Rina’s Story

Meet the Models, SoCal: Rina Hawkins

When Rina Hawkins felt a lump in early 2024, she trusted her instincts and went to the doctor. Her gynecologist, trying to offer reassurance, suggested it might resolve on its own. But as the mass grew, so did Rina’s concern—and when she returned for a follow-up, the tone shifted. Soon she was navigating mammograms, biopsies, and what she describes as “a wild ride” into the world of breast cancer.

Rina was just 34 when she was diagnosed. Initially told it was stage two, further imaging revealed the disease had already spread—she was metastatic.

“When I was first diagnosed, I thought it would be treatment, surgery, and done. But everything changed so quickly. Suddenly there was no clear endpoint.”

A Metamorphosis of the Body—and the Self

Treatment brought physical changes, but it was the emotional reckoning that proved most intense. “I’ve had to accept that this body is never going back to what it was,” she says. “It’s like a metamorphosis—like becoming a different version of myself.” She’s learning to care for that new version every day. The process has been uncomfortable, but also empowering.

Before cancer, Rina lived freely—she traveled often, even living abroad. That kind of spontaneity has become more complicated. Metastatic Breast Cancer requires staying close to the medical team she trusts. “I’m used to picking up and going,” she says. “Now I’m grounded in a different way.”

Still, there’s strength in that "groundedness." Rina has built a care team she believes in and is learning to make room for the kind of support she once resisted.

A Sister’s Steady Hand

Among the many people who have walked beside her, Rina’s sister Brittany stands out. Though she lives in Atlanta, Brittany worked remotely so she could be by Rina’s side for every treatment, flying back and forth all summer. Their time together helped repair and strengthen a relationship that had once felt distant.

“We fought like sisters, and we’d grown apart a little. But when I got sick, she showed up—no hesitation. That kind of love is healing.”

Community, Connection, and Complexity

At a retreat in Arizona for young women living with metastatic breast cancer, Rina found both solace and sorrow. The shared experience was validating: “It was powerful to be surrounded by people who just get it.” But losing one of the women she met there was a sobering reminder of the weight this diagnosis carries.

“I’m still so new to this, and she seemed so full of life. Finding out she passed—it was really hard. That’s what makes this so complicated. There’s connection, but there’s also grief.”

Rina is learning to hold both truths at once: that joy and pain can coexist. That feeling beautiful and feeling broken are not mutually exclusive. And that accepting help is not a weakness—but a sign of strength.

Dancing in the Now

When she heard about Runway for Recovery, Rina was drawn to its mission of celebrating beauty and resilience—especially for those in treatment or living with metastatic disease. As someone who once struggled with self-image and femininity during treatment, the idea of dancing in designer clothes while surrounded by a supportive community felt both daunting and liberating.

“This is my first year with cancer. I’m still figuring out how it fits into my life. But I want to do things that feel joyful. I want to be seen. I want to honor this transformation.”

Her Words of Advice

To anyone newly diagnosed, Rina offers a simple but profound truth:

“Take a deep breath. Buckle up. It’s going to be a wild ride—but by the end, you’ll know exactly who you are. It’s painfully beautiful, and it will change you forever.”

As Rina prepares to walk the runway this February in Southern California, she carries with her a year of survival, sisterhood, and self-discovery. And for those lucky enough to witness her dance, it will be clear: she is not just enduring this life—she is living it, fully and fiercely.