Personal Project • Portraits and Behind the Scenes of Exposed, The Dangerous Ones, Not Just One and Fearless

AnaOno x Project Cancerland x METAvivor, New York Fashion Week 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

About

I met Dana Donofree, the designer of AnaOno Intimates, through photographing her for my 'Sisters & Survivors' series.  

‘Exposed’, AnaOno Intimates and Project Cancerland present breast cancer survivors on the runway during New York Fashion Week, February 2017.  I met Dana Donofree, the designer of AnaOno Intimates, through photographing her for my ‘Sisters & Survivors’ project. Some of these images were made during the second show, The Dangerous Ones, in Feb 2018.

AnaOno Intimates is a breast cancer survivor-focused lingerie and lounge wear line. They’ve partnered with the nonprofit Project Cancerland and METAVivor, raising funds in support of research for Stage IV breast cancer.

My sister passed away from Stage IV breast cancer just 4 months after her diagnosis, at the age of 40. I’m creating this work in tribute to her and as part of my own awareness campaign to share that Stage IV breast cancer research needs more funding.

I'm honored and humbled to have met and photographed the survivors and creators of these extraordinary fashion shows. 

More info below the images

Statement

When I learned that Only up to 7% of all of the money raised for breast cancer research goes to help find a cure and prolong the lives of the many women and men living with terminal stage iv (metastatic) breast cancer; and how so few people are even AWARE of that fact, it really outrages me. And it’s personal.

My 10 year old niece (now 17) lost her mother, my only sister, to stage iv breast cancer that had spread to her bones, only 4 months after she was finally diagnosed with cancer at all. She was 40 years old.

Meeting and photographing some of these amazing thrivers and advocates and learning about all they're doing to help people living with mbc is giving me hope, and my heart swells for each and every one of them.

These fashion shows have been so much more than an incredibly creative, inspiring vision created by Dana Donofree, AnaOno, Cancerland and all of the others. They’ve raised over $100K for METAvivor Research and Support Inc.

I love telling stories through photography, and with this work I hope to use my work to help get the voices in this movement heard.

ALL IMAGES @CAREYKIRKELLA