The spotlight in Hollywood shines brightly, but it can quickly turn harsh. Michael Strahan knows this well. From football star to entrepreneur to TV staple, he’s lived through it all. And now, that intense glare falls on his family, too. His daughter, Isabella Strahan, used to turn heads with curls as fiery as her spirit. Then came the diagnosis.

It was a brain tumor that tried to knock her down and clip her confidence. But she fought hard. Two years later, Isabella isn’t staying down. She’s flipping the script and stepping into a new era, one that is focused on growth and comeback. Isabella has made things official with a hair care brand in a collab reel, saying,

 “Hi, I’m Isabelle Strahan, the newest ambassador of Fast Hair Care.” The brand promises hair that grows “up to 99% faster and longer.” The caption read, “A new era of growth begins with @isabellastrahan and F.A.S.T. Haircare — made for every person, every hair type✨💜” So, how did she get here?

In the clip, when asked about social media’s role in her cancer battle, Isabella gave a candid answer.

“Sharing my whole journey on social media was probably the best thing I did. I got to create a community who could understand what I was feeling and going through. I’m very grateful I did share. I kind of feel like I wish I had seen something like this through my treatment. In one year, I see myself with longer hair.”

Isabella has a big social media family who connected with her during the journey. Right now, she has 113k Instagram followers and 40.5k subscribers on YouTube.

Behind the scenes, CEO Carolyn Aronson explained why the brand chose Isabella.

“I think her strength, her bravery, the way she was really sharing her journey with everyone. I was so impressed by her,” she says. “So that was really a big part of why I thought she would be an amazing partner to this company because it too is about fighting and really empowering you to take control of what you’re going through and actually being able to fight back a little bit, which is great.”

The brand is betting big that Isabella’s honest journey will connect with everyone. It will help those who stare at their own bathroom mirror, wishing for a fresh start. But the best part is that Isabella isn’t chasing old beauty standards; she’s embracing a new look with open arms.

“As it’s growing back and I’m feeling more like myself, I learned that my beauty, it’s not about my hair,” she said. “It’s really about just feeling confident. It’s how you feel yourself and where you’re at.” But reaching this level of positivity didn’t happen overnight; she struggled with how cancer changed her hair.

Isabella Strahan’s journey with her hair

Isabella’s hair fueled her identity. She rocked well-defined, bouncy, reddish-brown curls that drew compliments without end.

“Pre-cancer diagnosis, I would always kind of equate my beauty with my hair because I would get so many compliments. It was strawberry, red auburn and people would always comment on the color, the length, the texture. So when I didn’t have it, I was like, ‘Oh no. I’m never gonna be pretty again,” she told PEOPLE.

Her world flipped after her diagnosis. Treatments erased those famous locks, leaving her with “chemo curls.” Hair that grew back pin-straight and black at first. Isabella didn’t hide how awkward it felt.

“When it first started growing back, it was like pin straight and black. I was like, oh my gosh, chemo changed my texture and color. But now it feels curlier and it’s getting back to looking lighter.”

The 21-year-old now sports a short, voluminous curly afro, showcasing her type 3 curly, reddish-brown hair. While she still admits to having a ‘love-hate’ relationship with her hair, Isabella’s new approach is all about respect and care. 

“I really value my hair now because I do think I took it for granted before,” she says. “I just want to protect this hair really well.” 

She’s ditched lazy habits, decided to guard every curl, and laughs off the trauma of hair loss. This new mindset is a promise to herself for every day ahead.