Pat and Anna Cleveland Make Fashion Bliss in Harper's Bazaar Spain April 2023 AOC Fashion

In the Harper’s Bazaar Spain April 2023 fashion story ‘Romper Barreras’ [‘Breaking Barriers’], Pat Cleveland and Anna Cleveland are styled by Inmaculada Jiménez in images by Vladimir Martí [IG] for ‘The Picasso’ issue./ Hair by Jesús De Paula; makeup by Kley Kafe.

A Model Icon’s Life Turned Inside Out in March 2019

In Spring 2019, legendary AfricanAmerican model Pat Cleveland was diagnosed with colon cancer. The then 68-year-old model icon rushed to the American Hospital in Paris, after walking the Tommy Hilfiger and Zendaya show in very early March.

Resulting from the emergency surgery in Paris on March 23, Cleveland’s colon cancer was detected. Anna Cleveland, Pat’s daughter, who is also a model and performer, was living in Paris and able to care for her mother during the crisis.

4 Years Later, Pat Cleveland Is Thriving

In a miracle of miracles moment, Pat Cleveland is thriving four years out from her life-threatening medical event.

Colorectal cancer disproportionately affects the Black community, where the rates are the highest of any racial/ethnic group in the US. African Americans are about 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and about 40% more likely to die from it than most other groups.

Even though we are celebrating this wonderful fashion story of both the Cleveland women — Pat and daughter Anna - I know they will appreciate this factual reminder to the many people of color who read AOC that regular exams are key. They are key for us all, but especially for you.

And with this much talent among creatives of color on one website, I’ll just sound like your mother for a moment.