We've Reached Our 100th Grinkie Girl!!

We knew we were poised to reach this historic milestone at our November 17th mini session - but we could not have even imagined what a special event it was going to be.

So who is our 100th Grinkie Girl?

Autumn Koch of Saint Paul, Minnesota has wanted to have a pin up session for quite a while now. She scheduled to come to the 11/17 mini-shoot with her friend Amber Eisen-Ramgren. Amber is a personal friend of this Girl Friday - and she's been itching to experience being a Grinkie Girl from the first time she saw one of my pin-ups.

What makes this milestone so wonderful and enriching is Autumn herself.

Model: Autumn Koch   Photo: Christi Williams   Hair:Avis    Makeup: Dawnfelice

Autumn is a stage 4 breast cancer survivor.

"I'm not a survivor, I'm a thriver" - Autumn Koch

I will admit that I am getting a little verklempt here, because Autumn inspires me. I have long been one to promote the idea of being a "survivor, not a victim" in life. But Autumn takes that even further. She told me - as she was enjoying hair and makeup - that she is "not a survivor, but a thriver".

Autumn shared her story with me during her beauty session. She was diagnosed two years ago with stage 3 breast cancer while nursing her second child, a six month old daughter.  This woman fought the cancer with fierceness, and endured a double mastectomy and the removal of 16 lymph nodes. A year later, the cancer was back, in her brain. Not one to give up - she fought again, and is currently in remission.

Autumn is a terrific Grinkie Girl. She made the photo shoot look easy, as she is a natural in front of the camera. Avis knocked this hairstyle out of the park - giving her a classy and sassy pin curl look.

Model: Autumn Koch  Photo: Christi Williams   Hair: Avis  Makeup: Dawnfelice

 Considering that Autumn has had a double mastectomy with no reconstruction (she was SO amazing in the frank way she shared her life with me - and in turn - gave me permission to share it with you) so we pulled a few outfits that we thought would show off her wonderful figure while being comfortable for her to wear with her custom undergarments.

Model: Autumn Koch  Photo: Christi Williams   Hair: Avis  Makeup: Dawnfelice

As you can see - she rocked the photo shoot - twirling in a Marilyn inspired satin halter gown and high heels.

Welcome to being a Bona Fide Grinkie Girl, Autumn!! You inspire us!!