Artist’s striking campaign illustrates Disney princesses as breast cancer survivors

An Italian artist known for his politically and socially charged cartoons has depicted some Disney princesses as breast cancer survivors in his latest campaign to raise awareness about the disease, People.com reported.

The series, by Milan-based artist aleXsandro Palombo, shows Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Princesses Jasmine, Ariel and Tatiana, among other female cartoon and comics characters, with either double or single mastectomies, and holding up peace signs. Palombo, 41, has titled the series “Survivor.”

"This campaign is a message of hope and courage to all women, young and adult. It's important to raise awareness amongst young people so that they learn to take care of their health," Palombo, who lost a friend to breast cancer a few years ago, told People.com.

The artist’s previous campaigns range from lighthearted to deep. In February, Palombo released illustrations of Disney princesses as acid attack survivors to call attention to the form of abuse, and in January, he illustrated characters from “The Simpsons” as emaciated concentration camp victims to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Palombo told People.com his projects merge “color, satire, humor, realism and surrealism,” according to the website.

In reimagining female cartoon characters as breast cancer survivors, Palombo said his aim was not only to educate young people about the life-threatening ailment, but also to instill self-confidence in breast cancer survivors.

"It's also important to tell adult women that they are beautiful, even after a mastectomy," he said.

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