Isabella Strahan is officially back to campus life and loving every second of it. In a recent interview, the 21-year-old is sharing what it is like to return to college life after being declared cancer-free.
More than a year after finishing her cancer treatments, the USC student is embracing her full Trojan routine again and balancing classes, castings, and a growing modeling career.
“It’s definitely a lot, but I love it,” Isabella told E! News. “I kind of love the balance of modeling, my passions, schoolwork, and being a student, especially for now.”
The East Coast native, who spent nearly 10 months away from school while undergoing treatment for medulloblastoma, now finds joy in the everyday rhythms she used to take for granted.
“When I was going through treatment, it was the one thing,” she said. “You really don’t miss it when you’re doing it, but when you’re not in school and you can’t be in school, it’s like the one thing you want to do.”
Her schedule is now filled with a full blend of student life and career opportunities ranging from rushing to class to hopping on a casting Zoom or flying to Miami for a shoot with F.A.S.T. haircare, where she serves as the brand’s first ambassador.
“It feels like a Miley Cyrus moment—like, ‘Oh, I’m in school,’ or Hannah Montana. It’s so fun for me,” she joked.
Now back in Los Angeles, Isabella is soaking in everything she missed: time with friends and sorority sisters, long days on campus, and the support of her family, including dad Michael Strahan, mom Jean Muggli and twin sister Sophia.
“I know so many people at USC, which is great, and it’s definitely the school for me,” she said. “It’s just so fun to have a community of people who are super supportive.”
Her partnership with F.A.S.T. haircare is one that also holds emotional weight. Founder Carolyn Aronson said Isabella was the perfect choice. “Her journey, how open she was, how brave she was. I think she’s the perfect, beautiful face.”
For Isabella, the collaboration resonates deeply as she documents the regrowth of her hair after treatment.
“I feel like this partnership with F.A.S.T. is super meaningful,” she said, “obviously because I am a cancer survivor and losing my hair has been one of the biggest mental things for me.”
Hair had always been a big part of her identity, making the loss feel personal. “I’ve learned, from a standpoint of how I feel about myself and where I used to find a lot of beauty within my hair,” she shared. “So when I lost it, it was kind of like a heartbreak.”
Now, as her hair returns, so does her confidence. “The faster it’s coming back, the more I’m looking forward to feeling like my old self, or just have more security in my confidence.”
Photo Credit: Isabella Strahan
