How breast cancer survivor and creator Amber Denae Wright turned pain into purpose, rebuilt her identity, and learned to live a life filled with joy, gratitude, and unapologetic authenticity.

Let’s start with you. For readers who may be discovering you for the first time, how would you describe who you are and what you’re passionate about in a few sentences?

I’m Amber Denae Wright, an accountant turned interior decorator turned content creator. I’m a wife and a dog mom. I am also a breast cancer survivor. In 2020, I was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at age 27, and my journey to becoming a content creator began when I started sharing my story of going through my cancer treatment online.

I’m also passionate about raising awareness around breast cancer and the importance of knowing your body and trusting your intuition. Had I not found the lump in my breast and insisted on having it removed, I may not have been here today. Knowledge is power, and through sharing my journey, I have tried to use my platform to show that you can get through a cancer diagnosis and come out thriving on the other side.

Your journey is one of both courage and reinvention. Could you share what your breast cancer journey has taught you about yourself, your body, and your relationship to healing?

It taught me that I’m far stronger than I ever realised. If you’d asked me before my diagnosis if I thought I could survive five months of chemo, three breast surgeries, radiation, and five years of hormone treatment, I probably would have said, 'No way!' But I did – and not only did I survive it, I took the pain and the hardship, and I made something meaningful of it. I supported others on their journeys. I strove to build an online community that was real, raw, and vulnerable, and I built a life I’m passionate about and a career that I love.

My body showed me that it can survive things I never imagined, but it also reminded me that softness and vulnerability are strengths, too. This journey taught me to ask for help, to look inward at the person I am, and to work on that person. It showed me what is truly important in life. My healing wasn’t just physical – it was emotional, spiritual, and deeply transformative.

Representation in survivorship is powerful. What does it mean to you to be a breast cancer survivor – and more specifically, a young survivor?

Being a young survivor feels like holding two truths at once: grief for what was taken and gratitude for what remains. Cancer took so much from me at such a young age. It drastically altered the course of my life, and I had to rewrite the plans I’d had for my future. But it also gave me so much. It gave me a fresh perspective. It strengthened my marriage, despite what it took from it.

And I always want to show that – although life as a survivor will never be the same as before and although there will always be challenges – it can be even better than you thought possible. Survivorship is also about your mindset, and I refuse to let cancer steal my hope for the future, my joy, or my passion for life. Because if I did allow it, then cancer would win twice.

You were a model in this issue of the magazine. How did it feel to step in front of the camera again, knowing everything your body has moved through and carried you through?

One of the things I did during my treatment was to model. Bald head and all. And that was one of the most empowering things I could have done during that time, because it was me saying to the world that it isn’t my physical attributes that make me worthy or beautiful, but rather the person God made me to be. It was me saying, “This is who I am. Real, raw, and stripped back. And I’m proud of who I am.”

This shoot felt like a big milestone for me – a dream come true. As a young girl, I always wanted to model and/or “be famous”, and every time I get to work with an amazing brand like Wellness Warehouse, or someone recognises me when I am out and about, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude for all the dreams I had that have come true or are coming true. I am living my dream, and this shoot was a part of fulfilling that dream, so I am so grateful!

For many women, breast cancer is linked to identity, femininity, and self-image. How did the experience impact the way you see beauty, confidence, and your own femininity?

It completely dismantled the old and unrealistic definitions I was holding onto. Beauty stopped being about perfection and became about depth and comfort in who I am. Confidence shifted from how I look to how I carry myself. And femininity? I realised it doesn’t live in breasts, hair, lashes, or symmetry – it lives in how you treat others, how you carry yourself, and who you are within. Ironically, losing the markers of what I thought made me feminine made me feel more “womanly” than ever.

Your content covers makeup, travel, fashion, and lifestyle – yet there’s always a sense of realness and softness in what you share. How do you decide what moments of your life you want to share publicly versus what you hold sacred and private?

I have always tried to be open and authentic in the content I share. I don’t want to portray a perfect life, because there is no such thing. I think that is what made my page grow during my cancer treatment – it was the fact that I was being open about the hardships and I was showing up honestly and sharing the hard truths about what I was going through, while still trying to inspire hope in others. I tend to share most of my life on social media, because I love to share and love the community I get to share it with.

Although social media is always going to be a highlights reel, my intention is never to make my life look unattainable or unrealistic, because I think there is already so much of that in the world. That’s why I love what my husband, Nick, and I create through our joint page, too, because we are trying to show that marriage isn’t easy – that it takes work and that you will drive each other mad sometimes, but that is okay. That is real life. And the response to that has been amazing.

Of course, not everything makes it online. Some things stay sacred, private, or still-in-progress. But my intention is always to show a real version of my life – one that encourages connection, not comparison.

Let’s talk beauty and makeup. How has your beauty routine evolved through treatment and recovery? Are there any products, rituals, or approaches that have become especially meaningful to you?

I actually had so much fun creating crazy makeup looks when I had no hair. It was so fun to play, and as my hair grew back, I got to experience loads of different, edgier looks – which was a lot of fun. I have always and will always love makeup. I am a full glam makeup kind of girl and always will be. However, post-cancer, I’m definitely more intentional about what I put on my skin.

I learnt that everything we eat, drink, or put on our skin is absorbed into our bodies, and a lot of the products out in the world today are actually very harmful. So, I try to make healthy, educated decisions, especially when it comes to beauty and skincare.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also leaned more into a “less is more” philosophy, especially for days when I’m just at home or running errands. I’ve also invested more time in taking care of my skin and going for regular treatments. After having pretty bad skin as a teenager, I’m so grateful to be in a place where I’m confident to appear on Instagram bare-faced or to go to the shops wearing no makeup.

Travel feels like such a powerful metaphor for healing and expansion. What role has travel played in your personal growth, and is there a destination that you feel changed you?

If I could, I would travel 100 times a year. It’s the thing that fills my cup the most. Nick always says to me, “You’re always happier when we have a trip planned” – and it’s so true! I love experiencing different places and cultures and sharing new experiences with my family.
The destination that really blew me away was the Maldives. When I was going through treatment, Nick read a book that spoke about how important it was to have something to look forward to during the tough times. We needed a silver lining at the end of the dark tunnel of breast cancer, and so we planned my dream trip to the Maldives. We ended up overlapping it with our five-year wedding anniversary, ten-year dating anniversary, and Valentine’s Day. And, of course, it was a celebration of surviving and beating breast cancer.

Cancer really showed us how short life is, so we prioritise travel now more than ever. It will always be one of our biggest goals.

Style is often storytelling. How would you describe your personal fashion aesthetic today, and how does it help you express who you’re becoming?

Nine times out of ten, you’ll catch me in a crop top. I always get teased for never having full-length shirts. But in all honesty, my style is quite varied. In the week, I like to be comfy and casual, especially if I’m at home editing or running errands. But when it comes to events, dinners, or parties, I’m the girl who’s always overdressed. I love to wear heels, I love to dress up, and I love to wear beautiful things. As I’ve gotten older, comfort has become way more important to me than it was in my 20s, which means more mom jeans and less skinny jeans.

Many women going through breast cancer feel alone. If you could speak directly to someone currently in the midst of diagnosis or treatment, what would you want her to hear, in your own words?

I would tell her: You are not weak for feeling scared. You are not vain for grieving your body. You are not alone in this, even if it feels like you are. I would tell her to take it one appointment, one hour, and one breath at a time. Lean on the people around you, ask them for help, and tell them what you need from them. Give your body the time and freedom to rest.

And please remember: you will not stay in this version of your life forever. You can get through this, and you can get to the other side and lead a fuller, happier, and healthier life than the one you had before. You can survive, AND you can thrive after cancer. My life is living proof of that!

Community is such a crucial part of survivorship. What communities, friendships, or support systems helped you feel held during this journey?

My husband, my family, my closest friends, and the online community that surrounded me with love in ways I never expected. Women who had walked this path before me were like lighthouses, guiding me and reminding me that survivorship is a sisterhood.

I also had an incredible medical team who treated me with such care and humanity. The combination of personal and professional support carried me through and humbled me deeply.

You’re a creative, a storyteller, and someone who inspires. What projects, dreams, or messages are you excited to explore next?

This year has been so fulfilling in so many ways. We’ve been able to work with so many of the brands on my dream board. We travelled overseas for work and attended the most incredible events. This year has taught me that no dream is too big, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the new year will hold for us and our work.

2026 is also a really big year for us because I will be finishing my hormone treatment in April, and then we can begin our journey to parenthood, which is one I have longed for, for so many years.

We are very excited for this next chapter and to close the chapter on all my cancer treatment at last.

For more inspiration, follow Amber at @amberdenae22 on Instagram.