“You know what I miss the most?
being carefree.”
This sentence inspired the “if only for a second” project.
June 17th, 2013, at the initiative of the Mimi Foundation and in collaboration with Leo Burnett France, 20 cancer patients participated in a unique makeover experience. They were invited to a studio where they got a makeover-their hair and make-up, but without being able to see themselves while they were being made up…(!)
A photograph then immortalized the moment when they opened their eyes to discover their new look. This discovery allowed them to forget their disease, if only for a second…
The project was conducted in two stages:
- The first took place in Brussels in June, where the Mimi Foundation and Leo Burnett reunited the photographer Vincent Dixon and the director Coban Beutelstetter. One had the mission to immediately capture the second when these people saw themselves right after the transformation, the other to film every moment of their experience.
- The second stage of the project was to organize a photo exhibition for the families of the patients on November 7th, 2013. The idea was to reveal for the first time, all the photographs taken by Vincent Dixon. Within a second, smiling faces were seen all over the room. At that very moment, cancer did not exist for the family members either…
Limited edition photo book entitled «if only for a second» with all this fantastic makeovers can be ordered now for only 60 Euro – seconde@mimi-foundation.org – entire price is donated to benefit Mimi Foundation!
This book contains 20 photographs of the project participants.
You have to watch this beautiful video – You will laugh and cry!!!! – In my opinion it’s absolutely beautiful idea and great act of kindness…. And to be honest…this story is so inspirational to me – after watching this story, it’s highly possible that one day…I would love to organize or join a team of artists and give a big smile and happiness to others!
Team responsible for this phenomenal makeover:
Photographer : Vincent Dixon
Hair designer : Gregory Kaoua, Christophe Martinez
Make up artist : Philippe Meysmans, Laura Noben , Marie-Claire Vervaene
Stylist : Chantal Bourbigot
Retouches : Kilato