Authentic and positive, Chelsea Musick is a Country-Christian artist and speaker. She believes and promotes a positive message and sound within her music and image. In a world with so many negative influences, Chelsea encourages her audience to stay true to who they are, and not to conform to the peer pressures of today.

 

She also encourages them through her music to take a positive stand on purity. Her new album, Perfectly You, relates to many of life's challenges that our society encounters. Chelsea Musick is just 19, and well on her way to do great things. (And yes, Musick is her real last name--pronounced, "music.") She's been singing since the age of 2 years old. Maybe, that has something to do with being born in Tennessee. 

 

In Sept 2011, Chelsea was selected to audition in front of the four judges for the new TV show The X-Factor. She was given four yes votes from all of the judges including Simon Cowell. Chelsea had the opportunity to go California for "Boot Camp Week." Chelsea made it to the Top 23 Girls in the country. While waiting on stage for the final cut from Simon, Chelsea stated, "I had an overwhelming presence from God letting me know that I wouldn't move forward. At that moment, I knew God had bigger plans for me." Chelsea quickly moved forward, she set her goals to record the songs she wrote and completed the new album Perfectly You.

 

"I wrote my new songs for a purpose to connect with many issues we all face every day. These songs are going to be an instrument to help talk about purity, anti-bullying, faith, going for their dreams and many more topics of today. Today, the music industry is made up of many types of artists. People are becoming outraged about how of the musicians of today start out "pure and clean" only to see down the line they are posing for magazines in seductive clothing or worse." I had the opportunity to interview Chelsea about her catchy song "Perfectly You."

 

 

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, "Why do I have to look this way? I need to lose weight, I want to be skinnier, I wish I could be better at playing sports." I wanted to be thinner, have prettier hair, perfect teeth, flawless skin… I didn't want to look like me. I had standards in my mind of what I thought was pretty at the time, because that's what the world accepted. God used a huge trial in my life to show me just how beautiful I really am to Him.

 

I always thought that I had to try "look perfect" because I sing and meet new people. All that changed within two weeks of being home from my time on the X-Factor. I broke out with terrible acne. It wasn't just a normal pimple; I had a rash of pimples. They were sore, itchy and confidence crushing. I felt so ugly! 

 

I looked in the mirror and cried many times, questioning why God would allow this to happen. I couldn't leave the house with these pimples on my face! If you have thought anything like that…you are not alone. I used to look in the mirror and questioned the way that God created me.

 

I really tried to keep my faith strong but it was so hard to find the good in the trial during that time. It was so hard to talk to people because their eyes would wander around my face, and I knew exactly where they were staring. I wanted to quit my part-time Christmas job to hide and stay in my room forever.

 

Luckily, God didn't allow that to happen. I didn't hide. I continued working at my part-time job as a sales associate at a local retail store. I also continued to lead worship on Friday nights for the youth at my church. People--random strangers--used to walk up to me and say, "I have a really good dermatologist if you would like the number." 

 

I knew their heart was in the right place but I felt so awkward. In the midst of the worst of the breakout, I was called and asked to sing the National Anthem for a very large college basketball play-off game. I always had a motto, "If the phone rings, sing." I was reluctant because I know I would be shown on the large stadium screen. I swallowed my fears, stuck to my motto and said yes.

 

My mom and I were driving to Pennsylvania for the game six hours away. We left early that morning to get there for an early pre-game sound check. I remember the sun was rising and the view was gorgeous. Different colors rose into the sky, and the mountains were breathtaking. I was amazed by the beauty of it all, the sky, the grass, the view. In that moment, I heard God tell me, "Chelsea, do you think that's beautiful? I think you are even more beautiful." When God wants to tell you something, His words break through everything.

 

Just like that, I could feel a weight lifted off of me of wanting to look perfect. When I realized that He thinks I'm beautiful--acne, scars, flaws and all--it was life changing. That night while singing the National Anthem, I stood tall and didn't fear what others were going to see. God was by my side every minute. He was with me the whole time, from the first pimple until now. He has truly held my hand through it all, every step of the way. If it wasn't for His love and strength, I can honestly say I would have been an emotional wreck. I made it through and came out a stronger person.

 

Ephesians 2:10: For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

 

1 Samuel 16:7: But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

 

 

This world's "standards" has such a misconception of the definition of beauty. It's not what we see on TV, magazine covers and billboards; they all have flaws, too. God has created you exactly the way that He wants you, not the world. He thinks you are beautiful and His masterpiece. You are not perfect; only God is perfect. Don't fall into the lies that this world says about you. You were made for such an amazing, wonderful purpose. You are truly a masterpiece, designed by our perfect Creator.

 

At just 19 years old, Chelsea has a mission for this album. She would like to be able to go into churches, youth groups, schools, festival, fairs and other events to spread a positive message. Her album Perfectly You includes 10 original songs. Chelsea wrote or co-wrote every song on the album. "I want to discuss and dig deep with the youth about today's challenges. I want to be a mentor, a friend, and someone who the youth can really connect with about issues of today. I wrote my new album with a purpose to talk about purity, anti-bullying, faith, going for dreams and many more topics," states Chelsea. Chelsea has a pure and strong voice that immediately reminded me of mainstream singers Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift.

 

There are several great themes that are faced by teenage girls specifically that the album addresses in a mature and faith-based way. Probably the most memorable moments on the album for me are the songs about being made in God's image and not seeking society's approval but knowing that God created and loves us all as we are. That critical message is heard loud and clear in the opening song "Perfectly You." 

 

The song deals with Chelsea's personal experience of how God used a huge trial in her own life to show her just how beautiful she really is to Him. Chelsea delivers that message of affirmation perfectly in her bridge where she proclaims: "You are more than a heartbeat / your beauty is unique and you have all you've been searching for / you are His masterpiece." 

 

Amen. It's also very relatable to listeners, especially for those who struggle with control issues and perfectionism. We are called as Christians to believe in the freedom that we have in the Cross of Jesus. We are free from our fears, addictions, insecurities and perfectionism. Jesus came to die for us so that we can all truly live in Him. 

 

Chelsea's speaking out against conforming to the pressures brought about by society but that she's saying to young girls: find your identity in God. As Christians, we are God's elected sons and daughters and we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Don't let the world tell you who you are. It doesn't matter what you look like, if you have Jesus on the inside. That's where we can find our true identities, in Him! Amen to that!

 

(Watch Chelsea talk about the song here.)