You won’t become the “real you” unless you face up to the thing you’ve avoided most. Open your eyes to things you don’t want to see and change will come. Kodo Nishimura, an international makeup artist and Buddhist monk, has had an extraordinary life. Last year, he rose to instant stardom following his appearance in The Fab Five’s Queer Eye: We’re In Japan! series special that aired to massive viewership on Netflix in 2019. Behind his wide smile however hid a life that has been faced with endless challenges. The book starts with Kodo’s childhood, playing dress up as Little Mermaid, to his lonely adolescence where despite being born into a family of priests, all he wanted to do was wear pretty dresses and become a princess. Feeling like an outsider in a society that celebrates uniformity, Kodo’s time in New York at Parsons and his work as a leading make-up artist brought him to ultimately embrace his true calling and to find beauty in this realization. Kodo’s first book is full of practical tips for positive thinking and the unique philosophies he has attained as a Buddhist monk. Detailing his journey to self-love, the book provides a gentle, loving, and encouraging voice for all those who dare to be different.