05/14/2026
✨Meet Melissa & Jasmine✨
A mother and daughter whose story shows the power of knowing your body and the importance of early detection!
Melissa was 39 and a single mom to 8-year-old twin daughters when she was diagnosed with Stage 2B Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. In the middle of uncertainty, one thing was always clear: her daughters were her “why.” She wasn’t just fighting cancer, she was fighting to be there for them, to watch them grow, and to be present for every milestone and everyday moment.
That strength now lives on in her daughter Jasmine, who at 22 was diagnosed with a cellular fibroadenoma, a benign breast tumor with multiple smaller masses attached. Because her mom taught her early on about self-breast exams and knowing her body, Jasmine was able to advocate for herself and understand the importance of early detection and awareness.
Now Miss Ohio for America Strong, Jasmine continues to use her platform in pageantry and advocacy to raise awareness about breast health and listening to your body. One of the most meaningful parts of their journey is that they have shared the stage together, competing side by side and supporting each other through every step.
Melissa is deeply grateful for her daughters. They are all different, all powerful in their own ways, and all part of the reason she is still here. They were her “why” then, and they are her “why” now.
And if “Moms Are Magic,” it is because she has spent her life making their lives feel magical, not just in milestones, but in the everyday moments too. The laughter in the kitchen, late-night talks, holidays, hard seasons, celebrations, and now the first wedding.
Those are the moments she fought to be here for, and the ones that make survivorship feel sacred. Being their mom, and now a bonus mom, is the greatest honor of her life. đź’•
