Meet the Models, NYC: Marcella Powell

Marcella Powell radiates a bright spirit. When asked how breast cancer has impacted her, she confidently exclaims, “we will never be defeated because we are warriors who took on a war with cancer.” Indeed, her story is one of self advocacy that went on to save her life. When an itchy breast prompted a self exam, Marcella noticed a small amount of white discharge. It didn’t sit right with her, so she went to the doctor who assured her it was normal. She sought a second opinion, which revealed a small tumor that was HER2 positive breast cancer. She went on to endure the “red devil” of chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy, all while caring for her 8 year old daughter. 

Of this time, Marcella is certain the hardest part was telling her daughter: “having to tell an 8 year old you have cancer is one of the most life shifting things. Holding her while she cried was so painful.” Luckily, Marcella had an incredible tribe of support around her. Her Aunt Veronica, grandmother and sister ensured she never sat at an appointment alone. Her best friend relocated from North Carolina for an entire year to be there to support her. It was love that blew her away: “I was so blessed to have them. They were there and I felt so honored to have them by my side.” 

Today, Marcella acknowledges the ways cancer continues to affect her. She has lessened stamina and still feels like she is healing mentally and emotionally from the trauma. She aims to control what she can through that healing process-from going to the gym, seeking out a nutritionist and attending therapy. Of this time she says, “treatment may have stopped, but we are still healing and processing that our minds and bodies aren’t the same.” Indeed, cyclical scans don’t scare Marcella in terms of the possibility of recurrence, but the actual motions of attending them prove to be very triggering and unsettling. She chooses to move through it with the support team she has built around her and investing in empowering the next generation, chiefly her daughter, to seek as much genetic testing as available. 

Noting her new take on life means she likes to “leave my print on everything” it won’t be surprising her resilient spirit will light up our runway this October.