After surviving breast cancer, I decided to celebrate my body by modeling for a life drawing class. The following poem is one I wrote about that experience.

“The Model”

This is not the body

Of a young model,

Tight and defined.

You may have to look

Beneath the surface

To find the lines of muscle.

But this is my gift to give-

To stand before you

With no shame.

To share this body

That has been given

A second chance.

I carry the weight of years,

Childbirth, cancer,

Lessons from life.

And the scars you cannot see,

Deep inside,

Continue to heal.

This offering

Is a part of that healing.

So draw me as you see me,

Imperfect,

But whole.

I have been to the edge

And back again,

And I have nothing

Left to hide.

-Rishell Graves

**The woman in the photo is not Rishell Graves who lives far away from my studio in Tucson, AZ -Jade

A Beautiful Body Project is dedicated to reshaping body image in mass media for women and future generations of girls. Please consider pre-ordering the upcoming book: The Bodies Of Mothers or giving it as a gift to someone you know. Thanks!