"Over The Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love" by Jonathan Van Ness

Like many people, I have experienced some lows and occasional highs during our quarantine, but my heart truly skipped a beat last week when Netflix dropped the new season of “Queer Eye.” I laugh and cry thru every single episode, and one of the shining reasons is this man: Jonathan Van Ness. For those don’t watch the show, he is the grooming expert and self-care guru. The way he transforms each participant’s hair and skin care routine is nothing short of stand-up-and-cheer amazing. He gives light and love to every story the fab five tackle, and his playful attitude is infectious. “Over The Top” is his time to shine and share his own story. He grew up in Quincy, Illinois, where his mother’s family owned the local broadcast company and newspaper. Despite having a loving mother and step-father, Jonathan was picked on, and bullied at school for being different, and sexually abused by an older boy at church. However, this didn’t stop him from becoming the first male cheerleader at his high school, and pursing his passion for skating. He dropped out of college to become a hairdresser, and took a detour into drugs and addiction. Despite the blow of being diagnosed HIV-positive, he was able to recover from his drug addiction and build a successful career as a stylist. His seven-season web series, “Gay of Thrones,” is a parody of the popular TV series, that brought him to the attention of the producers of “Queer Eye.” When he bonded with the other cast members at the audition, he was cast in the show and became an integral part of the team. His story is one of pain and suffering but also triumph and pure joy. His is a wizard with scissors, a master of transformation and a man whose story is inspiring to the core. To buy this book on Amazon click here.