(WSVN) - A South Florida jewelry designer is using her creations to share inspiring stories of survival. 7’s Lynn Martinez shows us how she’s helping other women “Keep Going” in our special report.
We see models selling products all the time. From makeup to bikinis, it’s all about perfection.
But one South Florida jewelry designer wanted her ads to be different.
Jennifer Potter, jewelry designer: “Show women that life isn’t always exposed through a filter. That we are real women.”
Her newest design is a necklace with the phrase “Keep Going” on it. A testament to her tough times.
Jennifer Potter: “I have had a lot of struggles in my life, as we all have. I look at it every day and remind myself that you’re powerful, you’re strong, you need to keep going.”
When it came time to advertise her new collection, she wanted real women to show off the necklace.
When she found Jessica, a cancer survivor, and Kassandra, who has dealt with body issues all her life, she knew they were as real as you can get.
Jennifer Potter: “I really felt like they’re the kind of women I design jewelry for. I always say I design jewelry for the unapologetic woman.”
Kassandra fought eating disorders, depression and even cut herself. Until she decided to fight back.
Kassandra Perez: “All my life I’ve been really heavy-set. At first I just wallowed in my own self pity, and I woke up one day and decided that that wasn’t going to be the case.”
Jessica had cancer.
Jessica DeCristofaro: “I went into respiratory failure, and they told me I had Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Your world is just pretty much falling apart, and you don’t know what to do.”
She is in remission now, but will always have scars from her surgeries.
Jessica DeCristofaro: “This is the scar from my lymph node biopsy. It was under both armpits. This is my port, and they put my chemotherapy through it.”
Both women hid their scars, until Jennifer asked them to model her jewelry … with their imperfections uncovered.
Jennifer Potter: “We are all fighting a battle daily, and I feel like it needs to be something we share with others.”
Both women admit it was hard, but now they show their scars with the same pride they wear their treasured necklaces.
Jessica DeCristofaro: “So many people who have cancer are so afraid to show their bald heads. I don’t care.”
Kassandra Perez: “Any scar is beautiful, because it tells a story.”
And Jennifer hopes these real women, with real struggles, will inspire others to keep going.
To learn more about the Keep Going campaign, click here.
Jessica wrote a book about her battle with cancer. You may order it here.
FOR MORE INFO:
Jessica’s Book: “Talk Cancer To Me”
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