Lindsay Avner
Founder, Bright PinkIf ever someone turned lemons into Bright Pink lemonade, it was Lindsay Avner. The sour lemons she was dealt came in the form of a trying family history of breast and ovarian cancer, and a mutation on her own BRCA1 gene that put her at ultra high risk for the diseases, and ultimately led her to opt for a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy in her early twenties. Now Lindsay, just shy of thirty years old, is helping women and girls across the nation through the organization she began right out of college, the only of its kind: Bright Pink focuses solely on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women, providing peer support, educational programs and an annual super-fundraiser called Fab Fest, which this year has the recently-effected Giuliana Rancic (a good friend of Lindsay’s) on board to host.
REGISTER FOR FAB FEST BY SIGNING
UP FOR A TEAM AT FABFEST2012.ORG
BEAUTY MUST-HAVES >> scent: ALLURE BY CHANEL // moisturizer: YES TO CARROTS // mascara: EYES TO KILL BY GIORGIO ARMANI // lipstick: AMAZING COSMETICS // nail polish: ESSIE WALTZ // hairspray: TRESEMME TRES TWO EXTRA HOLD HAIR SPRAY
Q: Bright Pink is all about women’s health; do you think beauty is a part of that too?
A: It absolutely is! Breast and ovarian cancer strike at the heart of a woman’s femininity; we believe there is so much beauty in strength and that we feel most beautiful when we are proactive about managing our health.
Q: Absolutely. Even the name, Bright Pink, is feminine. What is your favorite beauty or fashion item in a bright pink color?
A: My pink Allie pumps from Dana Davis.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part about starting this organization?
A: Each day I wake up and am so blessed to have the chance to have a positive, life-saving impact on the lives of so many young women. Does it get any better than that?
Q: I don’t think so. You do so much for others, what do you like to splurge on for yourself?
A: Fitness classes! Tabata with Julie Valenti at Equinox, Yoga at FFC with Stacy Levy and Spin at Go Cycle with Emmy Rigali are all some of fav’s!
Q: Are you a work-out-alone or work-out-with-friends type of athlete?
A: Two of my closest friends and I have a standing workout and healthy dinner at Protein Bar date every Monday. Unless one of us is out of town, we never cancel.
Q: Fun! And one final question. What is the best beauty tip you ever received?
A: Q-Tips are the most brilliant beauty tool ever created!