officially release?
The official release date is coming soon! Join the waitlist at the top of this page, and you will be the first to know when the release date is announced. Waitlist members will also receive early access to exclusive pre-order bonuses I am only sharing with my waitlist community.
What is Making Life Beautiful Again?
Making Life Beautiful Again is my podcast and community for Christian midlife women who are ready to rebuild beauty, confidence, and purpose by God’s design. We talk about everything from skincare and face exercise to faith, calling, and the woman you are still becoming. If you love the message of Crowned in Beauty, the podcast is where the conversation continues. You can find it wherever you listen to podcasts.
Where can I find you beyond the book?
The best place to continue the conversation is the Making Life Beautiful Again podcast and community, where we go deep on everything this book opens up. You can also find me at michelledayrose.com and follow me on social media. And if you have not joined the waitlist yet, that is the best way to stay close. Waitlist members hear everything first.
Do you speak at women's retreats and church events?
Yes, bringing this message into the room with a community of women is one of my greatest joys. I speak at retreats, church gatherings, women's events, workshops, and podcast interviews. If you are planning an event and want your women to feel seen, encouraged, and equipped with practical next steps, I would love to hear more about your gathering.
