MANDISA, an American Idol, stepped into the national spotlight as a standout contestant during the fifth season of American Idol.  A graduate of Fisk University with a vocal performance music major, Mandisa today is the author of IDOLeyes: My New Perspective on Faith, Fat & Fame and she has produced an album--True Beauty.

Guest Blogger Mandisa--

Hey ladies,

I hope you are having a terrific week! I am coming off of an amazing weekend and have a busy week ahead.

Just did a show for a women’s conference in Greenville, SC Friday night. While I can’t say that my voice was what I would have liked for it to have been, I will say that the response of the women was overwhelming. The highlight of my set was a song on my CD (True Beauty) that means a lot to me but that I haven’t gotten to sing very much-- “Voice of a Savior." Before I sang I explained that my struggle with my weight has been the biggest struggle of my life, but it is one that I am overcoming one day at a time. I firmly believe that for me, I am dealing with a food addiction. Stemming from some things in my childhood, I have turned to food to find comfort since I was a little girl. Some people turn to alcohol, some turn to drugs, I turn to Krispy Kreme Donuts! (heeheehee) But whatever the substance of choice is, I believe that we all have a God-sized hole that only He can fill.

Since my first appearance on American Idol when Simon Cowell made his typical, yet still very painful comments about my weight, I have been very open and honest about my struggles. I have good days and bad, but the more good days that pile up, the freer I will be from this burden of weight. Friday night, as I sang “Voice of a Savior” baring my soul to complete strangers, I felt a sense of relief. By the last note of the song women were weeping and standing to their feet. It made me realize that I am not in this alone. During my autograph signing afterwards I lost count of the number of women who told me that they identify with my struggle (interestingly I am learning that people of all shapes and sizes are dealing with food-related strongholds). I said to them what I will say to you who may also be in this weight fight: God is bigger than any temptation that comes our way. He’ll never put more on us than we can bare and through Him we will find VICTORY!!!!!!

God bless you!

Mandisa

An Interview With Mandisa

IDOLeyes Book Review