A month or so ago I wrote an article in Vibrant Girl magazine, and today I’m giving away a copy of that issue.
“What is Vibrant Girl magazine?” You might ask.
Well, let me tell you a little story.
When I was a preteen I LOVED American Girl magazine. One time, American Girl ran a story about a Jewish girl who started her own magazine, which was essentially an American Girl for Jewish girls. This story delighted me. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, I thought, to start a magazine for Mennonite girls?
But, like many of my great ideas, I never made it happen.
Another note about my preteen years was this: I hated the way that everyone of youth group age or older completely excluded those younger than them. So when I began to grow up, I always tried to chat with younger girls and take them seriously.
The added bonus of this was that preteen girls were often much more interesting, vivacious, and creative than their older-teenage counterparts. The classic example of this was Monica Miller.
Monica was my neighbor when I lived in Colorado, and she reminded me of a miniature version of myself. She was always coming up with fun creative ideas, like writing stories and then roping her friends into dressing up, acting them out, and filming them. She, too, loved American Girl magazine and dreamed of starting a Mennonite version of it.
And what do you know? She actually did it.
It started as an online magazine called The Girlfriend Gazette. It slowly evolved, as Monica gained more experience and honed her talents. Now it’s called Vibrant Girl, and is a physical magazine that you can subscribe to. And it’s absolutely fantastic.
I should note that while I call it “American Girl for Mennonites,” it’s really for any Christian girls, so long as they can put up with the models wearing skirts and head coverings. I don’t think there’s any Mennonite-specific content besides that.
What I especially appreciate is that it’s really fun, and doesn’t have a super-spiritual deep-and-serious sit-in-the-meadow-all-day-and-prayer-journal vibe. There is some spiritual content, of course, but it is all very relevant to the spiritual experiences of a preteen.
The article I wrote for Vibrant Girl was about when my brother Ben and I got stuck in China.
But the magazine is full of other fun stuff, like an article about what to do when you feel left out, a photo spread about a girl who re-decorated an old camper, crafts, an article about prayer walking, and more.
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment here or on Facebook saying that you want to enter the giveaway. I’ll randomly pick a winner and mail you the magazine. Also this time I’m limiting it to US applications. International postage is still confusing to me.
Whether or not you win, if you have a young daughter, niece, friend, etc, you should consider this magazine. To subscribe, go to http://www.vibrantgirlmagazine.com/subscribe
Take care, and I hope you win!
(Ends at 11:59 pm on Thursday, June 28)
The Girl in the Red Rubber Boots 
Thank-you for the giveaway. I would love to win! If I do I will probably pass the magazine to my niece. I think she would love it.
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Please enter me! Looks gr8!:)
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I would love to be entered in the giveaway!! Looks interesting!!
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I’d love to win it for my daughter! She loves to read quality material.
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Looks like a good magazine. Will have to keep this in mind as I have 3 young daughters!!
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I have never heard of this magazine but I would love to win it for my niece.
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I would love to be entered in the giveaway!
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I would like to be entered too!
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I don’t have young girls anymore, but I really love material like this. I keep telling myself I should subscribe because I feel like I’m missing out. 😉
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Please enter me! 🙂
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This sounds wonderful! I’d give it to my granddaughter……that is after I read it! I love inspiring magazines!
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I’d love to see this magazine! I remember the feeling as a preteen or very young ten too, of being too young for youth stuff and wishing SOMEONE would do SOMETHING for my age group. I think this magazine sounds like a great idea.
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I’d love to see this magazine. Sounds like something my fifth grade girls would enjoy.
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How neat is this?! I’d love to check it out and share with my 12 year old niece. I think she’d be a big fan. Thanks for sharing!
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Please enter me, too! Thanks
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I think my 12 year old daughter would enjoy this magazine. If I don’t win it , then I’ll have to subscribe.
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Would love to win for my daughter.
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I’m glad to know there’s a magazine like this! My daughter would love it!
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Me entering for Dolly. 😀
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I used to live those magazines for girls too, and I’ll love to see a copy of this. I’m sure I could find some young girl that would want it, so please enter me!
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Enter, please. Thanks.
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My granddaughters would love this!
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Sounds like fun
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This would be great for my daughter. I’d love to win one. Thanks for sharing this because it’s a great gift idea for her.
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“…doesn’t have a super-spiritual deep-and-serious sit-in-the-meadow-all-day-and-prayer-journal vibe” 😂 You sold me right there!
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I’d like to enter the giveaway! ☺️
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Please enter me into the giveaway! 🙂
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I clicked straight to subscribe because I love this idea and I have a ten year old who I want to get some of what Emily Smucker has — confidence, thoughtfulness, great work habits — and the stuff leading to her keen success. But is there a version of this magazine that has the great values with less of the religiosity?
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Thanks for the kind words! While I’m sure Vibrant Girl could be enjoyed by someone who’s not religious, it was created to fill a niche that didn’t exist yet–a magazine for young Mennonite girls–so by that very definition it is going to have some religious elements. A good non-religious magazine for that age group is American Girl magazine.
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I would like to enter
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Best wishes for continued success, Monica.
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I enjoy reading your blog! my daughters would enjoy this magazine!
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Looks very interesting!!!
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I have a ten-year-old daughter who also really enjoys American Girl Magazines & other magazines for girls, but I am wary of some of the content, so this “Menno-version” looks perfect for her! So glad to know about it! Thanks! 🙂
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I’m always on the lookout for good magazines. Thanks for doing a giveaway…I’d love to win!
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I’d love to win. It looks like something my daughter would enjoy.
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I know the girl who started the Jewish magazine! It was called “Yaldah” (“girl” in Hebrew) and two of my daughters were on the editorial board and wrote for it. One of my girls went to college with her. It was a fabulous magazine and I’m so happy to find there is a Christian version! There is such a dearth of wholesome reading for girls that is not preachy. I would love to win and see this magazine for myself!
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A young girl nurturing other younger girls… Sounds like a woman after my own heart. I’d love to see this and have it!
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I’d love to be entered.
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I’d love to be entered!
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I would love to win and my teenage daughters would be delighted too!
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I would love to win this magazine for my daughter…and maybe just a little for me:-)
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A real, paper magazine you can hold in your hands? Yes please.
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Well, of course I’d like to enter this giveaway! I have two daughters (and I’m pretty sure I’d love reading it too).
I love your blog and your writing, Emily. I’m often amazed at how well you think things through: your blog is good stuff.
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I dreamed of this very thing when I was a young girl too. I’d still love to read it.:)
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Looks like a great magazine!
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I’d love to enter your giveaway.
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