THE PLOT:
Courtney Suveau is a gorgeous twenty-five-year-old fashion model who cannot see beauty—and yes, she’s aware of the irony. As one of the only people in history born with a rare neurological disorder called Venusagnosia, even the finest designer clothing she sports on the runway is as captivating to her as a sewer grate. After years of faking her way through New York City’s cutthroat fashion empire, Courtney decides to pursue an acting career when she is invited to audition for the starring role of a major upcoming film. Not only will the breakout role provide enough money to support her ailing mother, but she will finally have a reason to be recognized for her talent instead of her beauty.
When Courtney moves to Los Angeles, she meets another young actress named Gwen Bressly, who appears to be her complete opposite. With her short physique and conventionally geeky appearance, Gwen has struggled to find desirable roles despite her Ivy League background and remarkable acting talent. As Courtney and Gwen desperately vie for the attention of a ruthless casting director, Gwen begins starving herself in her desperation to be seen as beautiful. A near-fatal collapse soon lands Gwen in the hospital, exposing Courtney to the dangerous consequences of the beauty-obsessed culture she has helped create. Now, with the role of a lifetime just within her reach, Courtney must decide if she will put aside her newfound friendship and do whatever it takes to secure her family’s future, or if she will turn her back on this glamorous lifestyle to support her friend and change her own perspective of what it truly means to be beautiful.
This Book Is Not Yet Published!
The Laws of Vanity
The Laws of Vanity was loosely based on a true story.
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Meet the Characters
COURTNEY SUVEAU was born with a rare neurological disorder called Venusagnosia that prevents her from seeing beauty. At twenty-two years old, she has, ironically, forged a budding career as a fashion model in New York City, gaining widespread recognition for her beauty which she cannot perceive on her own. She has kept her disorder a secret from her agent and other colleagues in the fashion industry, worried her career may be in jeopardy if her diagnosis was made common knowledge. She relies on the admiration of others to define her sense of self worth, but wishes people would see her as talented as well as beautiful. Her desire to be respected by others compels her to transition to an acting career, and hopes that one day people will see what she has to offer beyond her appearance.
GWEN BRESSLY grew up in Sacramento, California. As a lover of theater, film, and TV, she has dreamed of becoming an actress for as long as she can remember. She is deeply insecure about her appearance, but has used her anxieties to fuel her drive to become a performer to be a positive role model for young women with underrepresented body types. In high school, she graduated at the top of her class and went on to study performing arts and marketing at Brown University. Despite her Ivy League background, she has chosen to work as a waitress at the popular Vietnamese restaurant Phō Trang to bide time until she gets her big break. In her free time, she enjoys watching documentaries and taking care of her pet chicken, Mark.