Beauty, Disrupted: A Memoir
Beauty, Disrupted: A Memoir book cover

Beauty, Disrupted: A Memoir

Hardcover – September 20, 2011

Price
$32.80
Format
Hardcover
Pages
336
Publisher
It Books
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0062024459
Dimensions
6 x 1.09 x 9 inches
Weight
1.16 pounds

Description

Teen runaway, supermodel, and actress Carré Otis found herself in the public eye from a very tender age. Millions of people gazed at provocative images of her in magazine and billboard ads from Guess and Calvin Klein as well as in features on the pages of Playboy and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. By the time she was twenty, they had also seen her on posters for the controversial film Wild Orchid , with Mickey Rourke. The troubled marriage to Rourke that followed soon thereafter was widely reported on in the media, as were Carré’s struggles with drugs and a particularly brutal eating disorder. But to see someone naked on the page or exposed on the screen and in tabloids doesn’t mean we know who that person really is. After a decade-long deeply reflective and spiritual journey to discover for herself who she is, Carré found the balance and serenity she sought and is now ready to share her side of the story with the world. She confronts her complex past fearlessly and with unrelenting candor to set the record straight. The result is a narrative of success, despair, and ultimate triumph over sexual exploitation and our cultural obsession with appearance—a narrative of beauty disrupted, reclaimed, and made more radiant through self-acceptance, inner peace, and the love of family. As a supermodel, Carré Otis has appeared on the covers of Vogue , Elle , Harper's Bazaar , Glamour , and Cosmopolitan , and has worked with many of the world's greatest fashion photographers. She has appeared on nationally televised programs, offering her unique insight into the business of beauty and the high price it demands. Carré lives in Colorado with her husband and two daughters.

Features & Highlights

  • Throughouther career, supermodel and actress Carré Otis hasbeen celebrated for her striking physical beauty—but in this brazenly honestmemoir she revisits the ugliest parts of her past to reveal the events thatultimately brought her to strive for, and champion, the kind of beauty that canonly be found within. In
  • Beauty Disrupted
  • Carrédetails the triumphs and challenges of her career in modeling, her rise to fameon the covers of
  • Elle
  • ,
  • Vogue
  • ,
  • Harper’s Bazaar
  • , and
  • MarieClaire
  • , her battle against eating disorders and drug addiction, and herinfamous marriage to Mickey Rourke.
  • BeautyDisrupted
  • is her inspiring and personal memoir, a story of difficultlessons learned and inner beauty rediscovered, by a woman famous the worldover—not only for her face but, now, for her fighter’s spirit.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(95)
★★★★
25%
(79)
★★★
15%
(47)
★★
7%
(22)
23%
(72)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

I couldn't put it down, I found my self gripping the book in tears of hope

Way to go Carre! Thank you for standing in your strength and allowing other women to come forward with their stories. To everyone out there, this is not a book about an Ex, this is a compelling story of what the human spirit can survive and overcome. Each chapter a different mix and how Carre overcame. Holly smokes she really went there "deep" and said so many things I wish I could have addressed or said over the years. I found myself holding my breath clinching my knees in unbelief. How could Carre's story and truths be so close to me and my journey? Thank you, Thank you!
PS The interviews out there haven't begun to touch the real topics in this book!!!
19 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Loved this deep, emotional and triumphant story.

I have to admit, I wanted to read this book to hear about the (what I thought was a hot, passionate, great) love story between Carre and Mickey. Little did I know, this was anything but that. There is so little we know about what really goes on in their personal lives. I have a whole new respect for Carre for what she went through. A wonderful story about love, loss, addiction, struggles, strength and hope. I downloaded this book through Audible to listen to it on my long drives to and from work, and I enjoyed listening to Carre narrate the book herself. I feel like I got a whole different outlook listening to it from her own voice, and I found myself wanting to hear more and more each day. A very good book, and in the end, a beautiful story.
15 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Carre me back

the one who should fear this book is not Mickey Rourke, it's supermodel Linda Evangelista, who's portrayed as bitter, ruthless and maybe a petty thief? As for Otis, she's in trouble when anyone in this book refers to her as "Otis" as that's Mickey or worse, his goons (Maybe she should have just used the first name "Carre"?) The closeups in the book of John Gotti among others make you fear for Ms Otis even when she doesn't fear for herself and she should, particularly when friends greet her inability to detox with fresh supplies of drugs. Glad she's better, as she couldn't be much worse than portrayed in this gripping book. I agree with the reviewer who said she couldn't put this down but Ms Otis's narrative doesn't follow a linear pattern, as the stories she recounts in this book are disjointed at best, as may be her memories of events.
8 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Seemingly accurate depiction without self-pity or narcissism

I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the story written by Ms. Otis: the book is not a piece of fluff. Her description of modeling experiences were both enlightening and even handed. Even villainous individuals are treated frankly and without broad brush rancor. Ms. Otis has lived a lot in her lifetime so far and there is no bitterness. I applaud her strength to pull herself up - more than once. I found her spiritual journey both moving and enlightening.
I also found the book to be insightful from a perspective of various forms of abuse (emotional, sexual and physical), as well as documenting the journey that so many women face to find their true voice and strength. Well done and I wish Ms. Otis continued peace and contentedness.
7 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Great after we got past the Mickey story

I'm sure most folks will buy this to read about her relationship with Mickey Rourke, but where the book got compelling was during the second half. The language and style of the writing during her description of spiritual awakening and healing actually changed and improved - I almost felt as if I'd switched books and authors.
5 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Carre Otis is both articulate and self aware

Often books such as this are self-indulgent opportunities for name-dropping or attention seeking. I found Ms. Otis' to be intelligent and articulate. Her self-introspection is an example for all--not just someone in an abusive relationship or dealing with substance abuse. Both her prose and her story are accessible and I highly recommend this book.
5 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

For Mickey Rourke Fans

Tells Carre Otis' version of events surrounding her modeling career and relationship with actor, Mickey Rourke. +Rourke has been quoted as describing the relationship differently from Otis, who claims she was a battered woman. Gives some insight into Rourke's life at the time when he was a huge star, & of Otis' experiences as a top fashion model. the dark side of the industry and how their lives unraveled. For Rourke fans only.
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

I couldn't put it down

I thought this was going to be a typical modeling book about eating disorders and the pressures of trying to stay thin and beautiful. It was so much more. Wow!! Carre, you are a strong a courageous women. I would not have been able to deal with half the stuff you went through. Good for you!!! You won the fight of life!!
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Carre Otis Beauty ,Disrupted; a True Memoir !

I bought this book because Carre was dating Mickey Rourke at one time.I need to put in this review that I had forgotten Carre married Mickey Rourke. They were Married from 1992 to 1998! And it was a very abusive marriage. I do not know how Carre was able to put up with that abuse! But her book will help other women who are going through that same thing. An abusive Marriage. Thank-You Carre for being so candid! That brought my attention to her for the first time. She was stunningly beautiful. I do not think she knew how truly beautiful she was.It was like beauty and the beast. Sorry Mickey. It sounded like she was a tom boy. Just like me! After reading the book I definitely knew more about Carre! She tells the real story about her life. I am happy this beautiful woman has a nice husband. And they have children. Well written Carre. I hope you stay happy in your marriage for ever! May God bless you. You surely deserve it! Sherry K.
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

What a troubled woman!

It is amazing how screwed up people that have everything can be. Carre' Otis shares the travails of one of the top models. It takes her almost 40 years to figure out her life.
The book is fairly well written given a peek into the life of a troubled celebrity.
1 people found this helpful