2022 Pink-Ribbon Boudoir
for breast-cancer survivors
A unique brand of boudoir photography for breast-cancer survivors to help heal emotional scars in their heart & soul.
After a 2012 Pilot Project in Helena, Montana, 10 years later we did it again in Tucson, Arizona. Five survivor/warriors came together in a luxury private desert home to get dressed and draped in silky lacy things, treated to hair, makeup, nails, wardrobe and individual boudoir photo shoots, surrounded by encouragement and laughter. The entire experience created greater strength and confidence for survivors as well as striking images for keepsake photobooks to give her memories and validation forever, all at no cost to them.
We did that, a 2012 daylong pilot project in Helena, Montana. Warmly received by the survivors, local media and contributing businesses alike, Montana's event proved that this unique approach to healing can work well as post-operative therapeutic care for breast cancer survivors.
Arizona's 1st Pink-Ribbon Boudoir photo retreat in Tucson, August 2022, followed by a public photo exhibit in December.
Link to separate website opens a new tab: 2022 Pink Ribbon Gallery
2022's major sponsor Tucson Plastic Surgery has become the sole sponsor through the Tucson Plastic Surgery Foundation—rebranding the 2nd Annual Pink-Ribbon Boudoir as BEYOND BEAUTIFUL 2023 (link opens new tab).
Pink-Ribbon Boudoir Photo Retreat & Public Photo Exhibit
The Tucson Plastic Surgery
2022 PINK-RIBBON BOUDOIR PROJECT—Retreat + Exhibit
Made possible by many generous sponsors, most members of the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce, and notably our top-tier $10,000 "Crystal" naming-sponsor & Chamber member Tucson Plastic Surgery—Dr. Raman Mahabir (far left) and Dr. Silvia Kurtovic (far right), flanking sashed survivors with photographer/project-creator Jana M. Suchy (center). The doctors are dedicated to aesthetic breast reconstruction for cancer survivors.
— This photo at the photo exhibit and most photos of exhibit below by Donna Lannon, Genuine Photography.
All boudoir photos of survivors by Jana M. Suchy © 2022.)
2022 PHOTO RETREAT
at the private home of Kimberly Maisto, Keller Williams Southern Arizona
(above) 7 warrior/survivors (seated, l to r): Kaiona, Gerri, Martha, Melissa, Mel, Mary & Nicole with our 10 volunteers providing venues, hair, makeup, nails, wardrobe and individual photo shoots. (below left) Survivors with photographer Jana.
Kimberly (at left in photo on right) donated use of her spectacular 4,000 sq. ft. desert home for the retreat as our $2,500+ in-kind "Gem" sponsor, here with her daughter Jillian Maisto-Ortiz who donated use of Meta Beauty Studio AZ out back where she styled hair along with the makeup/nails salon providers. Gathering survivors together for the day is important to the project's purpose & success as no one can know their journey unless walking in those moccasins. Kimberly Maisto
(below) Wardrobe, salon services, volunteers and a shoot, followed by views of the home with salon out back and the master bed and bath serving as our photo studio.
Where the magic happens ... the master bed and bath.
PHOTO EXHIBIT at The Post Workspaces
(below right) Each survivor's own boudoir photobook, (below left) and 50 large-format canvas photographs featuring seven of each survivor.
We also hosted a special Sponsor Hour for donors + special guests, serving pink champagne & charcuterie.
A crowd came for the exhibition & stayed for the food trucks, free pink lemonade & silent auction!
Celebrating a Survivor's Beauty at Any Age, Any Stage—
to come back to beauty, back to sexy, back to fun & feeling pretty.
(left photo) Chelle Peterson (at right) & Dan Wesson donated use of their spacious, beautiful venue for our photo exhibit featuring 50 large canvas photographs of the 7 survivors, stars of the show. Chelsea Lopex (at left) took the lead creating an extensive and varied silent auction (above).
(far left) Top sponsors Drs. Mahabir (left) & Kurtovic flanking project creator & photographer Jana.
(left) Jana with nonprofit partner Nadia Larsen of nadiastrong.org, an organization dedicated to helping survivors' recovery.
What 2022's Survivors said about their Pink-Ribbon Boudoir Experience:
Melissa says it made her feel: "Amazing. Beautiful. Strong. Confident. Vulnerable. Courageous. Nervous. Like a Queen! One of the best days EVER!"
"Thank you for making me feel beautiful, special, one of a kind. You killed it."
"I loved my book. I see someone who is fierce & stunning—it's different than the way I see myself." Melissa
"When I went through breast cancer I benefited from meeting others who did too, seeing that 'This isn't gonna be the end, this isn't gonna be the end.'" Nicole
"How
can I choose, you make me look so pretty!"
"Thank you for photographing me! So amazed that you showed me MY beauty!" Martha
"I welcomed the opportunity to feel sexy, strong and beautiful while showing our community what survivorship looks like." Mary
"This is an incredible event. The camaraderie among the ladies was the best part, seeing their faces light up with laughter." Mel
Our Mission
To improve the emotional health of survivors by inspiring hope and encouragement in a group setting to bond in sisterhood, to enhance self-image and confidence seeing beautiful photos of themselves, and to share them with the community to show the faces of survivorship.
Our Vision
Recognizing the emotional and physical stress and loss one goes through during treatment and therapy for breast cancer just to stay alive, it is our goal to help provide resources to rebuild positive body esteem, self-love and personal attractiveness all at no cost to them—survivors have been through and lost so much already.
There is no shortage of survivors—so we did it again in 2023 to help mend lives of 5 more survivors, rebranded by our sole sponsor Tucson Plastic Surgery Foundation as the Beyond Beautiful 2023 photo retreat, Arizona's 2nd annual boudoir photo event for breast-cancer survivors.
For more about Pink-Ribbon Boudoir + 2022's project photos, visit website dedicated to pinkribbonboudoir.com