Breast cancer is one of the challenges women can face. Research in this area continues to advance, and charitable support remains more than necessary. This is where Shelly Fisher’s idea came to mind. Battling cancer for the second time in less than 10 years, Fisher said she felt a surge that helped empower her. It was then that she decided to go to a jeweler and order a necklace with the phrase “One Tough Bitch.”
Shelly Fisher: “When I was diagnosed with cancer for the second time, it completely threw me”
Shelly Fisher’s story isn’t unique, which is why she’s been able to find support, grow a business, and be recognized for her fight against cancer. “When I was diagnosed with cancer for the second time, it completely threw me,” Shelly Fisher said, adding, “You’ve done it before, you can do it again. You’re a tough bitch.” According to Fisher, as soon as she got the necklace, she started wearing it under her clothes so people wouldn’t see the phrase. Just knowing that message was hanging around her neck gave her the strength she needed to keep going.
Fisher recalls how it became her lifeline in difficult times, when she felt the situation was very difficult. When she explains how the necklace was received by the public, she says it came as a complete surprise to her. “It was totally unexpected. It happened due to health issues. It was something I did for myself and it just resonated with other people. It was something people wanted me to do, not something I had actually planned,” says the protagonist of this story.
“It’s like life knocks you down and you have to figure out for yourself how to get back up”
It turns out that the very thing that made her feel braver was the very thing that helped other women going through the same thing. That’s why the public reaction and the resulting lawsuit completely surprised her. Not least because of the inclusion of the word “bitch.” “When we say ‘a tough bitch,’ we’re not calling anyone a bitch. It’s simply about your inner power. We all face challenges every day. It’s like life knocks you down and you have to figure out for yourself how to get back up,” Fisher explains.
In other words, Fisher takes a word that would be offensive in any other context and owns it. He gives it value, magnifies it, and clings to it as a daily lifeline. “It’s only been a few months, but it’s gotten so big so fast that it doesn’t really feel new anymore,” Fisher explains about the process since that first day she went to the jeweler to have her necklace made.
“Bloomingdale’s is very excited to be associated with this kind of empowering brand”
The now-entrepreneur says, “We’re working hard online to build a community.” It’s not just about making the necklaces, but about helping women who suffer from this disease. “We have a private group that already has 1,000 people. It’s about support and the things that inspire you. People face different challenges, and you want to help, but you can’t solve it, and you wonder what you can do to support that person. People give them the bracelets and say, ‘I know you’re going to be okay.’ It’s a very positive and tangible product in that sense.”
The necklace is currently available in sterling silver with a diamond accent on an 18-inch silver chain and a 14-karat gold pendant with a diamond accent on an 18-inch gold chain, primarily sold online. It is also available at select brick-and-mortar locations, which can be found on the official website. The actress will soon be partnering with Bloomingdale’s for a collaboration. “Bloomingdale’s is very excited to be associated with this kind of empowering brand,” said Shelly Fisher.
