How a breast cancer survivor became 'Person of the Year'

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In order to show what women with breast cancer go through, renown columnist Martina Mlinarevic put makeup on, took off her shirt and posed topless for a regional magazine. She exposed her surgery scar for the whole world to see.

For breaking a taboo this way, the magazine ‘Gracija’ named her person of the year.

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“When this story about my breast cancer began, I actually started explaining in detail what that experience looked like because I saw how much that subject is still taboo in our region, and how many young women are suffering from cancer,” she told N1 on Wednesday.

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“First it was only a scar with a silicone insert. After that, I had a radical surgery, which culminated with the Gracija front page,” she said.

The magazine asked for an interview but Mlinarevic questioned how brave the editors were.

“I asked if they want us to do this in a way in which I felt would be most appropriate and a slap to our Balkan mentality, a sobering experience, especially for young women,” she said, adding that she also never thought this could happen to her while she was healthy.

After exposing the left part of her flat chest showing only a big scar on the cover of the popular magazine, Mlinarevic left Bosnians shocked and amazed with her courage.

Hundreds of comments on social networks praised her move and eventually earned her the title ‘Person of the year’.