I had an amazing experience with one of the strongest groups of women in the world: cancer survivors.
It’s interesting how our daily routine seems random but later on we realize it is not all random. I was called in to do makeup for a photo shoot. I knew it was for jewelry designer Sal Praschnik featuring a beautiful jewel designed for Breast Cancer Month and I would be working with a very talented photographer with a great eye : Matthew Pace.

What I do not know was how moving and empowering that day would be for me. The energy, power, strength and resilience of the 6 women was intoxicating, inspiring and personally touching for me, having survived a form of early stage cancer a few years ago. I am fine now,  so don’t worry about me! It’s all gone. I was blessed to discover it very early thanks to insisting on testing (more on that below).

I basically dealt with it on my own since there are not many young woman diagnosed with what I had. I did not have friends my age to talk to as it usually affects older woman in 50s+. So being around a group of women who faced similar fears that I faced was so empowering. I could feel the strength and energy of women in the room.  It is a special kind of strength that comes from struggling, overcoming, staring fear in eye and saying, "You won’t destroy me".  It changed me life and gave me a priceless gift: wisdom beyond my years. Without speaking a word to each other, we know we share that bond.

Jewelry designer Virginia from Sal Praschnik was so moved by her sister-in-law's experience with breast cancer (featured in the photo above back row, right)  she decided to get involved in the cause. She designed the stunning heart ring from her "Power" collection to make women feel strong, bold, powerful and of course, represent love. 

We will survive! And look glamourous, beautiful and in style while doing it.

Photographer: Matthew Pace - Thank you for booking me on this job. You didn’t know it but it helped me a lot.

More behind the scenes pictures at:

Designer: Virginia - Sal Praschnik Jewels. I LOVE that ring. It's amazing.http://www.salpraschnik.com/
Click on "Power" collection. Gold Heart Ring Available at Neiman Marcus with proceeds to Breast Cancer.

Shot at 12345 Studios in North Miami.


I share my experience to encourage others to be proactive with their health. I went to my Dr. 3 times and was told there was nothing wrong with me. I was young and did not “meet the profile”. Fortunately I had one friend, Cristina Barquero, who has survived Ovarian Cancer, and she warned me not take no for an answer. I knew inside there was something wrong. I felt it. Ladies, listen to your first instinct, your intuition. It is always right. It is when I second guess myself and don’t go with my first instinct that I always regret it.  Thanks to my persistence it was discovered early and treated. Unfortunately many women do not discover it until it is too late.