FASHION
THE ART OF THE BRA
Art Bra Austin gives cancer survivors the confidence to embrace their bodies. BY FIZA KUZHIYIL
When Norma Jean Chapa heard the words “you have lymphoma” eight years
72 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2021
Challenge Accepted - Artist Jessie Young, Model Lindsay Artis, Photographer Flashbax23
Gold Goddess - Artist Leah Lucas of Kendra Scott, Model Leah Rose Duncan, Photographer Flashpool Productions
Photos courtesy of Art Bra Austin.
ago, she replied, “That’s cancer, right?” Though she was given news nobody ever wishes to receive, Chapa felt blessed to know what to do with her diagnosis, thanks to her years of work with Art Bra Austin and the Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC). “I didn’t get scared,” Chapa says. “I didn’t feel alone. Because I knew that I had all of this support, [and] even though it was lymphoma, I knew that someone at the BCRC was going to be able to point me in the right direction.” For over 20 years, Art Bra Austin has raised money for BCRC. As Art Bra’s creative director, Chapa shares her experience with Art Bra and the support it offers to cancer survivors. “When you find that something that kind of marries your passion, it’s really easy to put in the hours,” she says. “It’s easy to support, and you don’t even really think about the hundreds of hundreds of hours that you’re donating every year.” Art Bra hosts an annual fashion show where survivors and clients of the BCRC model top pieces designed by local artists. “Our whole purpose for Art Bra Austin is to create visible, wearable art,” Chapa says. “I want people to look at the runway and look at that bra and go, ‘I could wear that bra under a beautiful jacket to a gala.’ I want them to visualize themselves in this bra.” Chapa says her favorite part about the event is watching new models enjoy walking the runway. The models are at various stages of breast cancer, many facing the effects of treatment. “There is nothing more rewarding than having a new model who’s never done it before,” says Chapa. “She’s so nervous, you know. They’re wearing a bra. It’s really helping them to embrace their new body. “I cannot tell you how many times that we have had a really nervous model [say], ‘I can’t do this, I can’t do this.’ I [say], ‘I promise you, the moment you put your foot on that stage, nothing else in the world is gonna matter.’” Not only do the models take the stage; they embrace it. “The reason why we do it is to help [each woman] feel empowered to really understand
