Originally from Columbia, Giovanna Pilonieta, Ph.D., DDS, MPH, works as an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma stage 2B in June 2018 at 46 years old. She underwent 25 sessions of radiation, two mastectomies and reconstructive surgery. She leads a Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center support group for breast cancer survivors who speak Spanish.

Raised in Prattville, designer Bonnie Smith has called Birmingham home for the past two years. She is a graduate of Auburn University and works full-time as a technical designer, focusing on patterning and fit for Southern Shirt Company. Before starting her current position, she completed internships with Brooklyn designer Geoffrey Mac and local designer Julie Maeseele, where she gained hands-on experience in crafting one-of-a-kind garments.In her personal time, Bonnie enjoys working on her own designs, focusing on femininity, texture and romanticism in her garments. “I believe that the value of fashion extends far beyond ‘looking good,' and I hope that through my work in design, I can give other people the opportunity to tell their own story through their clothing,” Bonnie says.