Author • Hairstylist • Fashion Stylist • Entrepreneur • Foster Mother • Mentor • Woman of Faith

Carmen Edwards is a multi-book author whose life is a testimony of God’s healing, restoration, and grace. Her journey began with childhood trauma, foster care, rejection, abandonment, and growing up without the love and guidance she needed. As a teenager, Carmen searched for love and belonging in places that often left her more wounded. She dropped out of school, became a young mother, and faced circumstances that could have caused her to give up completely. But even when Carmen could not see a way forward, God never gave up on her. For many years, she carried the pain of the little girl she used to be. Her healing journey required her to confront her past, receive counseling, forgive others, forgive herself, and invite God into the places she had tried to hide. Over time, Carmen learned how to become the safe, loving, and encouraging woman that little girl had always needed.

Through faith, courage, and perseverance, Carmen earned her GED, became a licensed hairstylist, and built her own businesses. With more than 21 years of experience in the beauty industry, she has helped women feel confident through hair, fashion, and personal style. She has also served young people and opened her home and heart to foster children. Today, Carmen is an author, hairstylist, fashion stylist, entrepreneur, mother, grandmother, foster mother, mentor, and advocate for teenage girls.

Carmen is the founder of Styles4Smiles Salon & Boutique and My Smile Matters. Her heart is to create safe spaces where girls and women feel seen, loved, supported, beautiful, and encouraged to heal. She uses her writing, creativity, and testimony to remind others that their past does not cancel their purpose.

Her Books

Through every page she writes, Carmen shares honest messages about trauma, faith, healing, confidence, personal growth, fashion, and discovering who God created you to be.

“I spent years believing the broken parts of my story disqualified me. Now I understand that God can use those same places to bring healing to someone else. I am no longer ashamed of my story. I am allowing God to use it.”

You are not what happened to you. You can heal, begin again, and become living proof that prayer works