Growing up, compliments on her appearance were unheard of. In her family, modesty wasn’t just encouraged—it was expected. She was raised in Charleston, West Virginia, where structure and discipline shaped every part of daily life. Her father, Billy Jack, worked as a chemical engineer, and her mother, Patricia, taught English. Together, they raised three daughters with strict rules about appearance. Makeup was forbidden, as were manicures, colored hair, or trendy layers. The goal was to be wholesome, not fashionable.

Beauty wasn’t discussed in their home. She doesn’t remember her parents ever saying she was pretty. Instead, the family prioritized education, hard work, and humility. She and her sisters, Melissa and Susannah, were taught to value consistency over appearance, and their mother made sure looks were never treated as a measure of worth.

When she arrived at college, it came as a shock to hear