2022 Bold Beautiful Perfect: Jennifer
“Be fearless in your desires and dreams. Dreams can become realities with prayer, encouragement, and hard work.”
Tell us about yourself, Jennifer!
My name is Jennifer Leigh Gilbert Bracey. I am married to my amazing husband Larry, and we have three beautiful children and one gorgeous granddaughter. We also have six rescue fur children in our family. We are affectionately known as “the Bracey Bunch.”
Of course first and foremost , I thank God each and every day for my family and for blessing me throughout my life!
How did you come to understand your inner beauty?
Growing up in a mostly single parent home and then through the many trials and tribulations in my adult life, it wasn’t until my late 30s that I started to understand inner beauty. I was always trying to make everyone else happy, but I didn’t know how to be happy. I felt like I had to fit into this perfect mold of what people wanted. When I started to take stock of my life, I really started to understand beauty.
I have a saying that I remind myself of each day: “Whoever I meet or arrives at my door, I want them to leave better than they did before.” This allowed me to realize my inner beauty and share it with others by serving my time and talents. I also love helping others realize they are beautiful in their own unique ways, whether that is through my vocation or in my personal life. Beauty comes in many forms, not just the physical. Once you bring out the beauty in someone, it’s like the sun rises in the morning and they begin to glow.
Through God and his blessings, I have learned to find happiness in encouraging others to know these storms will pass.
What parts of your story can you share to help women to understand their own beauty?
I encourage you to really stop and look back at your life. Think about all that you’ve accomplished and all that God has blessed you with. Sometimes it just takes an open mind, an open heart, and someone to extend the gift of listening to show you that the glass is half full. There is hope! I also keep a mindset that with God I can do ANYTHING!
Be fearless in your desires and dreams. Dreams can become realities with prayer, encouragement, and hard work.
I went back to college at 40. Seven years later with much prayer and encouragement from my husband, I graduated with my undergraduate and graduate degrees. It’s never too late to be anything you want to be!
Tell us about your experience with the photo shoot.
My experience was complete amazing! Brandi is such an amazing woman, very welcoming and warm. Some would say the photo shoot could be an intimidating experience, but Brandi made me feel like I was at home. I had so much fun! My favorite part was just allowing her to use her creativity as much as she wanted.
I cried – literally – I guess because I feel I am just like everyone else. I felt like Brandi saw value in my story, that it was worthy enough to help at least one person (but hopefully many others). I truly felt it was a “God moment.”
You are more beautiful than you know!
To book your own fabulous Portrait Session, contact us through the inquiry form below.
Much love,
Brandi
International Award-Winning Portrait Photographer
Brandi Stage is an international award-winning portrait photographer based in Bay St. Louis, MS. She creates an exceptional magazine-style photo shoot and timeless heirloom portraits for women, men, children and pets in her studio or on location.