Breast cancer survivors who have undergone double mastectomies pose topless

A unisex underwear company has used three breast cancer survivors, who underwent double mastectomies and opted not to have breast reconstruction, to pose topless in its new ad campaign, which celebrates their bodies and defies gender stereotypes.

Sylvie Lardeux and Abby Sugar, the co-founders of Play Out, chose Emily Jensen and Jodi Jaecks, who are from Seattle, and Melanie 'Melly' Testa, from Brooklyn, to join androgynous model Rain Dove in the brand's latest campaign, as they continue to challenge gender norms and explore what it means to be feminine.

'This is not about Breast Cancer Awareness,' Abby wrote on her company's blog. 'This is about gender, lingerie, femininity, health, healthcare, age, agency, and breast cancer in the LGBTQ community and more.'

Abby and Sylbie teamed up with Emily's online support group FlatTopper Pride, which is an outlet for unilaterally and bilaterally flat breast cancer survivors and members of the LGBTQ community who opt to forgo breast reconstruction and live without prosthesis, in order to create the powerful images featured in the campaign.

In the series of images, which were shot by Candace Doyal, Emily and Jodi can be see hugging, holding hands, brushing their teeth and living their daily life, all while wearing nothing but Play Out's colorful boxer briefs.

Another poignant picture, photographed by Nomi Ellenson, shows Melly proudly gazing at her bare chest in a mirror. 

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