“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
True Beauty, a new Christ-centered Catholic program designed to empower young women to live a life of goodness, beauty, and truth, hosted its inaugural fashion show in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 8. The first annual True Beauty Fashion Show was a tremendous success, drawing a joyful, sold-out crowd of approximately 520 attendees.
The show was created and directed by Brenda Sharman, founder and director of the True Beauty program. True Beauty was born out of Brenda’s deep love for young women, her concern about the messages girls are receiving in today’s culture, and her desire to help them discover their God-given dignity and worth.
Having grown up as a model in the fashion industry herself, Brenda is passionate about guiding a new generation of young women to discover that their true beauty comes not from the outside, but from a heart that loves God and serves others.
Brenda began her career in the fashion industry when she was just 17 years old, and worked as a professional model and actress for more than 25 years, appearing in numerous catalogs, magazines, commercials, and ad campaigns across the United States. In 1990, she was crowned Miss Georgia USA, finished in the top six at the Miss USA pageant, and later represented the United States in an international pageant in Osaka, Japan, where she won the title.
After becoming a mother, Brenda began a deeper search for God that eventually led her into the Catholic Church in 1999. Just a few years later, she felt called to use her experience in the fashion world to help young women recognize their God-given dignity and live and dress in accordance with that dignity. Back in 2006, Brenda founded Pure Fashion, a virtue formation program that has been revived and rebranded in an updated format under a new name—True Beauty…Living a Life of Goodness, Beauty and Truth.
“The name ‘True Beauty’ was intentionally chosen because we are living in a time when girls receive so many mixed messages about what is good, what is beautiful, and what is true. In today’s world, young women need a space where they are encouraged, affirmed, and reminded that their value comes from who they are, and not just how they look.”
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come. She opens her mouth in wisdom; kindly instruction is on her tongue.”
The True Beauty Fashion Show was hosted by Josh Harris and Allison Dalloul from “The Morning Quest,” Atlanta’s Catholic radio station. Jacquie Lustig, Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi in Atlanta, opened the event in prayer. Jacquie, who had the privilege of accompanying some of the True Beauty participants throughout the year, expressed her gratitude “to be united in the mission to bring authenticity and beauty into a world that needs it so desperately.”
“Over the past 16 years of my pastoral work with young women, I have had the gift of listening to truly countless young women who are growing up in a world that can be dark and confusing. And one thing I’ve learned from our young people and God in them, is that you don’t ever feel as loved and as beautiful as when God is looking at you.”
The fashion show featured performances by RC Music Collective’s own Colleen McKenna, including her original song “WWJD.” One of the most memorable moments of the event was Colleen’s performance of her song Reason to Trust. The powerful lyrics—centered on the message “Jesus, I trust in You,” and inspired by the Divine Mercy devotion—were interpreted by well-known ASL performer and Deaf influencer Hayden Daum.
“Modesty is the guardian of the mystery of the person.”
Throughout the program, the audience enjoyed seven unique fashion scenes, featuring 22 young True Beauty models, each highlighting clothing that was trendy yet tasteful, modern yet modest—all selected by the models themselves.
In the True Beauty program, the models are not simply walking a runway—they are setting an example by the way they dress, speak, and carry themselves. By choosing to live with dignity and confidence, they become role models in their schools, their communities, and even their own families. In one scene, the True Beauty models walked down the runway hand-in-hand with their little sisters, followed by several future True Beauty models who joined them on stage.
“It was a powerful reminder that when older girls choose to live with dignity, joy, and confidence, they quietly tell the younger ones, ‘You are enough, you are worthy, you were created for a purpose that only you can fulfill,’”
Between scenes, the audience heard from one of the True Beauty team leaders, Lisa DePalma O’Connor, who was also a model in the original Pure Fashion program.
“What Pure Fashion gave me went far beyond the fashion or the runway—it helped me deeply understand the dignity of women, and the truth of our interior beauty. The true goal of this program, then and now, is that every girl leaves knowing, without a doubt, that she is deeply and unconditionally loved by God.”
True Beauty team leader and student at the University of North Georgia, Monica Henkel, shared with the audience about the virtue of modesty—it is not about young women suppressing their identity, limiting their freedom, or hiding their beauty, but rather living in a way that honors their beauty and dignity, and the beauty and dignity of those they encounter.
“This afternoon is more than just a fashion show—it is a mission. So, as you watch these young ladies walk, you are not just seeing fashion—you are seeing young women learning that their beauty is not defined by others. Because true freedom comes when we stop trying to prove our worth to the world, and start living confidently in the dignity God already gave us.”
The show concluded with a final scene showcasing prom and homecoming dresses. In this segment, the models were escorted by two young men, Matthew Sharman, Brenda’s son, and Bradley Magnusson; their presence added a meaningful reminder that young men are also called to rise to their vocation—to be men who protect, respect, and honor the dignity of the young women before them.
“The afternoon was a beautiful celebration of goodness, beauty, and truth, all of which ultimately come from Almighty God. The True Beauty Fashion Show was not only entertaining but uplifting for the entire family, reminding everyone present that beauty, faith, and joy shine brightest when they come from a heart rooted in God.”
To watch the 2026 True Beauty Fashion Show, click here.
Register now for the 2026-2027 season!
Model registrations for the 2026-2027 season are now open, and spots are limited!
For more information about the True Beauty program, check out their website at truebeautymodel.com or visit True Beauty Model Search 2026 to register. Follow them on Instagram @truebeautymodel.
Because of the success of this year’s fashion show, the True Beauty team in Atlanta is moving to a larger venue for next year’s show, to be held on March 7, 2027, at Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College. But Breanda also hopes to see the True Beauty program offered in more cities so that girls all across North America can be equipped to stand strong against the pressures of today’s culture. For information about offering True Beauty in your own city, email info@truebeautymodel.com.
Brenda Sharman lives with her husband, Steve, in Atlanta, and is the proud mom of three sons. In addition to being the founder and director of True Beauty, she works as a development officer for the Legionaries of Christ.
