Elisha Rodriguez Ford, 18, is a cancer survivor, struggling with a life-threatening diagnosis. And with family and friends by her side, she bravely faced the fears and anxieties that come with it and remained a relentless fighter.
On Friday, she walked into Jack Studios in Manhattan and took her first steps into the fashion industry with an exclusive photoshoot designed just for her.
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And it was quite a photo shoot inside the Chelsea studio.
“It’s my first time doing something like this and if I’m really honest, I really like it,” she said. “It means the world to me. All my life people have told me I should try modeling. So when this opportunity came up I thought why not take it.”
Make-A-Wish New Jersey was the driving force behind the event.
“She’s an amazing girl who wanted to model and do her own photoshoot in none other than New York, the fashion capital of the world,” a Make-A-Wish executive said. “So we’re just here to pamper her and bring out the role model she really is.”
Former New York Giants star Carl Banks was part of the team that helped grant Elisha’s wish.
“There is nothing more rewarding than helping out,” he said. “A life of service is important to me personally.”
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Elisha’s unforgettable day came with the help and support of wish-granting partners, G-III Apparel Group, including world-renowned brands DKNY and Starter.
She and her friends had their hair and makeup done by celebrity makeup artist Frank Guyton, styled by stylist Amanda Kraemer and photographed by fashion photographer Greg Sorensen.
“It’s a dream come true to be cancer free, and then I get that, it’s amazing,” she said. “I’m so grateful to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for doing all of this for me.”
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