Pat and Anna Cleveland Make Fashion Bliss in Harper's Bazaar Spain April 2023
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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.
Cleveland’s health insurance consisted of Medicare, which does not cover travel out of the country. A Go Fund me page set up by her husband, Paul Van Ravenstein raised nearly $150,000 to cover her medical expenses in Paris.
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. Living a vegan, yoga-rich, alcohol-free life did not protect this famous model from the dreaded disease, although her overall healthy body and positive attitude probably helped her recovery.
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.
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.
Ralph Lauren’s Groundbreaking Work in Cancer Care for Underserved Communities
Related: The Deep Love and Human Reality Check of Ralph Lauren's Pink Pony Campaign AOC Fashion
AOC and I personally are fans and students of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, 38, who was a key figure in the Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Campaign in November 2020.
Despised by MAGA, Dr. Kendi is the author and creator of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University.
Dr. Kendi’s own words left me shocked, sad and worried.
I am the son of a woman who had breast cancer, and my wife also fought breast cancer when she was in her mid-30s. I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in January of 2018, and then I underwent six months of chemotherapy. I had surgery in August 2018. Luckily, I’ve been OK ever since. There was a time in which I didn’t think I would be here.
No Justice
As if the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 wasn’t enough horror for caring Americans to bear, Chadwick Boseman then died on my birthday on August 28 — leaving most of us stunned with grief and sadness.
Then I found out about Dr. Kendi, writing about the Pink Pony Campaign in early November. It was a life-changing six months for me. When Virgil Abloh died a year later of cancer, all I could offer up is “There is no justice.”
Researching just now I see news of a major new development funded by Ralph Lauren in cancer care for underserved communities. I’ll write up the May 2022 announcement, but here is the press release.
