Atlanta-born Victoria Johnson quickly became one of the 70's top commercial models selling camera, airlines, shampoo, lipstick and on TV as the wholesome mom for Shake'n'Bake and the definitive 80's urban cowgirl for Jordache Jeans. When the legendary publisher of Penthouse Magazine Bob Guccione photographed her, she became the ultimate centerfold, crowing her the Penthouse Pet of the Decade giving her international fame, and millions of fans, some famous and infamous. Hollywood beckoned with movie parts, roles on top-rated TV shows, and a poster whose sales rivalled those of Farrah Fawcett's.
She walked away from the false glamour of it all, and the demons that came with it, and ran to Europe finding love and loss, among the rich, royals and aristocracy. But she realized her real talent was making friends. The readers are treated to the worlds of 70's New York, 80's Los Angeles and 90's Eurotrash -- meeting a host of celebrities and notorious names at elite clubs, restaurants, and resorts that recall a scandalous, chic world long gone but still a subject for gossip and whispers.
Victoria's life took a sudden turn when she was diagnosed with Stage IV Cancer and decides to determine how she was going to save her life. Houston's M.D.Anderson became her lifeblood where for the next 20 years she recreated herself as patient and student learning through questions, research, and self-awareness what her body was going through. She kept records for each medical consultation, surgery, miracle drugs, and treatment to determine her personal cause and effect, while relying on her Holistic Medicine degree for advice on topics to improve her daily well-being, and she kept herself fortified and encouraged by her strong faith. She made her life a blueprint for cancer survivors, as a speaker at conferences, symposiums, and the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation events as well as appearances on CNN and PBS.
Honest, entertaining, and inspirational, Naked: Inside and Out is a book that tells you how to break the rules when life is no longer being fair.
And Kenny thank you for these last few days -- I got to fill my late hours just thinking about Victoria and her life and how to put it in words.
