MILL CREEK—Mill Creek resident Suzy Lee, 45, challenged conventional beauty standards in the Next Runway Star competition last month, sharing her inspirational story of rebuilding her life from scratch after fibromyalgia and chronic illness made traditional employment no longer possible.
When Lee was growing up it was always her dream to be a model, but when she became pregnant, she had to abandon that goal to raise her son single handedly.
Things became more complicated for Lee when she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and other serious health issues, in 2022 that left her disabled and walking with a cane.
“The fact that Next Runway Star was open to different ages and different sizes really appealed to me,” Lee informed the Lynnwood Times. “I was also attracted by the competition supporting Rise which is a nonprofit that helps sexual abuse survivors.”
As a single mother and daughter of Korean immigrants, Lee, who turns 46 this month, decided to challenge conventional beauty standards by competing in the contest.
“Even when I was 30, I was told I was too old to model. But I’m also not a size zero and I’m not super tall, I’m only 5’6”. But I believe there is beauty to every person,” said Lee. “Even while working in the beauty industry, I noticed a pretty consistent idea of what is considered beautiful.”
To Lee, walking the runway at New York Fashion Week would be the visible reminder of an invisible journey, she shared.
Though Lee is able to walk across the room without using a cane these days she is still unable to continue the work she was doing working in perfume sales. Instead of giving up, she decided to reinvent her life, building a business from scratch that empowers entrepreneurs and organizations through A.I. while continuing to navigate chronic pain with resilience, faith, and purpose.
“At 45, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t pretending life isn’t hard. It’s choosing to move forward anyway—with faith, gratitude, and purpose. That’s the legacy I hope to leave my child and the message I hope people see when I step onto that runway,” said Lee.
Lee’s intention was to use the competition proceeds to help build her business, IntelliCraft Labs US, which is an A.I. architect firm she founded that assists with A.I. literacy and help women grow their businesses in the tech industry.
“I’m most proud that I never let my hardest seasons become the end of my story. I’ve overcome chronic illness, fibromyalgia, domestic violence, and the uncertainty of rebuilding my life while raising my son. There was a point when I questioned whether I’d ever work again after needing a cane just to get through daily life,” said Lee. “Those experiences forced me to rethink everything. Instead of focusing on what I had lost, I focused on what I could build.”
Lee has been a Mill Creek resident for the past 20 years but she grew up in Lynnwood, attending Alderwood Middle School and Lynnwood High School. She informed the Lynnwood Times her favorite part about her community is its diversity.
While Lee, unfortunately, finished 6th in her group her message continues long after the voting polls concluded on August 28.
“My son has watched me rebuild through every challenge. I want him to see that our greatest opportunities aren’t limited by age, setbacks, or the expectations of others,” said Lee. “I hope women watching see themselves in my story and realize it’s never too late to pursue a dream that once felt impossible.”
Contestant Michelle Jolley took first place and advanced to the semifinals.
The winner of the News Runway Star gets an opportunity to walk the runway during New York Fashion Week’s Rise Fashion Show and takes home a grand prize of $20,000.
You can follow Lee’s story on social media at: @suzyluvlee
Author: Kienan Briscoe
