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Tonight’s Rachel Zoe Project, the Bravo channel’s reality series about the celebrity stylist will include a spot on Rachel’s support of ovarian cancer.
Rachel, who lost a close family friend to the disease, decided to use her fashionista connections to help bring awareness to the disease that, until recently, no one talked about. Rachel, who made a name for herself styling A-list stars, decided that it was time to start talking. One night this spring, on famed Melrose Avenue in LA, she threw a charity event that included the resale of 200 of her favorite accessories from her personal closet for the benefit of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.
The evening was surreal. Most of the attendees, very young and impossibly thin, crowded the small shop that hosted the glittery evening. Jewels were strewn about as though a bomb had gone off in Harry Winston’s window, Judith Leiber bags were strategically tossed about, and haute couture belts and jackets decorated every inch of precious space in the intimate venue. One certainly felt that we were in someone’s closet.
Rachel and her entourage arrived and the place buzzed with excitement as she did interviews on why she chose ovarian cancer. It is a disease seldom associated with beauty, especially in this group. One normally thinks of ovarian cancer as affecting older women and certainly not Rachel's fashion-obsessed clients in Beverly Hills.
However, Rachel - notoriously overworked and undernourished - decided that she could make a difference. Named by MSN.com as one of the 10 Most Influential Women of 2006, her influence could reach women who would never listen to a public service announcement on this subject and too often ignore symptoms that might signal a problem. So Rachel opened the doors to her "closet" and her reality show to focus on awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. She also donated receipts from the sale to further the cause.
I got to make a brief appearance to thank Rachel for bringing visibility to a disease that might as well be annonymous. It is thanks to people like her, who decided it was time to stop being demure about “female problems” and speak out loud about ovarian cancer, that the word is finally getting out.
Bravo, Rachel.
Add a Comment5 Comments
I think it's great that Rachel Zoe has made an awareness. We need to get this conversation going!
October 2, 2009 - 2:18amAnd Ovarian Cancer doesn't just show up in thin people. I am overweight, have been all my life, tried every
diet under the sun, was in line for the ban weight loss surgery when things started falling apart. I had biopsy
done befor to make sure nothing else was going on. Thank God I had doctors. My point is don't let your weight
status fool you, if you are feeling sick, and alot of the side affects, go to your doctor and stress your concerns.
Thanks Rachel for giving of yourself, and keeping the cause for a cure or a test going. God Bless You.
I'm a 4 year Ovarian Survivor!!! Yeah!!! Together we can beet this thing : )
Patty B, Delaware
This Comment
What a wonderful idea! Maybe others could clean out closets to raise funds and awareness, even if they're not in Hollywood. I'd really enjoy getting a group of friends together to do something like this.
September 29, 2009 - 5:38pmThis Comment
Great idea, Pat! I found that I never miss those things anyway, so why not put them to work helping save women's lives. And, it's tax deductable, too. If you go to www.ovariancancer.org, the charity is gathering things to sell on ebay for this purpose. Let me know if I can help with that.
September 29, 2009 - 6:17pmThis Comment
Certainly looking forward to the episode, thanks so much for reminding me it was on tonight!
September 29, 2009 - 2:01pmThis Comment
I can't wait to see the episode -- missed it last night. Love the article.
September 29, 2009 - 1:19pmThis Comment