Shot by: Mark Borthwick
In August 2019, just weeks after her 23rd birthday, Toronto-born model Ash Foo was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Within days she was in surgery. Within months, chemotherapy had taken her long hair, along with the version of herself she had spent years seeing in the mirror and on set. She believed her career was over.
When she was cleared to return to work, she was encouraged to wear a wig, a way to look like the model she had been before. She bought one. It has never left its box. Instead, Ash walked into New York Fashion Week castings with a semi-shaved head, a scar down her stomach, and a quiet pride she had never felt before. That season reignited her career, and began her journey home to herself.
Seven years in remission, Ash was recently featured in Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony “The Power of Us” campaign, celebrated not just for her image but for her whole story. In this exclusive interview with Models of Canada, Ash shares her journey authentically, from the symptoms she ignored and the father who slept in hospital hallways so she’d never wake up alone, to the scars she now wears as badges of pride.
Models of Canada: Before we get into your story, tell us a bit about you. How did modeling first find you, and what do you love most about the work after all these years?
Ash: My name is Ash Foo. I started modeling in Toronto when I was 17, after being scouted by my mother agent Brandon, who, 12 years later, is still my mother agent today. I always dreamt of working in fashion ever since I was a young girl. I didn’t imagine I would become a model, but when the opportunity came, I took it as a stepping stone to gain more knowledge about the industry and see what other paths in the fashion world I could possibly explore.
Now, after over a decade of working in fashion, I can fully say that I love what I do and that I’m still learning and exploring the different areas of the industry. Fashion is an art form, and I love being a part of making creative visions come to life. Clothing has been my biggest form of self-expression since I was young, and getting to play and explore with clothing, photography, art and styling every day is a dream come true that little Ash could have never imagined for herself.
Models of Canada: Take us back to the moment you heard the diagnosis. Where was your career at the time, and what went through your mind about modeling when your whole world shifted?
Ash: I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in August 2019, shortly after my 23rd birthday. I was working consistently and actually ended up putting off taking time off work to come home to Toronto to get myself checked out. I remember having serious symptoms like back pain in the middle of the night and extreme abdominal bloating, to the point where lying flat on my stomach at yoga was uncomfortable. I knew something was wrong, but I put it off for a few months because I wanted to keep taking jobs that I didn’t want to miss out on.
When I found out what I had, I didn’t have much time to think about what life might become like after, because I was put into surgery the same week I was assigned an oncologist. I didn’t know I would be left with a massive scar that cuts all the way down my belly button. But it didn’t worry me too much because I’ve never been an underwear or swim model. It was after I started losing my hair from chemo that things started to really affect my mindset. After shaving my head, I felt like my career was over. Modeling makes you put a lot of your self-identity into your appearance. I knew I wouldn’t be able to work with my pre-existing clients anymore. I remember feeling heartbroken and looking in the mirror not recognizing myself. Over time I accepted the change for the sake of prioritizing my health, but it wasn’t easy. I turned my full attention inwards and focused on “fighting my battle” every day, rather than worrying about a future that was out of my control.
Models of Canada: There’s a side of this journey most people never saw. What part of your journey do you most want people to understand now?
Ash: It’s so common for us to get caught up in life and work. It’s not common to associate youth with illnesses like cancer. I think when we’re young, we feel a sense of invincibility, so much so that we don’t prioritize listening to our bodies as much as the excitement of life that’s happening around us. I ignored a lot of my symptoms because I assumed that after “doing everything right” (getting eight hours of sleep, working out consistently and eating a healthy vegan diet), I was a healthy person. Your body gives you signs when something might be wrong, and it’s important to listen to it before the symptoms get worse or even irreversible. I can’t stress enough how important early detection is.
Models of Canada: Our industry places a lot of weight on how we look. How did treatment change your relationship with your body and your reflection, and how do you see yourself in front of the camera today?
Ash: After I fully recovered from cancer, I looked very different than I did the year before. I went from having super long hair to a short pixie. I lost over 20 lbs, along with all of my muscle. I had a massive scar on my stomach as well as chemo burns on my arms, legs and neck. But after all that, I actually realized that I loved myself and my appearance more than ever before. All of these changes were evidence that I had accomplished something incredible. That I had fought a hard battle and had won.
When I returned to modeling, I was encouraged to wear a wig. It was an attempt to bring my appearance back to how it used to be before cancer. I did buy the wig, but to this day I have never worn it. It has never left its box, because I didn’t like the idea of trying to look like someone I wasn’t anymore. I showed up to show castings at NYFW with a semi-shaved head and embraced myself because I was proud. And I believe that season re-sparked my entire career.
Seven years later, I’ve kept my short hair, and I feel more myself than ever. I believe my experience with cancer brought me so much closer to the woman I was always meant to become. I love myself not because of how I look, but because I deprioritized my appearance entirely to focus on my health and well-being. I look the way that I do, and am the way that I am, because of my experience. And it was only after doing so that I loved myself so much more because of it. My scars are my badges that I wear with pride.
Models of Canada: Who or what got you through, whether that was people, routines, or small moments? Was there anyone in the industry or personally who showed up for you in a way you’ll never forget?
Ash: I am truly so thankful for my parents during this time. They took a lot of time off work to drive me to appointments and sit with me at the hospital for countless hours of the day. My dad would sometimes sleep at the hospital, on gurneys out in the hallways, so that he could be there for me when I fell asleep and be there for me when I woke up. My mom made sure to cook me all of my favourite foods and took such good care of me after surgeries. One of my childhood best friends would visit me at the hospital every other day and read me poems from The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur. And of course my dog Ziggy, who slept next to me every day after chemo, when I spent most of my days napping because all the medication leaves you so exhausted. Along with all the nurses and doctors I connected with at the hospital, I’m beyond grateful for all the love and care I received.
Models of Canada: What was it like stepping back on set after treatment? Did you tell clients and agencies what you’d been through, and how did you decide what to share and when?
Ash: Not long after I was cleared to work again, I did a show season in New York. Soon after that, COVID hit, which gave me some time to grow my hair back and get back into fitness and running.
I did tell all my agencies. I was so relieved when my agency in New York let me know that they would always have my back and that I wouldn’t have to worry about them dropping or leaving me.
On set, clients and casting directors who had already known me with long hair would ask me about my new short hair. I was always honest about the fact that I had lost my hair through chemo, which would sometimes lead to awkward moments of them not knowing quite how to respond, because I feel like in society we normally shy away from having deep or hard conversations about illness or cancer. But I never shy away from sharing my story, because it’s informative and I feel very lucky to be able to share everything I learned with others who might need it. Still to this day, people ask me about my hair or the chemo burns on my back, and I’m happy to share the same stories again.
“As Ash’s agent, I’ve had the privilege of seeing her strength, resilience, and determination firsthand. Her journey is a powerful reminder that there is so much more to a person than what we see on camera. We’re incredibly proud of Ash, not only for what she has accomplished in her career but also for the person she is and the courage she has shown along the way. Her story is an inspiration, and we’re honoured to stand beside her.”
- Brandon Hall, Sutherland Models
Models of Canada: Seven years in remission, and your story was recently featured in Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony “The Power of Us” campaign. What did it mean to be seen and celebrated by a client for your whole story and not only your image?
Ash: It means so much to me. So much about modeling is being a canvas to build worlds with. And as much as I love to do that, it’s also liberating and an honour to be able to represent these brands as an individual. It’s really allowed me to step into my power, and I feel grateful that I get to contribute my personal experience to connect with and empower others.
Models of Canada: If a model in our community is reading this in the middle of their own hardest chapter, whether it’s illness, rejection, burnout, or something they haven’t told anyone about, what would you want them to hear from you?
Ash: Life is tough as nails. You’ll have to go through challenges and discomfort, and it’s especially hard when that discomfort wasn’t your choice to begin with. You can do everything right and still be wronged. But all you can do is your best, and have trust. Trust that you are on the path you’re supposed to be on. Trust in your body, in your mind, and don’t be afraid. Life is hard, but we can do hard things, and you’re not alone.
Cover photo by: Michael Woloszynowicz
Written by: Models of Canada
See Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony “The Power of Us” campaign featuring Ash Foo here