INTERVIEW WITH
Emilie Daudin
-Hello, can you please introduce yourself?
My name is Emilie Daudin, known as @emiliebrunette on social networks. I'm 36, have two children and live in Rouen. I'm the founder of the ready-to-wear brand Dailie, an author, podcaster and content creator.
-What's your typical day like? What are your favorite activities?
I try to go to the gym in the morning between 6 and 7, then shower and take my kids to school by bike. Then I have breakfast at home or at Citizen, an address I love in Rouen. Then it's off to the office to work on content creation for my clients, for my Dailie brand or to check on the progress of Boom Boom, the restaurant I'm opening soon in Rouen with two friends, and for which I'm managing communications. From time to time, I go to Paris, where everything is turned upside down and my day is punctuated by meetings and my return by train at the end of the afternoon.
-Can you tell us your story?
I had my second child at the end of 2019 and started to feel pain in my breast. I immediately consulted my midwife who diagnosed me with a muscle tear and finally, I was diagnosed in October 2020 with triple-negative breast cancer with 6 tumors in the breast. I wasted 9 months with misdiagnoses and a false perception about breast cancer: it doesn't hurt (wrong, it can hurt). I'm young, with no history of cancer, so I'm not on target. It's crazy because the outcome could have been catastrophic if the cancer had wandered into my lymph nodes...
-How did you get through the ordeal?
The cancer diagnosis was a tsunami in both my personal and professional life. I went deaf when I heard the word chemo, just like in the movies. I cried a lot at first, but then I went into battle mode because I had no choice: I had a baby just one year old and a 3.5 year old son to look after, and I wanted to see them grow up at all costs. I went for it during chemotherapy, and decided to keep working so as not to go under and let this cancer rob me of everything. And then my loved ones and my community surrounded me with a lot of love, which helped me enormously.
-Do you have any advice for our readers?
I always tell people with cancer to set goals. To think about the end of treatment dates or the aftermath. And to hold on to people or things that make us feel good. It's important to keep your head above water so you don't sink... I've held on to the trips I'll be taking after the disease, while not anticipating anything at all in terms of treatment.
-What does the Pink October campaign mean to you?
It's essential to do something about prevention, because this cancer affects 1 in 8 women. That's HUGE! And it's the second leading cause of death in France, which is just as huge. So, yes, it's treatable in the majority of cases, but you still need to be diagnosed in time. Pink October helps to shed light on the fact that any woman can unfortunately be affected, and to raise funds for research (which we need if we are ever to succeed in eradicating this cancer!). And it's also the month when we give a voice to all those women and men who are touched by the disease every year...
-You're the ambassador for the GIULIA Pink October Limited Edition. What do you think of this initiative?
As a decorating enthusiast, I think it's great to see brands getting involved in this area. Creating a new color and donating €100 per product is more than concrete! It's going to raise a lot of money for Ruban Rose and the fight against breast cancer, while having a meaningful armchair in the home!
-Three words to describe the GIULIA Pink October limited edition armchair?
Chic, sparkling and committed!
-How important is interior design in your daily life? How have you incorporated it into your home?
My mom loves decorating, so I grew up in a world where it was important. When I started earning a living, I saved up to buy some beautiful pieces that I still have, 10 years later. My tastes in decoration are evolving at home, and I like the fact that I'm now turning to more noble, timeless materials after having gone for very brightly-colored things, which no longer suit me. I like little touches of color here and there, and I think long and hard about the choice of this or that object.
-What makes you feel at home?
I like to have a very comfortable living room, especially for autumn/winter, when we spend the most time at home. I'm lucky to live in a house that I love and that's very cosy at this time of year. Give me a warm plaid, a cozy sofa, Netflix and a steaming cup of tea and I'm the happiest!
