How Isabella Strahan Redefined Beauty After Her Cancer Battle

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Isabella Strahan is celebrating new growth in many ways.

A 21-year-old woman, a year after recovering from cancer, talked about the changes to her naturally curly, reddish-brown hair after it grew back following chemotherapy.

Isabella, who now wears an afro, described her hair’s regrowth after chemotherapy to People magazine. She said when it first started growing back, it was very straight and black. ‘I realized the chemo had changed my hair’s texture and color,’ she explained. ‘Now it’s getting curlier and returning to its natural, lighter color.’

Facing brain cancer taught her to value the simple things in life, like her hair, which she now realizes she used to overlook.

Before I found out I had cancer, I always tied my self-worth and how I felt about my looks to my hair. I used to get so many compliments on it – people were always remarking on the color, how long it was, and how it felt. So, when I started losing my hair, I honestly panicked, thinking I’d lost my ability to be pretty.

Isabella explained that she hadn’t been taking good care of her hair. She’d been styling it in slicked-back looks and using a lot of oil, feeling like she’d always have plenty of hair. Then, she started losing her hair.

Now, she’s on a journey to love and learn about her new locks.

Michael Strahan’s daughter explained she’s focused on keeping her hair healthy. She’s choosing products that feel right for her and help keep it moisturized, because she wants to avoid the damage and hair loss she experienced before, which was a really difficult time.

The 21-year-old—one of Michael Strahan‘s twin  year.

 

Isabella Strahan is celebrating new growth in many ways.

A 21-year-old woman, a year after recovering from cancer, described the changes to her naturally curly, red hair after it grew back following chemotherapy.

Isabella, who now has an afro, recently told People magazine that when her hair started to grow back after chemotherapy, it was very straight and black. She was surprised by the change in texture and color, but now her hair is becoming curlier and regaining its natural lighter color.

Facing brain cancer taught her to value the simple things in life, like her hair, which she now realizes she used to overlook.

Before I was diagnosed with cancer, I always tied my self-image to my hair. I received so many compliments about its color, length, and texture. Losing it made me worry that I’d lost my attractiveness forever.

Isabella explained that she hadn’t been taking good care of her hair. She’d been styling it in slicked-back looks and using oil, but wasn’t prioritizing its health, thinking she’d always have hair. Unfortunately, she then experienced hair loss.

Now, she’s on a journey to love and learn about her new locks.

Oh my gosh, you guys, I just have to take such good care of my hair! I’m only using products that really feel like me, you know? It’s all about keeping it super moisturized because the thought of it breaking off… honestly, I went through something with my hair before, and it was so traumatic. I just never want to experience that again, so protecting it is everything!

Isabella, who received a medulloblastoma diagnosis during her first year of college in 2023, explained that learning to embrace her hair again has been a process. As her hair grows back and she feels more like herself, she’s realized that true beauty isn’t about her hair at all. It’s about feeling confident and comfortable in who you are and where you are in life.

Isabella seemed confident and happy at her recent birthday party with her twin sister, Sophia Strahan. She showed off her new hairstyle and beamed while blowing out the candles on her cake.

As Sophia commented on her sister’s Oct. 28 Instagram post, “U look pretty.”

Read on to see how far Isabella has come on her journey below. 

Isabella Strahan, daughter of Michael Strahan and Jean Muggli, says she didn’t realize anything was wrong with her health until October 2023, when she began getting headaches and feeling nauseous.

After a frightening incident of vomiting blood, her dad convinced her to get a thorough medical evaluation, including an MRI. The scan revealed she had medulloblastoma, a type of aggressive brain tumor that primarily affects children.

Later that month, she underwent brain surgery to remove the mass.

In January 2024, Isabella publicly shared her diagnosis in an interview with her father and Robin Roberts from ABC News.

Michael shared at the time how incredibly lucky he felt to have his daughter. While acknowledging she was facing a difficult time, he expressed his confidence in her ability to overcome it, believing everyone is given the strength to handle life’s challenges.

Isabella’s twin sister, Sophia Strahan, also shared her support. In an Instagram post, she wrote about how lucky she is to have such an incredible sister and friend. She acknowledged that the past few months have been incredibly difficult, but emphasized Isabella’s strength throughout it all.

Following her interview, Isabella shared she had finished her round of radiation therapy.

She shared in a January 2024 YouTube video that she was relieved to be finished, explaining it had been a tough six weeks and she was happy to recover, as the side effects had been draining.

Following radiation therapy, Isabella began undergoing chemotherapy to treat her cancer.

Oh my gosh, she described how she felt in her February 2024 vlog and it’s killing me just hearing about it! She said it felt like someone had pulled every single tooth, not even bothering with implants! Like, a full-mouth extraction with no follow-up! And it’s not just her teeth, her jaw is aching and even the bottom of her tongue hurts! She said it even hurts to swallow water! I can’t even imagine the pain!

Despite everything, the teenager remained positive, playfully mentioning in a video a week later that her hair was now “too short.”

“Besides being bald,” she said, “it doesn’t bring me pain mentally.” 

Isabella was supposed to start her second round of chemotherapy in early March 2024, but an emergency surgery delayed it. Doctors had to remove excess fluid from her head and replace a piece of her skull, originally removed during a previous procedure, with a titanium plate.

In a recent video, she shared that she’s been experiencing a lot of pain. She explained her face was very swollen and that it had been a really difficult time, to the point where she was screaming from the discomfort.

In March 2024, Michael, Isabella’s dad, surprised her with a visit from her favorite singer, Bryson Tiller, to cheer her up while she was undergoing treatment.

Michael playfully told his daughter, while she was filming her vlog, ‘You haven’t been this active in months! You’re totally excited right now!’

 

In a video posted in March 2024, Isabella revealed she had begun her second course of chemotherapy, with only four treatments remaining.

Amid her second chemotherapy round, Isabella said she began experiencing difficulties in walking.

In a video posted in March 2024, she explained that she gets lightheaded and breathless even with just walking, and wished there was a medicine to help with her extreme exhaustion.

 

The YouTuber shared good news after completing her second chemotherapy treatment: she now only needs two more rounds instead of the planned four.

I was so moved watching her video from April 2024! She was crying, but she explained they were happy tears – the kind that don’t even feel like sadness, they just flow when you’re overwhelmed with joy.

Isabella’s recovery faced a setback when she needed another brain surgery – her third craniotomy. She said this surgery was much different and more difficult than the previous ones.

I’ve been crying quite a bit lately,” she shared in a video posted in April 2024. “During the procedure, they inserted a needle in three places to remove fluid, and I was fully conscious the whole time. It was my first surgery while awake.”

Isabella shared an update on her third round of chemotherapy, explaining that she’s completely lost her appetite. “It just dropped to zero last week,” she said in a May 2024 video, adding that it’s frustrating.

Even while dealing with memory problems, Isabella focused on the positive. “Tomorrow is my last chemotherapy session,” she said, “and after this cycle, I’ll be finished. It’s unbelievable!”

Isabella marked the completion of her chemotherapy by playfully lifting a crown in a TikTok video posted in June 2024. Her caption simply read, “Did it.”

Because of when she graduated, the University of Southern California student—who celebrated with a confetti parade and a bell ringing—was able to enjoy a short summer break.

I’m really relieved,” she said. “I was expecting to finish by the end of July. I needed to complete six rounds of treatment, and then I’d have to return to school immediately. I’m just so happy that’s not the case anymore.

In a July 2024 YouTube video, she announced she had her chemo port removed and mentioned the area was still slightly tender. She explained that recovery would likely take about four weeks, mainly involving avoiding water and taking care of the scar, which she felt wasn’t too difficult.

Isabella happily shared in a July 2024 YouTube video that her post-chemotherapy scan showed no signs of cancer. She described the results as “great, great” and said “everything was clear” and “everything is great.” She was clearly relieved by the positive news.

Even so, she admitted she already missed her doctors and the entire team who had cared for her, explaining they were all so kind and she was genuinely sad knowing she wouldn’t be seeing them for a long time because she cared for them so much.

With her cancer finally in remission, Isabella celebrated by doing what she’d always dreamed of: a trip to Disneyland! Her father, a Super Bowl champion, and her twin sister, Sophia, joined her for an early 20th birthday celebration in October 2024.

The college student also celebrated another key milestone. 

It’s hard to believe it’s been a full year since my life took a really unexpected turn! I shared a quick peek on Instagram – a photo of me in my cap and gown, still recovering in the hospital. It was a powerful moment, and I’m just so grateful for all the progress I’ve made. The outpouring of love – all the balloons and flowers! – really meant the world to me and helped me through it all.

I was so moved by Isabella’s TikTok post from September 2024. She bravely shared parts of her cancer journey – clips of her in the hospital, working to walk again, and even showing her head after shaving. But what really got to me was how she contrasted that with footage of her now, thriving! She included snippets from her Kenneth Cole modeling campaign, a beautiful hike by the ocean, and even her running – something she couldn’t do when she was sick. It was such an inspiring and hopeful message.

The TikTok also featured H.E.R.’s song “The Journey,” with lyrics like, “Going through hell, but you’ll get through it. It’s a fire that can’t be extinguished.”

In the caption of the post, Isabella triumphantly wrote, “Living the life I fought for.”

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2025-10-31 19:18