"You'd think a Miss America swimsuit winner would feel completely confident about her body, right? Not always! So I decided to write the book I wish I'd had as a teen and in college — an honest, funny, practical, medically accurate, totally reassuring guide to how women's bodies actually look, smell, feel, behave, and change. Alongside real-deal photographs of women just like you and me (no airbrushing, no supermodels, no kidding) you'll find medical pictures of things you need to be able to recognize, true confessions by yours truly, and the encouragement you need to appreciate the uniqueness, strength, and beauty of your body. What are you waiting for?" — Nancy Redd

From fashion magazines to taboo Web sites, curious young women have access to tons of old wives' tales about and thousands of airbrushed and inaccurate images of the female body — misinformation and harmful portrayals that can lead to low self-esteem, self-destructive acts, or even disturbing plastic surgery procedures.

Teaming up with a leading physician specializing in adolescent health issues, Harvard graduate and former Miss Virginia Nancy Redd now offers a down-to-earth, healing, and reassuring response to those damaging myths. In Body Drama, Redd gives girls insight into the issues they're often too ashamed to raise with a doctor or parent. She also reveals her own experiences with the culture of "American beauty," and shows readers all the many versions of "normal."

From body hair and bras, to acne and weight issues, along with crucial issues such as the importance of a healthy self image, Body Drama is a groundbreaking book packed with informative fast facts, FYIs, how-tos, and moving personal anecdotes as well as hundreds of un-retouched photographs. A highly visual book, it's the first of its kind for women: filled with real information and real photographs of real bodies, to celebrate all our different shapes and sizes.

Named by Glamour magazine as one of America's top-ten college women "most likely to succeed — at anything," Redd has spent the most recent years of her life on a mission to tackle the issues least discussed but most significant in young women's lives. Celebrating the many versions of "normal," and replacing seriously erroneous information with the honest, medically proven truth in a language all girls can understand, Body Drama dares to empower a new generation — with facts instead of fantasies, and the priceless gift of self-knowledge.

"I love this book! It puts loving (and knowing) your body into words and pictures — you'll find out yours isn't so different after all. Body Drama has the answers you want to the questions you don't know how to ask. Fun and frank, like talking to a good friend who knows absolutely everything and is willing to dish." Kim Gandy, President of the National Organization of Women

"Body Drama should be center stage in every young woman's life. It will make you love every little thing about your body: your sags, you tags, your lumps, your bumps. It's a book of liberation and it's fun." Eve Ensler

"In Body Drama, Nancy Redd combines the stylishness of Naomi Campbell, the vibe of your best friend, and photos you always wanted to see but were afraid to ask. An empowering, original, funny, and frank book, Body Drama is poised to become the modern girl's Our Bodies, Ourselves." Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards, authors of Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and the Future and Grassroots: A Field Guide to Feminist Activism

Celebrating the many versions of a normal body and replacing seriously erroneous information with the honest, medically proven truth in a language all girls can understand, Body Drama dares to empower a new generation with facts instead of fantasies. Illustrated.

Two weeks after graduating from Harvard with an honors degree in women's studies, Nancy Redd won the title of Miss Virginia, going on to make the top ten and winning the swimsuit competition at Miss America 2004. Nancy has been named one of Glamour magazine's Top Ten College Women, L'OREAL's Beauty of Giving Young Woman of the Year, and one of Harvard magazine's Top Six Seniors. Nancy once won $250,000 on Who Wants to be a Millionaire and donated 10 percent of her winnings to 4-H, the nation's oldest youth development program, where she is currently a member of the National Board of Trustees. She and her unique views have been featured on E! True Hollywood Story, NPR, PBS, Inside Edition, CBS's The Early Show, Eyewitness Kids News, Discovery Channel, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, USA Today, The New York Times, Forbes magazine, Good Morning America, CosmoGIRL!, J-14, and more.