Former Miss Venezuela Eva Ekvall has revealed the shocking reality of her battle with breast cancer in a new book of photographs, challenging the country's obsession with glamour and perfection. The 28-year-old, who was diagnosed with advanced cancer last February, documented her gruelling eight-month treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, and a mastectomy, in the book 'Fuera de Foco' (Out of Focus).
The images show Ekvall bald, sick, and exhausted, a stark contrast to the polished image Venezuelans are used to seeing. 'The pictures were very shocking because nobody had ever seen me that way,' she said. 'Nobody had seen me bald, without makeup.' The book has become a bestseller in just two months and has sparked a surge in women seeking breast examinations, according to cancer awareness group SenosAyuda.
Ekvall, now recovered and sporting short hair, admitted she was angry at herself for delaying seeking medical help despite a family history of the disease. 'My aunt had breast cancer twice and my grandmother died from breast cancer. And I just let time go,' she said. She noted that Venezuelan women are quick to get cosmetic surgery but need encouragement to get mammograms, highlighting a taboo around breast cancer in a country where breasts are often displayed.
Throughout her treatment, Ekvall continued working as a TV news anchor, wearing a wig and makeup to hide her illness. 'It's painful to look at yourself in the mirror. You become some weird animal or something, you don't recognise yourself,' she recalled. Photographer Roberto Mata suggested documenting her journey, leading to the book that combines her darkly humorous emails and memories with striking images.
Ekvall, who was crowned Miss Venezuela in 2000 and is a finalist in Miss Universe, said the experience has changed her perspective. 'Now I do think that some things just happen out of nowhere,' she said. While the disease may return, she added, 'I made sure I told my story.' Her candid account has broken taboos about female beauty and shifted the focus from aesthetics to health.
