The women‘The Cancer Research Gala is one of the most star-studded and impactful charity events of the year, and last night, March 16, An Unforgettable Evening raised a whopping $2 million in favor of women‘s Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Breast cancer is an incredibly complex disease, but with continued research and investment in science from amazing groups like the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, outcomes are constantly improving for those diagnosed. For more than two decades, the annual event has brought together leaders in research and philanthropy alongside Hollywood‘the biggest stars to raise awareness and financial support and last night‘the event was particularly special.
Che‘because our very own host and producer Sienna Leone was on the pink carpet, joined by her mother (and best friend) Gabby Leone, herself a breast cancer survivor and in recovery. There she chatted with stars like The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Cynthia Bailey and fashion icon Rachel Zoe, as well as leading physicians and philanthropists, including Breast Cancer Research Foundation President and CEO Myra Biblovit and Unsung Hero Award winners Dr. Stacey J. Stevenson and Richard J. Stevenson, who were recognized for their incredible contributions to breast cancer philanthropy. For the full scoop, read her interviews with them below.
(Photo: Gabby Leone)
Mayra Biblovit
Sienna Leone: This is something that I hold close to my heart because my mother, who I brought with me tonight, is recovering from breast cancer.
Mayra Biblovit: Well, you look damn good! And that’s the power of research that you’re standing here.
SL: She said just that – if it was‘for people like you and an organization like this, she would‘I won’t be here today, so thanks.
MB: After all, this is just research‘will consign breast cancer to the history books.
Gabby Leone: I‘m those 5% that chemotherapy did‘t works for. My oncologist said breast cancer is the most researched cancer, but we don’t have research for your type of cancer. Because chemotherapy does not‘they don’t work they don’t work‘I don’t know what to do, so they went around my case and had the oncologists and surgeons decide what to do with me.
SL: For young women like me, in my early 20s, it’s so important to get screened. What will you say about this?
MB: You know, all the guidelines say 40, but if there’s that kind of family history, observation is what‘there will be a difference.
SL: Finally, what does this event mean to you?
MB: It’s about people who are committed, coming together, using their celebrity and using their networks for good – and that‘it is a very wonderful thing.
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Cynthia Bailey
SL: I heard you recently turned 56. what’s your secret Because wow!
Cynthia Bailey: I will say it‘It’s just such a blessing to live to be 56. This birthday was kind of quiet for me. I thought, oh, I have to do a big photo shoot or do this and that, but I really ended up in a space with everything that‘i was just passing through-i‘i am recently divorced and my mom is actually a breast cancer survivor so i‘I am excited to be here tonight and to be part of the committee. I just wanted to relax and take it all in.
SL: Whatever‘you’re doing it, keep doing it because you look amazing! And you‘I have always been a woman‘health advocate so thanks for using your platform. Tell me a little bit about your performance tonight.
CB: My mother is on the other side of cancer — thank God — but when you‘are in it with a breast cancer patient, you‘you always wonder if everything is going to be okay. You‘you are constantly stressed. And one of the things I learned going through this breast cancer journey with her is how it affected her mental health. From the moment she was diagnosed, she went straight to this dark place of, “Oh god, me‘I will die.“ She just wasn’t‘I’m not optimistic and I found myself not only going back to Lake Bailey in Atlanta to make sure I could get her to her appointments, but also sort of her cheerleader – like, “You will do it. You‘will be great.“ I think a lot of time, people don’t‘you don’t realize the weight it puts on your psyche. Che‘is something me‘I talked about a lot, just sharing my experience with my mother‘breast cancer.
SL: What a blessing to have a mother alive on the other side. We are so happy. But you know, for young women like me, I think‘It is extremely important to get over it early. Any advice for young women and anyone dealing with breast cancer?
CB: Women in general should make sure you get your annual mammograms. Che‘that’s how my mother discovered her cancer and‘is something I try to be on top of. I have a very busy life and schedule, but as I get older – I just turned 56 – health is definitely a big focus and priority for me. It‘It’s very important to me to use my platform to have these conversations and encourage women to take care of themselves. I find that many women, especially entrepreneurs, can get so caught up in work that we put our health aside, but you can‘it doesn’t work if you‘you are not well
SL: And I think people don’t‘I don’t understand how much stress can add to the disease. That being said, how stress-free you are now that‘re out of The Real Housewives of Atlanta?
CB: (Laughs) I have less stress! I have to say I miss playing with the girls every now and then so I‘I was lucky enough to be able to pop in and out, hanging out in Atlanta a bit more. I go and support the ladies and that‘it was really great for me. My acting career is still my focus, but I have to say I like hanging out with the girls and finding out what their drama is, not really talking about mine. Me right now‘m no dramas!
SL: In terms of your acting career, what can we look out for?
CB: I have a couple of movies that are out right now on BET+, and I‘actually i’m leaving here tonight because of the red eye to shoot a tv series called Black mafia family. It‘happens! It‘it’s only been almost a year since i‘I was focused on my acting career and I‘I am so grateful that I‘I was able to transition from reality TV to acting because‘it’s not easy. It‘It’s important to me to get the job done and earn the respect of the other players who have been in the game for years.
(Photo: Gabby Leone)
Dr. Stacey J. Stevenson and Richard J. Stevenson
SL: Tell me about receiving the Unsung Hero Award tonight!
Dr. Stacey J. Stevenson: This is an incredible honor for an incredible cause. This award is not for us – it is for every single human being in this room who contributes to the energy to eradicate this dreaded disease. That’s why we‘here again. We‘I’m here for everyone else. We‘just singing it from the mountaintops.
SL: What’s your best advice for young women like me to stay on top and make sure we’re healthy?
SJS: For young women like you, you need to pay a lot of attention to your diet. It sounds like everything your mother ever told you, but it’s true‘it’s true. Lower inflammatory diets and follow-up nutrition. Vitamin D is well researched, as are many other nutrients. Believe it or not, exercise and fitness are critical—they’re like an elixir for your immune system. Also monitoring for cancer cells. Your physical fitness, what you put in your mouth, and how you engage in your relationships and your community—your spiritual health—are critical. You put a little bit of all these together and you‘healthy!
Richard J. Stevenson: And you get the book livelywhich is the best-selling book on the subject written by Stacey Stevenson.
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Rachel Zoe
SL: You‘you are an icon! I grew up in a fashion family, so I look up to you as a powerhouse, so much love and respect. Tell me why you‘I’m here tonight.
RZ: I would never be here. It‘It’s so important to come forward, and my family suffers from breast cancer. I have countless friends with breast cancer under the age of 40. It just goes on and on, and we can‘you still don’t cure it completely and if you do‘no early detection, that‘it’s really hard. If not‘don’t keep doing the work and during the research and making nights like tonight, this‘it will never go away. But it must go. For our children it must go.
SH: Thank you so much for using your platform for this cause. I appreciate you and those people, like Sharon Stone, who won the Courage Award tonight. I know you two are way back. Tell me why you think she‘is the perfect person for this award.
RZ: Sharon is fearless. She‘are a champion. There‘there is no voice louder than hers and she uses it for good. She has an energy and passion that is unmatched. I think her work for amfAR is simply indescribable. She‘she is here tonight too‘s loud—in a good way and for a good reason. She‘is incredibly beautiful and obviously has a heart – a huge one.
(Photo: Gabby Leone)
SH: You all do, using your platforms for these great causes. What‘is a trend right now that you‘loving and one that must go?
RZ: One trend I‘i love that i‘Ever since I was 13 I’ve always done chunky platform shoes. Apparently they make me happy. For that second part, I don’t‘I don’t really believe that anymore. I feel like fashion is such a form of personal expression and I think the world we‘living again in the now is very accepting and inclusive of all‘s style. Feels like the days of dos and don‘ts are gone.
SH: So what‘is next for you?
RZ: Now I have a podcast that people seem to like Climbing in heels. I have my women‘subscription curation business called Curateur, which I love. I have many licenses and partnerships that I design for. I‘I’m working on a new TV show. So, we‘will see!
(Photo: Gabby Leone)
Curious about how Siena prepares for a big event? Check out her Get Ready With Me story for the 80th Annual Golden Globes HERE.