Meet the Models: Christina Muratore

Meet the Models: Christina’s Story – For Katie.

Last year, Christina almost didn’t walk the runway.

She had just undergone her mastectomy. Her reconstruction was still healing, and she wasn’t sure she’d feel strong enough—physically or emotionally—to take the stage. But her sister Katie had nominated her and, as sisters do, gave her the loving push she needed. Christina knew that her own journey with breast cancer was far different than her sister's, and she would do anything for Katie.

“Katie was like, ‘Come on, you should do it.’ I wasn’t sure, but I said yes. I’m so glad I did. That night became a core memory—and now I have the photos, the hugs, the laughter. Because that was Katie’s last show. I didn’t know it would be. But I’m so grateful I was there.”

This year, Christina is walking again—this time in memory of her sister. And with a heart full of love for a community that didn’t just support Katie, but supported everyone who loved her too.

“The funding from Runway didn’t just impact Katie. It made a difference for all of us—because it meant someone was looking after her in ways I couldn’t always manage. That’s the ripple effect of this organization. You give to one person, but you lift the entire circle around them.”

Christina’s own experience with breast cancer is ongoing, even after surgery and treatment. She's now on a five-year Tamoxifen protocol, with oncology check-ins every six months. Physically, she feels strong. But emotionally, this past year brought new weight.

“When I had surgery, I had been preparing for it since I was 20. So when the time came, I was ready. I thought I was fine. But in the past year, especially after losing Katie, I’ve had to process everything more deeply. That grief didn’t come right away—it came later, and it came hard.”

She wants others to know that delayed processing is okay. That strength can look like just staying in it, showing up, even when the people around you assume you’re “all better.”

“Everyone wants to say, ‘You’re good now, right?’ And I never know how to answer. I did everything I was supposed to do. I hope I’m good. But it’s not a checkbox. It’s not over.”

Tamoxifen has its own side effects—hot flashes, dry eyes, even vision changes—but Christina doesn’t dwell on that part. What sticks with her more is the emotional nuance of life after cancer: the way people want certainty when you can only offer hope.

“What I really wish people would say is, ‘I’m glad you’re doing well—and I’m here if anything changes.’ That would feel more real.”

And real is exactly what Christina brings to the runway this year. She walks with grief. With gratitude. With perspective. And most of all, with purpose.

“Katie was the one who encouraged me to step into the light. And now, I carry her with me. In every step. On that runway. And every day after.”

At Runway for Recovery, we honor Christina’s honesty, her love for her sister, and her strength in walking forward while holding memory close. Her story reminds us that cancer doesn’t just touch one person—it echoes through families, friendships, and entire communities. And through support, through presence, and through purpose, we walk together.