September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Anyone born with ovaries is at risk for ovarian cancer. We sat down with our NOCC Global Awareness Ambassador, Grace Elizabeth, and talked about the unique ways she is spreading ovarian cancer awareness using her passion and skills.
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC): Why did you get involved with ovarian cancer advocacy?
Grace Elizabeth (GE): My mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2018. She had been misdiagnosed and brushed off multiple times by her doctors. The experience made it very apparent that there was not enough research, funding, or discussion around ovarian cancer. Neither of us were aware of the symptoms, which she had a majority of. Watching her undergo surgeries and countless treatments and seeing her fight for her life and fight for her family created a purpose for me. I wanted to fight as hard as her, fight for her, so I did so in the only way I knew how: be impactful and seen. I turned to my platform to advocate for ovarian cancer.
NOCC: How did your unique brand of advocacy come about?
GE: I’m a fashion model who works with brands worldwide. By doing so, I’ve gained a good bit of followers on social media, most of which are women. This gave me an opportunity to spread the message on a global level.
NOCC: What advice would you give to someone interested in spreading awareness in their community but may not know where to start?
GE: There is so much you can do – you can even start from your couch! Post signs and symptoms flyers on social media, and share stories from fighters & survivors. There are also a number of walks and special events to raise funding and awareness for ovarian cancer throughout the country. Contact your hometown events coordinator and ask if you can turn the town teal. Go to your local businesses and ask if you can leave flyers of the signs & symptoms of ovarian cancer in their establishment. Contact an organization directly and ask them how you can make an impact!
On the NOCC’s website, you can download free tools and resources to share on social media, in person, and everywhere in between! It can start with a click of a button and escalate to something on an even larger scale. From here on out, I’m passing the TEAL torch to you!
Grace Elizabeth
Hailing from Florida, Grace Elizabeth is one of the most notable American models of the current era. After a significant appearance for Miu Miu for her debut runway season in 2016, she immediately became one of the most sought-after talents by top photographers like Steven Meisel, landing covers for numerous editions of Vogue, V Magazine, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. She also fronted campaigns for Chanel, Etro, Max Mara, Michael Kors, Versace, and many more. Simultaneously, she became the primary spokesmodel for Victoria’s Secret’s PINK line, and landed one of the most coveted industry accolades – a beauty contract with Estee Lauder in 2018 that remains ongoing. Today, Grace Elizabeth continues to show command both on and off the runway, maintaining her in-demand status with rare longevity. She also puts in great effort towards the fight against ovarian cancer, a disease that has afflicted her family in recent years. Grace can be found on Instagram.
