become the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Patterns magazine.
the amazing beauty that radiated from their inner strength
Since 1995 I have been a freelance fashion stylist and
writer.
In the world of fashion, body image is everything. As
women, we are brought up to emphasize the importance of
our physical attributes from early childhood onward.
Actresses, models and pop stars define our culture’s
standard of perceived beauty. For
most of my life I help perpetuate
those standards.
Breast cancer changed all that.
I like to think the universe
gave me a wake-up call. As I
sat in the chemotherapy lounge
during each 4 1/2 hour I.V. drip,
I stared into the faces of other
women waging their own battle
against
the
disease.
What
stared
back at
me was
and courage. It no longer mattered to me if my body was
“imperfect.” My mastectomy scares became my badges of
courage, of honor, of inner strength – my personal triumph
over adversity. It forced me to re-access myself, as I really
am – Naked - stripped of the façade.
And so I am transitioning. I made the decision to move my
life and career in a new, more meaningful direction. I am
determined to break down the stereotype of the “perfect
body.” I want all women to understand that the loss of a
breast or breasts does not make them less than whole. Most
importantly, I am striving to put an end to the fear and
secrecy that can surround a breast cancer diagnosis. I’ve
come a long way in my own knowledge of the “C-word”
since my mother’s death. I’ve survived!
The documentary Naked can be seen throughout October
(Breast Cancer Awareness month) on Lifetime Network’s
Lifetime on Demand. Lifetime will also be honoring
Meredith as a “Remarkable Woman” in the network’s
Every Woman Counts campaign.
To learn more about Meredith and the documentary go to:
http://www.naked-documentary.com
Photos by Laurie Klein www.laurieklein.com
A Distinctive Style . COM 47