When Allie Tate, founder of Portt, asked to collaborate on a potential project to support Fighting Pretty, I was extremely honored. As a woman who also experienced a cancer diagnosis at a very young age I felt I had a kindred spirit with Allie immediately after meeting her.
Once we got to talking, I felt even closer to her. She she went through something so traumatic and created a business to get back. Allie talked us through the process and showed us some other partnerships that she had worked on. Allie has such an incredible heart, amazing work ethic and creative talent to be able to develop inspirational products that make you feel a certain way, even when you’re at your most vulnerable. Fighting Pretty does the same just in a very different way. Great minds think alike!
When we talked about what to develop, we knew we wanted something that would be universal for not just women battling cancer, but for all women who face hardships and experience challenges that affect not only their self-esteem, confidence and self-worth, but their relationships, and emotional and mental wellness.
Looking back to January 2020, right before the pandemic, I was informed my breast implants were recalled and causing a rare form of lymphoma. At that time I felt as though I had been diagnosed with breast cancer all over again.
Thankfully, my implants were removed quickly, and they did not cause the rare form of cancer. However, many women did face that extremely unfair and unfortunate situation and some still have those implants in today because they just aren’t quite ready for another surgery. It was at that time people would ask me how I was doing and after going completely flat at 38 years old in a brand new relationship with my now husband, I never really knew how to answer that.
So, I would simply answer, “I’m fine.” After “Fighting Pretty” through yet another surgery that affected my body, my confidence, and my mental health, I started rebuilding myself and when asked that question, I would coyly reply to friends and family, “I’m f*cking fine.”
This new response meant, yes, I was fine. I was not great, I was not happy about having to go through a surgery, and I was extremely scared and nervous that I may get another cancer diagnosis from the implants I received after getting reconstruction from my breast cancer diagnosis, but I also was f*cking fine and even if I went flat, I would be FINE, as in beautiful, sexy, amazing, strong, extravagant, fancy, and all the things that I wasn’t sure I could actually feel after having no breasts - again. “F*cking Fine” became my personal mantra after going completely flat and embracing a whole new body, yet again. "F*cking Fine" meant all the things and all the feelings!
This one of a kind, universal tote bag in collaboration with Portt is created for all women who are fighting through anything. Whether they are experiencing a cancer diagnosis, divorce, a loss, hardship in their marriage, or just the simple struggles of life, this bag is a reminder for all women to know when someone asks how they’re doing, they can say “fine” with a little wink, because they know they are strong, amazing gorgeous, bad-ass and f*cking fine.
Get your hands on this F*cking Fine Tote Bag today!