Beauty from ashes: Marie Sutton to model in fourth annual Haute Pink Fashion Show honoring those impacted by Breast Cancer

Marie Sutton will be a vision in pink on Thursday as she struts her stuff down the runway at the fourth annual Haute Pink Fashion Show hosted by Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center.

Sutton noticed a physical change in the appearance of her right breast in January 2018, just two months after she moved to Homewood with her family, so she voiced concerns to her doctor. She had a mammogram and an ultrasound that showed no abnormalities, but Sutton was adamant there was something wrong. Her doctor ordered an MRI that showed masses along her chest wall, so a biopsy was performed.

A few days later, Sutton was in a work meeting when she got the call from her doctor.

“She said, ‘Can you talk?’ I was like, yes, so I stepped outside because I figured it wasn't sounding good,” Sutton said, “and she said, ‘I'm sorry, you have breast cancer.’... I called my husband, and I left my car, my keys, my purse, everything, and we went home and just tried to figure out how to navigate breast cancer.”

https://thehomewoodstar.com/news/beauty-form-ashes-marie-sutton-to-model-in-fourth-annual-hau/

Breast cancer survivors showcased at Haute Pink fashion show!

Dr. Helen Krontiras is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Division Director of the Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery. In 2021, she became the Director of Clinical Affairs for the O’Neal Cancer Service Line. A native of Alabama, Dr. Krontiras attended Birmingham-Southern College and UAB School of Medicine. After general surgery residency, also at UAB, she completed a fellowship in breast surgery at Northwestern University. Since starting at UAB in 2001, she has maintained an active surgical practice and has been engaged in the education of medical students, residents and fellows on a daily basis.

Mykola Vyshyvanyuk Creates Couture Gown for Dr. Helen Krontiras

This fall, NiEl Bridal Atelier had the honor of designing a one-of-a-kind evening gown for Dr. Helen Krontiras, the renowned breast cancer surgeon and Medical Director of the UAB Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic. Dr. Krontiras stepped onto the runway at the Haute Pink fashion show — an inspiring event supporting breast cancer survivors and raising funds for their recovery programs — wearing a gown created exclusively by designer Mykola Vyshyvanyuk.

The couture dress was crafted with meticulous attention to detail, combining timeless elegance with a modern artistic edge. Using luxurious fabrics and hand-finished techniques, Mykola and the NiEl team brought to life a vision that celebrated strength, beauty, and resilience.

For Mykola, this collaboration was more than fashion — it was a tribute to the courageous women Dr. Krontiras serves and a way to give back to the Birmingham community that has embraced NiEl Bridal Atelier. The gown symbolized hope and empowerment while showcasing the artistry and craftsmanship that define NiEl’s work.

At NiEl Bridal Atelier, every creation tells a story. This gown for Dr. Krontiras reflects our mission: to design pieces that honor the individual and uplift meaningful causes while celebrating beauty in its most personal form.