Dying Inside: Loving Your True Skin

By Queen Blessing Itua

Dying Inside, Loving Your True Skin reveals is a powerful, inspirational wellness empowerment book that calls an urgent attention to the unpopular, hidden, detrimental, toxic chemicals found in some skin bleaching products. The inordinate desire to enhance even skin tone or to attain a lighter skin color with the intention of being perceived as mor

• Language: English
• Publisher: Global Win, LLC
• Release date: Mar 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9780986315435

Book preview

As seen in the Skinned movie

EXCERPTS OF DYING INSIDE WERE USED FOR A FEATURE MOVIE, SKINNED WHERE QUEEN BLESSING PLAYED HER REAL LIFE ROLE AS DR. BLESSING- THE INSPIRATIONAL WELLNESS EMPOWERMENT EXPERT QUEEN BLESSING IS ALSO AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE SKINNED MOVIE

ENDORSEMENTS

Growing up as a dark skinned intellect in the United States, I was always bombarded with comments like you are too intelligent and beautiful to be so dark. Oh, less I forget, whenever people would speak to me on the phone, they always assumed I was white or light skinned. However, when they met me in person, there was always a gasp, oh my God, you are dark. As I got older, I begin to wonder, is it a crime to be dark? Thus began my journey into self-discovery of who I was as a person. So, when my friend, Queen Blessing Odegua Itua asked me to write the foreword for her book entitled, Dying Inside: Loving Your True Skin, I was moved with compassion. For the first time in my life, I would have an opportunity to express my true feelings about the issue of skin bleaching and the fact that we as people need to learn to love the skin we are in, the skin that God Himself has given us.

As the writer of a screenplay about the harmful effects of skin bleaching, I conducted massive research and found that skin bleaching is a huge epidemic in many third world countries and is practiced by many people of various cultures all around the world, including the US. What is skin bleaching? You may ask. It is the practice of using skin lightening creams to alter your complexion from darker to lighter.

In this powerful book by Queen Blessing Odegua Itua, Dying Inside: Loving Your True Skin, Queen Blessing examines detrimental consequences of toxic chemicals found in bleaching creams and introduces the dangerous and harmful side effects of continued use of the aforementioned products. Ms. Itua discusses self-esteem issues and the role family members play in the encouragement of this detrimental practice. She also focuses on the false perception of true beauty, which portrays lighter skin as being the symbol of beauty and attractiveness, both in our community and the media. As a matter of fact, her discussions were so vivid and on point that a couple of excerpts from her book were used in a feature film called "Skinned. As an avid writer myself, I believe that Queen Blessing Odegua Itua has done a fabulous job in presenting such a difficult topic and subject matter to the world. I love the manner in which she introduces the subject of low self-esteem which causes us to die inside daily. Additionally, I admire how she encourages the reader to overcome the harmful practice of skin bleaching by simply loving the skin we are in. This book is excellent and a good read. Please grab yourself a copy.

- Dr. Clarice Ford-Kulah, College Professor @ Georgia Perimeter College

Queen Blessing Odegua Itua is a courageous woman with a powerful message to share. By sharing her story she is speaking up for millions. She is doing a groundbreaking work in the world to encourage self-love in recognition for the wonderful creations that we are created to become. As the star of the Skinned movie, I am very familiar with her story. Queen Blessing inspires everywhere she goes. She is a dynamic woman who is a shining light. I’m happy to have met and worked with her on Skinned, the movie which drives the message home even further. Her Book is going to break chains holding a lot of suffering people back. Thank you for asking me to endorse your awesome book! I am glad to do so because endorsing this book is endorsing the call to loving our skin. I look forward to seeing great things about your works Blessing.

- Jasmine Burke, Actress/Producer, Star of the feature film Skinned Movie

The bleaching epidemic is a silent killer because no one wants to be the first to speak on its dangers, especially when the people bleaching are close to them. Another interesting thing about bleaching is, because the individual bleaching is seen as more attractive in most cases by those around them, but the silence continues. However, with a movie like Skinned and the book Dying Inside: Loving Your True Skin we are asking the world to be silent no more.

- Lotten Yeaney, Executive Producer Skinned Movie. Chicago, Illinois, USA.

The Real Secret to Winning True Beauty Series

DYING INSIDE

LOVING YOUR TRUE SKIN

Queen Blessing Odegua Itua

Inspirational Woman on Wellness Chief Wellness Ambassador

WIN FIT LIFE

Global WIN, LLC

Lilburn, Georgia

www.winfitlife.com

www.queenblessing.com

DYING INSIDE

LOVING YOUR TRUE SKIN

Published by:

Global WIN, LLC

P.O. Box 870001

Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail], [e-mail],

[e-mail]

Website: queenblessing.com, globalwellnessempowerment.com,

winfitlife.com

Queen Blessing Odegua Itua, Publisher / Editorial Director

Yvonne Rose/Quality Press, Production Coordinator

Cover and Interior Design by Creative Ankh Designs

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the author.

The publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the Publisher is not engaged in rendering legal or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

Global WIN, LLC Books are available at special discounts for bulk purchases, sales promotions, fund raising or educational purposes.

© Copyright 2015 Queen Blessing O. Itua

Paperback ISBN #: 978-0-9863154-1-1

Hardcover ISBN #: 978-0-9863154-2-8

eBook ISBN #: 978-0-9863154-3-5

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015900130

DEDICATION

I am dedicating this book, especially to my four phenomenally blessed children, who inspired me to think of a healthier future. You all have inspired me as a mother to make a difference. You have inspired me to build my character and not allow my past and current circumstance to define me. I would like to thank my two beautiful precious angel daughters, Princess Angel O. Ahabue and Princess Precious O. Ahabue, and my wonderfully blessed sons, Prince Asher O. Ahabue and Prince Ansel O. Ahabue, for their academic excellence.

My princes and princesses, you make me proud with all the National Honor Society and Student Leadership awards. Prince Ansel O. Ahabue, thank you for making me a proud mother to a National Champion. Regularly seeing your 2012 ‘First Place in the Nation’ Medal, hung nicely in the house is a Real Blessing. You have represented the state of Georgia third year on the roll in the Junior National Academic Team Championship. This has earned you, your team, and your school various academic awards, many trophies, and many honors, including the state governor and board of education honor. In 2014, you represented Georgia twice in two different national championships. You even crowned the 2014 ‘All Star Award’ at the National Academic Championship with yet another National Championship: Georgia State 2014 National Geographic Bee Champion and then top finalist in the entire nation on the national television!

I am extremely grateful to God that you have all excelled, in spite of the traumatic time. You all are truly a blessing to the world and I love you dearly. Seeing your innocent eyes keeps me focused with the zeal and the motivation to remain the resilient, inspirational woman of God, and the blessing that God has called me to become.

I am also dedicating this book to all the battered, oppressed, and abandoned people worldwide; especially the vulnerable women, of whom have been taken advantage, as well as the neglected innocent children. You are the true resilient ones of courage!

May you find true support as you work daily, diligently to make ends meet. May you excel against all odds and not tire out, in Jesus Name, Amen!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I acknowledge the Almighty God for his mercy, grace, and favor over my life. With a heart of gratitude, I dedicate this book to God for giving me the insight on this timely subject of Dying Inside, Loving Your True Skin for the purpose of cultivating self-respect and self-love as we focus on appreciating-celebrating our uniqueness and deploying God-given talents.

I truly thank God for the closed doors and the new doors that He continuously opens for me. I thank God for answering me so quickly and for trading my pain and shame of unwarranted, traumatic abandonment and divorce into fruitfulness of inspiration, empowerment, and blessing to others. Thanks for giving me a new name and a coat of gorgeous beautiful colors. Thanks for helping me to appreciate that my circumstance and my past experience do not define me. Above all, thanks for helping me to hold dear your perfect opinion of me rather than man’s imperfect opinion.

I am also grateful to my dearest mom, Madame Maria Itua, for being my rock during stormy times, and for being a good example for healthy living. At 80 years of age, you cook and move around better than most, and I love you.

I appreciate all my friends and family including Princess Titi Olagbegi, Omai Kofi, Eugene Itua, Emmanuel and Sandra Bernards, Alex Itua, Innocent Itua, Charles Itua, Juliet Edionwele, Clement Edionwele, and their families for standing by me during this transition.

Thanks to the following people: Hon. Senator James Donzella James, Ambassador Geoffrey Teneilabe, Dr. Emmanuel Taylor, Dr. Peter Ogunbiyi, Hermine Zossoungbo, Dr. James Lillard, Dr. Seffens, Dr. Mensah, Ify Onochie, Steve Parent, Princess Aisha, and many more people, who answer whenever I call.

I also appreciate my JCCI-HOG family: Pastors Mike & Nike Adebiyi, Pastor Michael David, Dr. Hope David, Pastor Deborah Babayemi, Pastor Daniel, Pastor Johnathan, Deacon Joe Imafidon, Pastor Annette Williams, Paster Kemi, Pastors Okafor, Professor Ahanatu, Sister Oma, Minister Faith Aibangbe, Sister Jean Denny, Dr. Abby Awomolo, Pastor and Sister Okojie, Deaconess Maria Utsalo, Pastor David Amosun, Pastor Ayo, Brother David Iyabo, Deaconess Lola Barkin, Elder and Sister Oleleh, Minister Esther Ogbu, George Anjorin, Enohnyaket, Florence Ndukwe, Tutu, Sister Charity Ubile Lawson, Minister Lamondi, Minister Nicole, Tunde Fawehimi, Adija, and all the other members that I am not able to name one by one. I appreciate you all. Thank you JCCI - House of Glory, for continuously remaining in prayers with me.

My sincere thanks to Omai Koffi for the encouragement and for thoroughly reading this book several times with enthusiasm; I took notice of your positive critiques and now this book is better for it. Thanks to all the competent people who have taken the time to endorse this book (Dr. Kulah, Jasmin Burke, Dr. Estelle Enohnyaket, Lotten Yeaney, and Emmanuel Bernards).

I also want to use this opportunity to appreciate the following people from the Skinned movie. Lisa Raye McCoy (Skinned Director); Trina Braxton. Sharon Tomlinson; Van Vicker; Richard Roberts; Avery O. Williams; Brad James; Cycerli Ash; Divine & Tracy (Make-up Artists); Summerville Marilee; Nicky Scruz; and all the other amazing crew and talents. I thank God for your various roles and efforts in advancing the no bleach, Loving Your True Skin Campaign, You’re Blessed Movement. Together we achieve!

A special thanks to the following professionals: Dr. Dennis O’Neil for giving me a Witten permission to cite his work on the Skin Color Adaptation coming up in the second series; and Mr. Eugene Itua of MDS for the health and safety work being done to make Nigeria a safer place. Thanks for the research work with Mr. Leslie Adogame and for connecting me to him.

My heartfelt thanks to Mr. Leslie Adogame for thoroughly taking the time to read through this manuscript and for sending me the most amazing work done in Nigeria to stop skin lightening (SRADev Nigeria), especially the use of mercury in products. Thanks to you and the Zero Mercury Working Group and the other NGOs worldwide. Thanks for your vital contribution and the powerful Foreword written for this book. Thanks for your sincere interest and support in my journey towards improved wellness, wholeness, and true beauty from within.

Thank you to Yvonne and Tony Rose and the Quality Press team for your expertise and personalized assistance throughout the process of preparing Dying Inside for publishing.

A special thanks to Pamela Springer for your contribution, and to Barry Jones for introducing me to the QP team.

Last but not least, I thank all of you, because you inspire me, and you rock!

CONTENTS

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

•Synopsis of Dying Inside: Loving Your True Skin

•The Targeted Community for This Book

•The Inspiration Behind This Book

•What This Book Aims to Do

•What This Book Does NOT Aim to Do

PART ONE - THE QUEST FOR EXTERNAL BEAUTY

1.THE QUEST FOR EXTERNAL BEAUTY

•The Critical Function