Abirami Iyer shares her profound journey from childhood trauma to becoming a breast cancer survivor and advocate. She discusses the challenges she faced, including her mother's struggles with domestic violence, her own diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma, and the emotional and physical toll of treatment. Abirami emphasizes the importance of mental health, community support, and self-advocacy in her healing process. She also highlights her upcoming participation in the Mrs. Universe pageant as a platform to raise awareness about breast cancer and domestic violence.
When faced with a life-altering diagnosis like cancer, it’seasy to feel like the world is falling apart, and that all of a sudden, your dreams are out of your reach. But Abirami Iyer chose to rise above it.
Just around her 40th birthday, Abirami was diagnosed withbreast cancer. Her treatment journey lasted more than two years, filled with both physical and emotional pain. But instead of letting the experience break her, she found a way to grow through it. She used that chapter of her life not only to heal herself, but to guide and support others walking the same difficult road.
Abirami is a full-time employee at Microsoft, a wife, andthe mother of two kids. Despite such a full life, she still makes time to uplift and empower others. Through Facebook support groups like Breast Cancer Survivors and Warriors and Washington Breast Cancer Survivors, she helps survivors feel seen, heard, and supported.
She also advocates for organizations like DiepCFoundation.org, helping patients navigate one of the toughest battles of their lives. And by collaborating with the Flute ‘n Feather Dance Company, she raises funds to support early breast cancer diagnosis in rural India.
But there’s still more: Beyond all this, Abirami finds timeto organize confidence-building photoshoots to help survivors rediscover their strength and beauty.
She leads “Breast Cancer Awareness Talks and Campaigns” at Microsoft, and has also raised funds for the National Breast Cancer Association by placing Group 2nd on FabOver40.
Abirami has been honored with many awards and titles thatcelebrate her confidence and compassion. These aren't just pageant wins — they’re platforms she uses to raise awareness, encourage self-love, and inspirehope in other survivors. When sharing the news that she had been awarded the title Mrs. Elite Universe America, she said that her butterfly-themed dress honored the pink ribbons in which she had written the names of the survivors she has met.
“It was a walk of honor and I proudly carried theirmessage with me to spread positivity… in humanity,” she says.
Get In Touch with Abi:
🔗 Follow Abirami onInstagram
🔗 Follow Abiramion Facebook
🔗 Explore the work ofDiepCFoundation
