News

Sherwood teen selected for magazine cover

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

"It's really awesome," said 15-year-old Susanna Bolle about "True Girl," a magazine for Catholic teens focusing on faith, life and fashion. "I really like it. Probably my favorite part is the fashion section. They give you modest ideas. They tell you where the piece is from. It's in style, yet pretty modest."

Bolle, a member of St. John-Sacred Heart Parish, Sherwood/St. John, is more than a subscriber of the publication. She is also the cover girl for the December-January issue. She won the honor through a contest, which required an essay and letter of reference.

"I like to write," said Bolle, a homeschooled high school sophomore. "We had to write about 'why you are a true girl.' I wrote about trusting God. It's kind of difficult sometimes. You feel like, how could he help me? But he really pulls through."

Fr. David Zimmerman, pastor of St. John-Sacred Heart Parish, wrote a letter of reference for Bolle. She was one of three winners selected. Last August, she traveled to Chicago for a photo shoot with "True Girl" photographer John Brennan.

"We had to bring our own clothes and do our own hair and makeup," said Bolle. "It was fun. Basically you could do your own thing (poses) for the photos. We started in the studio where they had a backdrop. We then moved outdoors to Mundelein (Seminary)."

While in Chicago, Bolle spoke with Brandi Lee, editor of the magazine.

"It was really cool to meet her," said Bolle. "She was very down to earth. She wanted to know what we thought of it (the magazine). I found out that they are going to be expanding it to include more pages."

Bolle first learned about the magazine when it was featured on Relevant Radio. She likes its content compared to other magazines.

"It's definitely not gossip about celebrities," she said. "There is a page on saints, applying it to our lives instead of people's lives from many years ago, so you can relate. Many modern magazines try to have you relate to the lives of celebrities. They don't necessarily have good morals. 'True Girl' supplies the morals."

A photo of Bolle and the other winners appeared inside the October-November issue. She anxiously awaited her cover issue to arrive.

"It wasn't coming," she said. "It was a couple days late. The hardest part was waiting for the cover to come out because I had no idea what it would look like. I like the way it turned out."

Bolle is profiled inside the December-January issue. She enjoys scrapbooking and ballroom dance, and is involved in Bowl for Life, Bible study and Schoenstatt retreats.

"It (Schoenstatt) is German for 'beautiful place,'" she explained. "The retreats are run by nuns. They are for families, teenagers and kids. They have talks and activities. You can spend the night. They also have summer camps."

Bolle, who is from a family of seven children, added that she is open to ways to grow spiritually. For example, her older sister, Mary Beth, is teaching Susanna and her friends about "Theology of the Body."

Her current career goals are becoming an ultrasound technician or a photographer. She enjoys taking pictures and having her picture taken, so she would like to do more modeling.

"I'm trying to, but nothing so far," she said.

Bolle is thankful for the cover opportunity, but said the contest process was an equally good experience.

"Even if I wouldn't have won, I would still have my essay, which encourages me in my faith," she said. "It was fun writing about my faith and my trust in God. It helped me realize how true it is."

(For information about "True Girl" magazine, visit www.truegirlonline.com.)