“Les Krâneuses qui Tétonnent” 5 women, 5 portraits to raise awareness about breast cancer among young women

Turning Alopecia into a Work of Art

Certain chemotherapy treatments can cause hair loss all over the body and face, particularly on the head: a condition known as alopecia. As a side effect of treatment that is often difficult to cope with, hair loss can undermine one’s self-image.

In response to this reality, the organizations Jeune&Rose and Maquille mon Krâne created “Les Krâneuses qui Tétonnent”: an artistic initiative that aims to transform the skulls and busts of patients experiencing alopecia into works of art, to raise awareness among as many people as possible about a subject that is still too often considered taboo. Since 2024, these volunteer women —made up and then photographed—have been putting themselves on display to shed light on their journeys through cancer.

Five new portraits, supported by Institut Curie and the Institute of Women's Cancers.

In 2026, for this third season, the two organizations are partnering with the Institute of Women's Cancers to showcase five new portraits of women with breast cancer who are being treated at Institut Curie. The portraits will be on display throughout the month of October at several locations in Paris

“Breast cancer remains rare among young women, but its incidence is rising. More than 3,000 women under the age of 40 are diagnosed each year in France. Because they remain a minority among breast cancer patients, this reality is still not widely known. This exhibition helps bring this reality to light” explains Dr. Florence Coussy, gynecologist and medical oncologist at Institut Curie.

“We are committed to supporting patients on their journey toward acceptance by enabling them to reclaim, through the art of makeup, a self-image that has been stigmatized. “Our goal is to highlight a form of beauty that is still too often considered taboo, to explore femininity and the relationship to illness, and to change the general public’s perspective by encouraging them to look beyond appearances.” says Caroline Pescher, co-founder of Maquille Mon Krâne and Jeune&Rose ambassador.

“With Jeune&Rose, we offer support to young women affected by breast cancer by addressing the issues specific to them: pregnancy, family life, femininity, and returning to social and professional life. The ‘Krâneuses qui Tétonnent’ project is fully aligned with this approach and is at the heart of our Télététon program. These portraits help change perceptions of breast cancer. Through the exhibition, they also convey a message about prevention: knowing your breasts is essential as a complement to gynecological and medical care.” says Mélanie Courtier, co-founder and Executive Director of Jeune&Rose.

 

Nonprofit Village

A nonprofit village will be held on October 7, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., bringing together, alongside the Institute for Women’s Cancers, several organizations dedicated to supporting patients (Jeune&Rose, Aïda, Patients en Réseau, the League Against Cancer, Imagyn, Geneticancer, les Seintinelles, and GPS Cancer), as well as professionals from the CPAM, the CRCDC, and the Square de la Mutualité Health Center to raise awareness among women about prevention and screening.

 

A Traveling Exhibition Throughout Paris

The exhibition will tour several Parisian venues throughout the fall:

► Opening on October 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the Pierrotet Room at the 5th Arrondissement City Hall, with the support of Mayor Florence Berthout; the exhibition will be on view through October 17.
► October 5–18 on the plaza in front of the Panthéon, with support from JCDecaux.
► October 5–30 on the railings of the Curie Museum, at the intersection of Rue Pierre & Marie Curie and Rue d’Ulm.
► October 5–30 in the consultation area of the Institut Curie Hospital in Saint-Cloud.
► November 3–27 on the railings of the Jardin de Reuilly (12th arrondissement, Paris), with support from the 12th arrondissement City Hall.
► October 12–December 17 on the railings of the Jardin de l’Agora de la Santé, on Rue Boucry (18th arrondissement, Paris).
► November 16–27 at the Cité Audacieuse (6th arrondissement, Paris), run by the Fondation des Femmes, with the support of Senator Dominique Verien, chair of the Delegation for Women’s Rights.

 

This exhibition is supported by JCDecaux and the City Hall of the 5th arrondissement.