Candis Cayne - Hi Gorgeous!

2017, Candis Cayne, English, USA,

Full title: "Hi Gorgeous!: Transforming Inner Power into Radiant Beauty" by Candis Cayne and Katina Z. Jones.

Candis Cayne has always been more than a performer. She is an icon who has paved the way for transgender visibility in entertainment, a fearless artist who embraced her identity long before the world was ready to celebrate it, and now an author with a mission to help others discover their own brilliance.

 

Her book Hi Gorgeous!: Transforming Inner Power into Radiant Beauty, written with Katina Z. Jones, is not simply a beauty manual but a guide to unlocking confidence and embracing the self. It is part memoir, part how-to, and part manifesto, blending stories from Cayne’s extraordinary journey with practical advice on how to cultivate both inner and outer radiance.

 

The book opens with a foreword by Cayne’s close friend Caitlyn Jenner, who sets the tone by framing Hi Gorgeous! as more than a guide to lipstick shades or hair styling. Instead, it is a celebration of possibility and empowerment. From the very beginning, Cayne makes clear that her philosophy is rooted in self-acceptance, the kind she herself had to learn while navigating childhood in Hawaii, discovering her identity in the New York drag scene of the 1990s, and finally stepping into mainstream stardom as Carmelita in Dirty Sexy Money. She reminds readers that beauty is not something handed down by society’s narrow standards but something born from within, nurtured by self-love, and amplified when a woman learns how to show up for herself. Cayne’s writing sparkles with warmth and humor, offering what she calls “Glam on the Go” tips alongside personal reflections.

 

She takes readers backstage into her life, weaving stories about the moments that shaped her into lessons on confidence. When she recounts a conversation with a young fan who could not accept compliments about her own appearance, Cayne describes an epiphany that fueled the book: beauty is a universal gift, but it requires permission from within to shine. From that moment, her mission became to teach others how to see their own gorgeousness, no matter their age, background, or gender identity.

 

The advice within Hi Gorgeous! is as practical as it is inspiring. Cayne includes step-by-step guides on classic makeup looks, skincare routines, and personal style. She brings in expert voices such as celebrity makeup artist Scott Barnes and fashion legend Patricia Field to expand the conversation, reminding readers that beauty is both an art and a practice. Yet the heart of the book lies in Cayne’s insistence that true beauty is inseparable from self-worth. She argues that no contouring technique or designer dress can radiate if the person wearing it is plagued by doubt or shame. For Cayne, a positive inner dialogue is the foundation of any outer glow.

Her own story illustrates that lesson vividly. As a young performer in New York, Cayne dazzled audiences with her choreography and charisma, yet she admits that her self-acceptance took time. Transitioning in the mid-1990s was not easy, especially in an industry that had little understanding of transgender lives. But Cayne held fast to what she had been taught by her parents in Hawaii: to trust who she was and believe that her path was right. That conviction, she says, became her greatest beauty secret. When she eventually became the first transgender actress to play a recurring trans character in prime time television, she was not just stepping into a role but also breaking barriers for countless others who dreamed of seeing themselves represented.

 

What makes Hi Gorgeous! distinctive is the way it bridges beauty culture and self-help. The glossy photos of Cayne, styled with supermodel flair, pay homage to the Naomi and Christy era that inspired her youth. But alongside the glamour are accessible tips like using cucumber masks, finding joy in tousled beach hair, or curating a skincare routine that fits everyday life. Cayne insists that beauty should feel playful, personal, and liberating, not like a rigid checklist of trends.

 

She acknowledges the thrill of recreating a high-fashion look but balances it with the reassurance that natural simplicity can be just as glamorous. The book also carries the weight of Cayne’s activism. Without turning Hi Gorgeous! into a political tract, she situates her ideas of beauty within a broader conversation about inclusivity. For her, redefining womanhood means creating space where transgender women, cisgender women, and all those who identify with femininity can see themselves celebrated.

 

The beauty industry, often criticized for its exclusivity, is reimagined here as a playground open to everyone willing to embrace their power. Cayne’s hope for the book is simple but profound: she wants every reader to understand that gorgeousness is not a privilege reserved for the few but a potential that lives in all of us. As she promotes Hi Gorgeous! across the country, she carries with her the same conviction that first made her a star, that authenticity is magnetic and that no one should have to hide the parts of themselves that shine the brightest. In the end, Hi Gorgeous! is more than a beauty guide. It is a reminder that transformation begins on the inside, in the way we speak to ourselves, in the courage to live authentically, and in the decision to celebrate our own reflection. Candis Cayne has lived that truth on stage, on screen, and now on the page, and she invites readers everywhere to step into the same light. Her message resounds with clarity: we all have the potential to be gorgeous, and it begins the moment we choose to believe it.

vogue.com

Available via Amazon.com

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