Some of you Divas may have seen that we have recently announced our fundraising campaign for Bristol Breast Care Centre.

Through doing what we do, we have talked to so many women who have come to us for a session following their experiences with cancer and something that has always struck us is their feedback about how crucial they found Boudoir during their journey of healing. In fact, it only really sunk in when one client actually told us her counsellor had told her to be photographed by us before and after her double mastectomy.

Stories like this are what inspired us to create the campaign, which is also why we wanted to introduce you to Helen, who can explain everything we just said, but much better!

What is your name and age?

My name is Helen and I’m 48 years old. I’ve been married to my husband, Phil, for 19 years and we live in a really old cottage in South Wales with three cats!

What made you decide to book your Boudoir Experience? I know that part of the reason you came to us was because of your experiences with Breast Cancer, which we know can be a very different emotional experience to other people who have booked. How did you find that?

The backstory is basically that I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I had to have my right breast removed. I also had to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After that, when I was thinking about reconstruction, I found out I also had the BRCA gene which makes me a lot more vulnerable to cancer so I then opted to have the healthy breast removed at the same time as the reconstruction, which they did by using my stomach. So, basically I am pretty much covered in scars; I have a great big scar that goes from hip to hip and they had to make a new belly button too. I also chose to have my ovaries removed so I really wasn’t feeling particularly feminine, which was why my lovely husband bought the experience for me. I just felt overweight, I always focused on the bad parts and I couldn’t see what other people were saying. I’m not a girly girl, I don’t really wear make up and I don’t own a pair of heels - I was so out of my comfort zone!

*With Phil just as my hair has started growing back.*

Obviously, we have quite in depth phone calls with you before your experience! Do you feel that it was an important part of the photography experience? Do you feel it added to the experience?

The phone call was a really valuable part of the process. It felt comforting to speak to someone who was able to talk through my concerns and advise on outfits to make the shoot personal to me.

Having a professional makeup artist work with you on the day, do you think this added to the experience, and what did it do for your confidence coming into the shoot?

The hair and makeup was a wonderful part. Harriet was so lovely and professional. She asked what sort of look I wanted, whether to be subtle or full on glam. I'm not one for loads of makeup so we went for a sultry, smokey eye and fairly natural lip. She was happy to talk and give makeup advice as she was working.

A lot of women feel self conscious about having a boudoir experience - knowing what you know now, what would you say to any woman feeling a little self conscious about herself and treating herself to this experience? Specifically, what would you say to women who are worried about booking in because of scars or changes in their body after operations?

Advice I would give anyone who felt self conscious would be to just go for it! The team are fantastic at what they do. Whatever age or body shape, they will make you feel a million dollars! They are incredibly experienced, and know what poses work and what lighting is best. I felt quite uncomfortable to start but after a very short time I started to feel like a model! Jesse was showing me positions and we had a laugh. I was a little worried having a male photographer, but he was so professional and friendly. He put me at ease straight away.

For women booking in after changes in their bodies from surgery or scars, I would say to talk to the team about what you want. They can edit out scars if that's what you choose, but I found that I was proud of mine. They are part of me and I am alive! They have plenty of props if you would rather cover up a bit. You can show as much or as little as you are comfortable with.

So, yes I would just say, any woman, any size, do it. Absolutely do it. We all deserve to feel beautiful.

I’ve seen the stories of other women and they were worried because they felt too big, or too skinny, or because of scars, but we all have our things and we all do this to ourselves - and we shouldn’t.

Every woman should do this. I honestly think Divine Divas should have a a studio in every town so we can all do this because how amazing that would be if we all felt so special

*My Boudoir photos! This one is important to me because you can see my scar.*

What was it like actually being photographed? How did you find the photoshoot itself? Tell us - what was the moment you saw your photos for the first time like?

Being photographed felt strange at first as I'm just not used to it but like I said earlier, Jesse really put me at ease. He was warm and friendly and made me laugh. He was very respectful and if an item of clothing needed to be adjusted he would always ask first so as not to make me uncomfortable!

So after your photoshoot there is your Design Consultation where you get to see your photos for the first time ever… I know your husband Phil was there too. What was that moment like?

It’s so lovely. I’ll always remember that when the slideshow started playing and we saw the photos, my husband just gave my hand a squeeze and said “you’re wearing that again.” Just seeing his reaction was so great. He’s always thought I was beautiful, he’s my rock, my everything - so to see his reaction meant so much. I genuinely couldn’t believe it was me.

Again, it was a great experience too. It’s not rushed, they give you time, they help you go through everything.

How have other people in your life benefited from this experience? What have they said about your photos!

When I saw my photos for the first time, I was almost speechless! My husband was with me and, like I said, it was lovely to see his reaction as well. Obviously he knew about the shoot but I hadn't shown him the outfits. He was so amazing and we chose one main photo to have as art on the wall (in our dining room!) and chose several to have in an album. I have shown several friends and they have all been so supportive and said how beautiful I looked.

Confidence is a big thing - in fact it is everything. How has this boudoir experience elevated who you are in different areas of your life - for example has this confidence affected your relationship or your career?

The experience was a huge confidence boost. I have copied the make up and hair a few times and felt amazing. I was even chatted up by a 25 year old on a night out with the girls!

If this experience helped you find part of you that you believe you had lost or maybe felt you had to hide away, which part of you do you believe you have been able to rediscover because of your boudoir experience with us?

The experience definitely made me feel more sexy. I have large areas that have no feeling because of nerve damage. People tell me I look great and have a curvy figure but I can't feel my breasts. They are created from my stomach so I also have loss of sensation there as well. It's an odd feeling, but this experience has certainly helped me to see myself differently.

How do you feel every time you look at your artwork now? So many people have said that this is the best money that they have ever spent on themselves - we know we are not cheap, but some times we just need to know that we are worth spoiling - do you believe that what you received was valuable and, thinking about it now and all that this will give you for so many years, do you believe that this was money well spent?

Every time I look at my artwork I feel a real sense of pride. It is something I will have forever. I have put on some weight as had my ovaries removed (due to BRCA2 gene) so went into surgical menopause. Lockdown didn't help either. Whilst I'm not feeling great about myself at the moment, I look at my photos and know I will get back there! They are quite expensive but the finish on the artwork and album is so professional. I know I will look back in the following years and think "damn, I'm hot!"

What surprised you most about the experience?

They listened to me! A big part of my life is that I’m a vegan and they made sure they got me suitable Prosecco and that my make up was cruelty free. They looked at me as an individual, not just someone else coming along for the experience.

Last question, what’s your top tip for anyone booking in?

Join the Divine Divas VIP Group! Talking to everyone at Divine Divas before was so lovely and they really put my mind at ease and suggested that I join their Facebook Group - and oh my goodness, what a lovely lovely bunch of women. Everyone there wants to big you up and make you feel amazing. Plus any questions you have, everyone is so helpful - even from things like where to buy your underwear from!

Are you a Breast Cancer or BRCA gene survivor? Or are you the loved one of someone who has been diagnosed? Are you ready to celebrate who you are? We’re donating the full Boudoir Experience and £250 towards artwork to raise money for Bristol Breast Care Centre.

Our goal is to raise £5,000 through donation and any profit we make from the Coffee Table Book, ‘Divine Amazon’s, which we will create using photos and stories from Divas who come to us!

Find Out More About Our Fundraising

Becoming A Diva After My Mastectomy: “I feel a real sense of pride. It is something I will have forever.”

After Three Years Working At Divine Divas, I Had My Own Boudoir Experience: “I Had Done So Much Inner Work For Myself, This Was About Celebrating That.”

Goddesses, Nudity and Nature… My Nude Experience Was Raw and Healing.