Michelle Heaton has downed her Celebrity SAS muddy combats and swapped them for designer chic in a stunning photo-shoot to help raise funds for breast cancer.
The mum-of-two, who was seen leaving Channel 4’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins a couple of weeks ago, is a passionate supporter of breast cancer awareness and was delighted to take part and model for the Breast Cancer Now charity Raishma photo-shoot.
Liberty X singer and motivational speaker Michelle was diagnosed 12 years ago with the BRCA2 mutation gene, which meant she had up to an 85% chance of contracting breast cancer at an early age.
Courageous Michelle, 44, went on to have a double mastectomy and later a hysterectomy, admitting she would have ‘done anything’ to save her life. Michelle’s paternal grandmother and great grandmother both had breast and ovarian cancer in their ‘30’s.
Michelle says: “Every day I am so grateful to be alive and to be here for my daughter Faith and son AJ. October is breast cancer awareness month, but for anyone affected by breast cancer, every month, every day, every hour matters.
“My own experience was totally devastating but with the love and strength of my hero husband Hugh and an amazing medical team, I am here and so grateful.”
Leading British fashion designer Raishma has partnered with Breast Cancer Now to donate 10 per cent of all sales from 17 specially selected dresses to the charity. The dresses are on sale now and the fundraiser lasts all year.
Pretty in pink and joining Michelle for the photoshoot by top photographer Sanjay Jogul was five women from all over the UK, aged between 34 and 71, all affected by breast cancer. These were Christine Hyde from Warrington; Dalia Ismail from Wokingham; Angela Jones from Scotland; Kam Maan from Nottingham and Sue Westgate, from Cumbria.
Michelle adds: “It was so much fun to get really glammed up and to share the day with these amazing women. The pictures are incredible and I hope they inspire all women to find an excuse to get dressed up and love and celebrate themselves. Like the theme of the photoshoot, ‘Still Me’, no matter what life throws at you, at your core you are amazing, powerful and beautiful.”
Each lady donned a stunning pink beaded evening gown, with Michelle modelling a ‘Blossom’ fuchsia pink off-the-shoulder dress. All the ladies enjoyed a full ‘make-over’ including hair and makeup by international expert, Gini Bhogal.
Designer Raishma Islam, whose dresses are a favourite with top female stars, including Susannah Reid, the Loose Women and Strictly dancer Amy Dowden, adds: “Michelle and all the ladies are an absolute inspiration. Everything to do with this very special photo-shoot was focused on empowering and celebrating anyone affected by breast cancer. Even our photographer, who sadly lost his mum to breast cancer, has been impacted. Fashion plays an important role in boosting any woman’s confidence and to remember they are still their fabulous selves, no matter what.”
