Jaycee Dugard People Magazine Photo Shows Kidnap Survivor as She Appears Today

'I'm so Happy to Be Back with My Family,' Says Jaycee Dugard on the Cover of People

Hartley Engel, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Oct 14, 2009 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

The world no longer has to wonder what 29-year-old Jaycee Dugard looks like. A photo of Jaycee Dugard graces the current cover of People, and, in my humble opinion, the Jaycee Dugard People magazine cover shows a very lovely, healthy young woman with a captivating and radiant smile - simply put, Jaycee Dugard is beautiful. And considering the harrowing ordeal she had to endure for 18 years, this comes as a very pleasant and welcome surprise.

"I'm so happy to be back," says Jaycee Dugard on the cover of People. The Jaycee Dugard People cover is the first public contemporary photo of Jaycee since she was kidnapped in June of 1991 (at the age of 11) near her home in South Lake Tahoe, California. She was rescued and reunited with her family about two months ago. The magazine - which does not include an interview with Jaycee Dugard- hits newsstands on Friday.

Jaycee Dugard and her mother, Terry Probyn, 50, reportedly granted permission to People to publish the photo because of the highly intense worldwide interest in the case and as a way of expressing gratitude to all the people who have expressed their support.

Jaycee Dugard was allegedly kidnapped by violent sex offender Phillip Garrido and his wife Nancy, and - along with with her two daughters, 15-year old Angel and 11-year-old Starlit (who were presumably fathered by Garrido) - was imprisoned in a makeshift encampment behind the Garrido's home.

One has to assume that, even though the Jaycee Dugard People photo depicts the image of a happy and healthy woman, Jaycee faces formidable challenges ahead. After all, she was held in captivity for 18 long years. Having to endure such a long period of abuse must have taken a toll on Jaycee Dugard (and her two young daughters) and it will obviously take some time before she is fully rehabilitated.

Perhaps when she is ready, Jaycee Dugard will grant interviews to the media (and write a book?) detailing her long ordeal and how she was able to cope with a situation that most people wouldn't wish upon their worst enemies.

In addition, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Hollywood comes calling (if they haven't already) and the Jaycee Dugard story makes it's way onto the big screen.

Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction - and that maxim certainly applies to the shockingly fascinating story of Jaycee Dugard.

Sources:

First Photo: Kidnap Survivor Jaycee Dugard Emerges from the Shadows, People

Dugard happy to be with her family, she says, The Associated Press

Published by Hartley Engel

I was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada but raised in Los Angeles, California. I have a BA and MsEd degree from USC. View profile