Rosemary Card - Model Mormon: Fighting for Self-Worth on the Runway and as an Independent Woman

Praise for

Model Mormon

Rosie and her story are multidimensional, complicated, and marvelous. In her jaunty prose, Rosie bravely exposes her fears, insecurities, and regrets alongside her faithful testimony, life lessons, and inspiration. In doing so, she encourages each of us to remake our vision of the ideal Mormon life into one that more closely resembles the reality in which we each live. This book is raw, real, and resonant.

Eva M. Witesman , BYU professor and opinion columnist for the Deseret News

Not only did Rosemary manage to write a super engaging story but she also packed it full of powerful lessons and profound insights from her experiences as an international supermodel who fought hard to remain the good little Mormon girl her parents raised her to be. This book is an important read for members of the rising generation who are trying to figure out a way to live a Christ-centered life in a world thats anything but Christ-centered. Its also for all those who have felt alone in the world or maybe even like an outcast just for being different from their peers. And lastly, this book is really for anyone who is looking for a fun and easy read that will simultaneously broaden their perspective on life and deepen their testimony of being a beloved child of heavenly parentage.

Kristyn and Greg Trimble , authors of Moms Who Stay and Fight and Dads Who Stay and Fight

I hope every member of the Church (from leaders to our younger members) will read Rosemary Cards new book. Thank you for sharing your courageous story. It outlines Christlike principals for making great decisions and successfully navigating the complex issues in our restored Church. It gives vision to our women and how they can grow, develop, and use all their talents for good in the world. Reading it has increased my faith in the Church and my confidence in our younger members. They are the best of the best.

Richard Papa Ostler , married father of six children, former YSA bishop, believer in our younger members

A perfect read for angst. Rosies unfettered words and her approach to real life are refreshing and hopeful.

Tamara Uzelac Hall , editor, speaker for BYU Womens Conference and Temple Square Youth Conferences, and former seminary and institute teacher

Model Mormon is an endlessly interesting and deeply beautiful, funny, inspiring, and sometimes challenging book. Its also a firm testament to the importance of womens stories and womens voices, including Mormon womens stories and Mormon womens voices. Please read this book.

Rachel Hunt Steenblik , author of Mothers Milk: Poems in Search of Heavenly Mother

2018 Rosemary Card

Cover photos by Miesh Photography

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, whether by graphic, visual, electronic, film, microfilm, tape recording, or any other means, without prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles.

This is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The opinions and views expressed herein belong solely to the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or views of Cedar Fort, Inc. Permission for the use of sources, graphics, and photos is also solely the responsibility of the author.

ISBN 13: 978-1-4621-2903-4

Published by CFI, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.

2373 W. 700 S., Springville, UT 84663

Distributed by Cedar Fort, Inc., www.cedarfort.com

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Names: Card, Rosemary, 1989- author.

Title: Model Mormon : fighting for self-worth on the runway and as an independent woman / Rosemary Card.

Description: Springville, Utah : CFI, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc., [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018004622 (print) | LCCN 2018007072 (ebook) | ISBN 9781462129034 (epub, pdf, mobi) | ISBN 9781462122080 (perfect bound : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Card, Rosemary, 1989- | Mormon women--Biography. | Child models--Biography. | LCGFT: Autobiographies.

Classification: LCC BX8695.C2735 (ebook) | LCC BX8695.C2735 A3 2018 (print) | DDC 289.3092 [B] --dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018004622

Cover design by Martha Christensen

Cover design 2018 Cedar Fort, Inc.

Edited and typeset by Kathryn Watkins and Kaitlin Barwick

For Judy Strain. Ill never let moss grow under my feet.

And Ted.

Contents

Introduction

Im Rosie, as Seen on Mutual

O kay, before we get started, I need to get something off my chest. Im not Obama and I know it. Anyone who has seen my Tinder, Bumble, or Mutual accounts (I swipe in faith) knows Im a pretty standard twenty-nine-year-old woman. I stay up to date in politics, love Arbys, drive a beat-up Subaru, and routinely casually brag about how long its been since I last washed my hair. I havent changed the course of history (yet) or accomplished any kind of athletic feat, nor have I done anything that would win me any medals. I burn quesadillas on the regular.

Im starting off with a super convincing argument to get you to keep reading, arent I? Early on in the process of writing this book, I thought to myself, Oh my gosh. Why would anyone care?! Im a twenty-nine-year-old who still applies her eyeshadow with her fingers and has never spelled entrepreneur right the first try. People are going to think I think they care! Like I said: Im no Obama. But thats okay because Obama is Obama and Im Rosemary Card.

Though I am just shy of clocking three decades on earth, I have stories to share. I recognize that it is a rare opportunity to write and publish my life story in such a so-far-so-good manner. I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given, and unlike most people who say that before a lesson or a talk, I sincerely mean it.

I also recognize how especially unique of an opportunity it is to share my story as a woman. Not too many years ago, womens stories were considered unimportant. Our stories were deemed so unimportant that we were only mentioned in passing if we were someones wife, daughter, or temptress/mistress/princess or any other -esses. I feel deeply blessed to live in a time where womens stories are valued and believed. I look forward to the day that this statement rings even truer. I get pumped thinking about more and more people, women and men, recognizing and valuing womens stories and those stories being told in their own words.

So this is my story, in my own flawed and developing words. My story matters simply because all stories matter. Especially the ones with puppies in them. If my story matters, yours sure as heck does too.

In my adulthood, realistically the last four years, I have tried to never shy away from sharing my thoughts. I tend to feel pretty comfortable sharing my opinions over the family dinner table, on most first dates, and especially with the general public via the wonderful world of social media. Now, I know, I know. I read a Facebook post that completely opened my eyes and mind to the opposing side, and Ive changed my position, said no one ever. I just cant help it.