Mom Generations Partners With Estee Lauder For Breast Cancer Awareness

From left: Jane Couto, Sharon Couto, Audrey McClellan. Photo courtesy of Estee Lauder.

The ladies of Mom Generations–Audrey McCelland, Sharon Couto, and Jane Couto–were three of eleven bloggers who recently partnered with Estee Lauder to promote the company’s Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign.  Bloggers were photographed in New York City and the photos will be used as inspiration for others to take action throughout October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

We spoke with Audrey about the experience and what it meant to her and her family.

Tell us more about Estee Lauder’s campaign.

The Estee Lauder Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign is phenomenal.  The Estee Lauder Companies 2010 Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Campaign, representing how women can take control of their breast health to “Connect. Communicate. Conquer.  Prevent Breast Cancer One Woman At A Time.”  They’re asking everyone to take the pledge to prevent breast cancer.  During October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, these images (there are 8 other bloggers who were photographed – Gala Darling from Gala Darling; Laura Kenny from AOL StyleList; Wendy Lam from Nitrolicious; Peter Shankman from Shankman; Amanda Steinberg from DailyWorth; Rachel Sklar from mediaITE; Renee Syler from Good Enough Mother and Annie Tomlin from Bella Sugar) will be used to inspire individuals the world over to take their own BCA pledge to support breast cancer awareness  and share their pledge with at least one person, encouraging them to do the same. Estee Lauder is really doing something remarkable and special here, and we are very excited and determined to do what we can to help spread the word.

From left to right: Jane, Sharon, and Audrey.

How did you get connected with Estee Lauder?

Estee Lauder approached me in July to work on their Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign with them.  Estee Lauder is a company I’ve loved for years and years and years, so when they contacted me about what they were doing for breast cancer awareness month and that they wanted all 3 of us involved – me, my mom and my sister – it was truly a pinch me moment.  They were clear from the beginning that we would be taking a breast cancer pledge by covering our bare breasts with our right hands, so we knew the intensity and true power they wanted to create with this campaign.

Were you nervous about being photographed?

Before actually getting to the shoot in NYC, I was a little nervous.  I’ve never done anything like this before in my life!  But as soon as we arrived on the set, you know, I wasn’t nervous at all.  I can’t believe I’m saying that, but I really wasn’t.  Everyone there made us feel so comfortable and so at ease.  The set was closed, so there was only a small amount of people who were actually there while the photos were being taken, and they were amazing.  We knew what the photos were representing, and that within itself relaxed us.  

Why is breast cancer awareness important to you and your family?

My cousin – Cathy Holden – passed away from breast cancer in 2004 after a 7 year battle.  She left 3 little kids behind.  I was just about to have my first son when she passed away and it really hit home to me that her kids were being left without a mother.  Even as a type that, it puts a pit in my stomach.  The photo shoot was very emotional for all of us because we did this shoot in honor of Cathy.  There wasn’t a dry eye between us as we wrapped that afternoon.  Breast cancer awareness has always been important to me, but it became one of my missions when I became a mother and knew that I wanted to help bring awareness to as many women and moms as I possibly could.   I’ve known many women in my life who have had breast cancer, many of these women have been survivors and some have not been.  For my family, awareness and supporting breast cancer research is something that we pledge to do forever.

What was it like seeing the poster up at Bloomingdales?

It was one of the most surreal moments of my life.  There we were, up there… for everyone to see.  In Bloomingdales!  It was incredible and I felt very, very proud.  I’m going to say it again, I just felt so proud to be a part of this campaign with Estee Lauder.  I also loved the photo that Estee Lauder had chosen.  We had done a couple other poses for the shoot, and we weren’t sure what one they were going to go with.  This one is my favorite because I love the wrapping of our arms around each other.