NEW YORK, NY (ANS) -- Many young Christian men and women think modesty and fashion cannot co-exist, and that modesty to the average believer means 'being frumpy.'

But one successful author is asking these 'tween-age' believers to think again.

Author Dannah Gresh hopes to change young people's perceptions of modesty and fashion

Best-selling author Dannah Gresh, and yet unannounced musical guests, are introducing the Secret Keeper Girl Bod Squad Tour, featuring an interactive action packed program that will thrill all who attend.

Dannah and The Bod Squad detectives will reveal media lies and take moms and their 8-12 year old daughters on a Mission Possible to prove that modesty can be achieved, according to a media release about the forthcoming tour.

"They'll use pop-music, confetti cannons, giant teacups and fashion on the runway to show just how possible true beauty really is. These ladies never have had so much fun digging into the Bible for direction that will make sense!" says the release.

As a best-selling author, Gresh uses a captivating blend of transparency and humor to deliver meaty Bible teaching to her audiences.

One of the top selling Christian youth authors in the world, she is best known for the bestselling And the Bride Wore White (Moody Publishers) and the Secret Keeper series (Moody Publishers/FamilyLife) with four just released titles in October.

Gresh’s most recent release, co-authored with Nancy Leigh DeMoss, is Lies Young Women Believe. In its first month out,

Cover artwork for Lies Young Women Believe

it hit the number one spot on the Christian Bookseller’s Association’s youth list.

“My hope is that many young ladies and their moms who attend these events will leave with a new understanding about the importance of how they view themselves in light of how God created them,” says Gresh.

“Too often the media sets the standard. It is far more important to have fun while learning about moral values that will have a lasting impact in the lives of thousands of young girls, their moms, and future generations. Many of us need help in order to understand and set the right standards.”

This 2-hour SKG jam-packed stage show for 8-12 year old girls and their moms will include a stellar fashion show with models from the audience, engaging Bible lessons, music that focus hearts to praise God and the Truth or Bare Fashion Challenge.

The release says: "These young beauties will giggle and cheer as they learn deep biblical truths about fashion, beauty, and modesty. "

More information is available online at http://secretkeepergirl.com/  

In addition to scheduling dozens of Secret Keeper Girl events, Gresh is also asking for thousands of signatures to be put on “The Bod Squad Petition.”

“We believe that the fashion industry is pressuring little girls to grow up too fast! The findings of two years of study by an APA (American Psychological Association) task force state that clothing, which makes girls appear older, and the associated marketing efforts are linked to eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression.”

Says Gresh: “Ironically, this early sexualization presented to young girls also has 'negative consequences on girls’ ability to develop healthy sexuality.' We would like to request that industry leaders send a message to the fashion industry that mothers want to purchase age-appropriate clothing for our little girls and would like the fashion industry to evaluate the clothing they design and the messages they send to our daughters through advertising.”

Should little girls be wearing thongs?

Author Gresh says no, and she just began a year-long journey to collect signatures from 50,000 other mothers across the country who agree with her. She’s calling them The Bod Squad, and their goal is to petition the Council of the Fashion Designers of America to formally review the findings of a 2-year American Psychological Association study on the sexualization of little girls.

The report states that adult clothing (as well as music lyrics, Internet content and video games) is being marketed to younger and younger girls, and that these mature products are linked to eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression. Ironically, this early sexualization presented to young girls has “negative consequences on girls’ ability to develop healthy sexuality.”

Gresh is a youth-expert and strong advocate of teaching girls that they can be cool, trendy and fashionable without presenting themselves as sexual objects. She wants to send a message to youth fashion designers that they’ve crossed a line and need to thoroughly reexamine the clothes they’re targeting at young girls.

In October, Gresh released her first mainstream book series, called Secret Keeper Girl. The four-book fiction series is targeted to "tween" girls and takes a fun approach to issues such as the pressure to have a boyfriend, how to deal with mean girls, age-appropriate fashion choices, modesty, finding your inner beauty, and building positive self-esteem.

Dannah Gresh is available for Broadcast or print media interviews. Please contact Fred Baye at 518-477-2385 or fredbaye@aol.com  to set a date and time.

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael has traveled to Albania and the former Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany and the former Czechoslovakia, Israel,and Canada. He has reported for ANS from Jordan, China, Russia, Jamaica, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Michael's involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International.