Rocio’s Story

Meet the Models, SoCal: Rocio Martin Hoyos

In early 2023, Rocio Martin Hoyos was in one of the healthiest seasons of her life—physically strong, emotionally grounded, and deeply focused on wellness. She had prioritized her body and mind for months, and was feeling better than she had in years. So when she found a lump, it came as a jarring surprise.

Still, she describes the moment with a quiet clarity: “In a strange way, breast cancer came to me when I was ready for it.”

A biochemist by training, Rocio had a greater-than-average understanding of the disease, but that didn’t lessen the emotional toll. She was diagnosed on February 15, 2023, and underwent a lumpectomy followed by radiation. Throughout her treatment, she leaned on her global support system—her cousin, a doctor in Spain, provided insight and guidance from afar, while her sister stayed by her side through surgery. Local friends ensured meals showed up when she couldn’t cook, and her two young children became her reason to keep going.

Still, Rocio knew that the journey wasn’t only physical. She made an intentional decision to shift her mindset from fear to presence.

“Breast cancer gave me a completely different perspective on what it means to live, love, and care for myself.”

That shift changed everything. Rocio began to live with more intention, adopting a plant-based diet, staying active with yoga and long walks, and reducing stress wherever possible. “I’m focused on keeping my body strong, which also keeps my mind strong,” she says. “I carry less burden, seek balance, and stay grounded in gratitude.”

Her experience didn’t just alter her daily routines—it transformed her sense of purpose. Cancer, she says, was both a challenge and a gift. It reminded her to slow down, to embrace simplicity, and to find joy in the ordinary. It became a spiritual turning point—one that helped her see her resilience, prioritize her well-being, and discover what truly matters.

This year, Rocio is stepping onto the runway with a special wish: to walk alongside her children. After modeling solo in 2025, she’s now ready to share the moment with her greatest sources of strength—her kids, now 10 and 8—who have walked this path with her in quiet and powerful ways.

“Cancer made me aware of the reality of death,” Rocio says, “but it also gave me the gift of seeing life with different eyes.”

As she prepares for the February 2026 show in Southern California, Rocio does so with reverence—for the past, for the healing, and for the small, sacred moments that now define her days. Her runway walk will be a celebration of clarity, of courage, and of the deep gratitude she now carries with her, always.