Jenna Lyons Helped Linda Evangelista Reframe Her Mastectomy- NewBeauty

During the recent “Potential Has No Age Limit” summit hosted by SHISEIDO, Linda Evangelista shared an intimate moment she had with Jenna Lyons and her partner and photographer Cass Bird that empowered her during a cover shoot. The result? Evangelista felt beautiful enough to pose for a photo featuring her mastectomy scars.

Evangelista recounted a time she was shooting the cover for the German magazine Zeit Magazin with Bird, who had Lyons accompany her to set. When Evangelista was changing, the couple asked if they could see the supermodel’s chest, which she’d only ever shown family. “They were like, ‘Wow, it’s so beautiful.’ I was like, ‘It is?’ I needed someone to say it. I should have known myself,” Evangelista said. She recalls them making her feel so beautiful she even took some photos with her shirt off, one of which was ultimately used in the magazine.

During the panel, the 59-year-old supermodel said, “What we really need is women supporting women,” since we’re all in this together, and her behind-the-scenes experience with Lyons and Bird is a perfect example. After sharing the story, the two held hands for a while on stage while the panel carried on.

Evangelista shared further sage advice on aging. “I have to keep reminding myself as someone who has battled cancer twice. I’m so happy to be alive. I don’t care what form it is in. I want to see my grandchildren one day,” said Evangelista. “I have too much left to do.” However, she recognizes taking the advice is easier said than done. “I believe what I tell people about loving oneself, but I got into trouble a few years ago because I didn’t take that advice and apply it to myself.”

In Evangelista’s book, happiness is the key to beauty. “If I like where I’m at and I’m happy, usually I look better,” she said. “We absolutely owe it to ourselves to be the healthiest we can be, and that translates as happy, and then happiness translates as, ‘wow, you look great.’”