'19 Kids And Counting' Matriarch Michelle Duggar and Daughters Named Among People Magazine's 'Most Beautiful'

Apr 24, 2015 11:16 AM EDT

"19 Kids and Counting" matriarch Michelle Duggar and five of her daughters--Jana, Jill, Jessa, Jinger and Joy-Anna--are among the world's most beautiful women, according to People Magazine.

According to USA Today, a glam squad showed up at the Duggar's Arkansas home and gave the ladies makeovers for a photoshoot, which appears in People Magazine's annual "Most Beautiful Women" issue.

The women were all pampered by makeup artists and hairstylists, and chose their outfits before posing together for some pictures as a family.

"We're having fun together. We're getting to get pampered and getting the princess treatment together. For me, it's always getting to be with my children. Between my husband and my children, those are my most favorite people in the whole world that I want to spend time with," said Michelle said in video footage of the experience.

According to Hollywood Gossip, the Duggar women laid out a few rules for the photoshoot, telling People that they wouldn't cut their hair or wear revealing clothing. Instead, the women opted for modest, simple outfits.

"It's fun. I mean, girls like to dress up. It's fun," said Jessa Seewald

Rather than overwhelming them with heavy makeup and elaborate hairstyles, the stylists also made sure to tools to enhance the Duggar's natural beauty in keeping with the family's conservative values. 

"It's definitely kind of uncommon, being all glammed up like this," said Jinger.

"I don't really do this very often, so it's a lot of fun," added Joy-Anna.

While the Duggar women are undoubtedly physically beautiful, Michelle often encourages her daughters to focus more on inner beauty in obedience to Proverbs 31:30, which states, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

However, Michelle's wise, healthy perspective on beauty hasn't come without years of pain. In their book, "Growing Up Duggar," the Duggar girls revealed that that prior to becoming a Christian, Michelle regularly obsessed over her physical appearance, which led to a lengthy struggle with bulimia.

Fifteen-year-old Michelle "had a sweet personality and winsome ways that made her one of the most popular girls in her high school," they write. "Thin and beautiful, she was a girl every guy probably wished he could date. But Mom told us those characteristics were all just outward appearances."

On the inside, she "battled intense insecurity, destructive thoughts and emotions, and a longing for 'real happiness. ...And when she looked in the mirror, she didn't like what she saw ..."

"She began to envy the girls who were thinner than she was, and she started believing that she would be happy if only she could be as thin as they were," they write. "She heard about another girl who tried to control her weight through what turned out to be a destructive eating disorder. Not realizing how dangerous it was, [Michelle] thought it might work for her and soon her obsession to stay thin started controlling her life."

After becoming a Christian and marrying Jim Bob, Michelle said her entire perspective on beauty was transformed.

"Jim Bob has never put me down for my body. He has never mocked me for my mommy tummy," the Duggar matriarch told the TODAY show, when explaining why she loves her body-even after giving birth to 19 children. "He is one of my biggest encouragers."

People Magazine's "Most Beautiful" issue hit stands April 25.