Pain to Power: I Choose to Love Myself Paperback – September 24, 2025

Masuda Rahmati's happy childhood in Afghanistan vanished forever when the Soviet Union invaded in 1979. Her father faced certain death if the family remained. Under the cover of darkness, the Rahmati's kissed the ground of Afghanistan goodbye and fled across the desert, first to Pakistan and two years later, to the United States. Speaking no English and knowing only the formal traditions of Islamic culture, Masuda struggled to adjust to 1980s teen life in Southern California. Rather than give up, she chose to excel; to respond to bullying with compassion. As an adult, her determination to speak for the oppressed women of Afghanistan & to present her home country in a positive light inspired her to enter the Mrs. World beauty pageant. That decision led to the Taliban tracking her down and nearly killing her. The story climaxes with Masuda reuniting with her best friend from Kabul after being separated for over 40 years. Pain to Power is an amazing true story of bravery, survival, and the magical power of love. Masuda is an advocate for teen mental health issues, in America and around the world. Her goal is to share the secret code she learned from her own years of struggle, on how to overcome. This book is especially for teenage girls who struggle with suicide, self-harm and self-love around the world. Read more