At 22 years old, Faith Barber struggled with body image like any other young adult. Looking back on it now, however, Barber says she always felt like her self-doubts were relatively fixable with a little willpower and intention. Her sudden breast cancer diagnosis was an ugly and unexpected disruption to this line of thinking.

New insecurities cropped up, like mastectomy scars and hair loss — anxieties also felt by celebrities like Olivia Munn and Jenna Fischer. Oftentimes, looking in the mirror felt hard, and Barber had to remind herself that this was her real life. After going viral on TikTok for a video documenting the biopsy results that confirmed her cancer diagnosis, Barber leaned in, continuing to have candid conversations about confidence, positivity, and mental health with close to 300K followers.

Now, over two years in remission, she tells PS why she's taking the time to honor her body on her own terms. Everything about my cancer journey was fast-paced; my decisions had to be made quickly. I was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2021 at only 22 years old.

At the time, I had no idea I had a genetic mutation (called BRCA2) which put me at a greater risk for cancer. Within weeks of my diagnosis, I decided on a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, and as a result, I sadly had to say goodbye to my nipples. It was a lengthy, painful process, but it's a decision I don't regret making.

The loss of my girlies flipped my world upside down. No one prepared me f.