About Jen

What's *Jen* Magazine?

*Jen* is an online magazine dedicated to the young female members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and anyone else who is interested in fashion without compromise and other positive media. Maybe some day *Jen* Magazine will become a printed magazine, but for now we're just an online magazine. That's good for you, because it makes it FREE, and gives you the ability to watch video clips, hear music, and download freebies that wouldn't be possible with a printed magazine.

*Jen* is not for profit. The ads you see pay for the cost of running the magazine, and make it possible for us to pay the people who write articles for us. Because *Jen* is an online magazine we don't do monthly "issues". We add new articles and other things whenever we come up with them, so new things are added all month long.

Who is Jen?

My name is Jennifer Loch and I started *Jen* Magazine. I built this website and maintain it. Because it's not for profit, I work on this in my spare time. If it hasn't been updated in a while it's because I've been busy (and I do stay pretty busy). I run a business, have a lot of hobbies, and I'm married and have a baby boy.

People ask me what my interests are: I like everything! I like fashion, dancing, cooking, writing, hiking, thinking, playing the piano, camping, playing games, design, art, songwriting, reading, learning, exercising, singing, acting, being healthy, and of course The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There could be more cool stuff in this magazine but I don't like to sit at the computer all day... I like to get out and do things! So you'll have to be patient. Read my blog to see what I've been up to lately.

<<< There I am... Tech-Nomad and Cyber-Sister: your online guru Jen!

PHOTO DETAILS: Shirt and Shorts: The People Have Spoken. Shoes: L.E.I. Photographer: Jill Frost. Girl: Jen.
A special thanks to Jill Frost for donating these pictures!     ; )

The Story Behind *Jen*:

I've always loved fashion. Growing up I didn't always dress modestly. I didn't really understand the importance of it. Showing more skin never helped me in any way. Actually, it really hurt me. I would only get asked out by junk guys, not the type of guy I was looking for. Later I realized that the kind of guy I was looking for would be looking for someone who looked good and dressed cute while still keeping it modest. Showing more skin also hurt me spiritually, because the spirit would leave whenever I chose to disobey this seemingly small commandment, leaving me open to more destructive influences without its protection. In fact, I can trace back all of my problems and mistakes to the breaking of "small" commandments such as modesty and media standards.

So I made some wrong choices, but then I wised up. I worked hard to be temple worthy and once I did, I met my perfect awesome guy who married me in the Temple.

I had been doing some modeling here and there since I was a young teen. After I got married, my modeling agent called to ask if I'd be interested in being in a fashion show the next weekend. I said sure, and she scheduled me for a fitting. If you're not familiar with the term, a fitting is where you meet with the show coordinators to pick out what you are going to wear and make sure it fits.

As I drove to the fitting I started to get nervous because I wear garments now and I wondered what I would say if they wanted me to wear something that didn't comply with my standards. I was hoping I wouldn't have to face that but in the back of my mind I knew I would.

The fashion show was for the designer Betsey Johnson. When I got to the fitting I didn't see anything in view that I could wear without breaking my standards. The coordinators greeted me and quickly escorted me to a dressing room while they analyzed my body shape and asked what size I wore. They began picking clothes for me. I timidly said "I'd prefer to wear whatever you have that shows the least skin." They seemed confused but they complied and brought me the most modest clothes they had, all the while reassuring me that I was beautiful and shouldn't be ashamed of showing my body. I looked at these offerings of the least revealing clothing they had and knew I would have to take my off garments to wear them. I quickly removed my garments and put on the clothing showing each outfit to the coordinators. Three outfits were decided on and then we were finished and I left feeling awful.

As I drove home I thought about it. The purpose of this fashion show was to persuade people that these clothes looked good and that they were cool. I thought about my struggles with modesty. Growing up I always felt like I had to choose between being modest and looking good. I often abandoned modesty for immodest fashions because I let what I saw in magazines and in other media determine my own idea of what looked good. Why would I want to participate in saying to the world "this is what looks good, you should wear this" when I actually believe the opposite? I would be participating in the massive lie that deceives so many people just as it had deceived me.

That night I called the fashion show coordinators and told them I wouldn't be in it. The girl I talked to asked me why and I told her it was for religious reasons. She was really respectful towards me and said that she hoped they hadn't offended me or made me uncomfortable.

When my husband overheard me on the phone saying I wouldn't do the show I heard him say a huge "YYESS!" like guys do when their team wins the Superbowl. And after I got off the phone he told me "I knew you would do the right thing." I felt a huge wave of peace come over me and I was happy about my decision.

Because I had chosen the right thing the spirit was with me and gave me the idea for this magazine. I started working on it right away. -Jen