In a world that often glorifies hustle over healing, one woman dared to press pause and emerged with a movement.
On a sunlit Saturday at the elegant Kwetu Nairobi, an intimate gathering unfolded, not just to toast a new brand but to honor a story of resilience, reinvention, and radical self-care.
Bidanya Barassa, former MNet Face of Africa, cancer victoress, and wellness trailblazer, officially unveiled Better Living, a heartfelt initiative born from her own transformative health journey.
The launch wasn’t just a brunch; it was a celebration of purpose-driven living, drawing together a vibrant community of wellness seekers, tastemakers, and influential voices ready to embrace healing from the inside out.
Some of the top personalities who graced the event include News anchor Lillian Muli, PR Guru Lucia Musau, Ambassador Thomas Kwakwa aka Big Ted, the Romanian ambassador to Kenya Gentiana Serbu, Capital FM’s Captain VinieO, Beautypreneur Maureen Bandari, Singer Habida, and Melvins Teas CEO Flora Mutahi, among others.
During the launch, Bidanya, who is also the Managing Director of Top Image Africa, said that “Better Living” is more than a wellness brand. She described it as a personal initiative inspired by her healing journey.
For those who are not familiar with her story, Bidanya conquered stage two colon cancer a few years ago (October 2010). In late 2009, she was diagnosed with stage two colon cancer after experiencing persistent abdominal discomfort every time she ate.
The cancer diagnosis was a life-changing chapter in her life, and even “Better Living” was inspired by her battle with cancer.
She underwent cancer treatment and 12 sessions of chemotherapy, which she says she faced with a positive mindset and acceptance, which she attributes to her mother, who has been her biggest support system.
Having consistently used nutritional supplements for over a decade as part of her healing journey, Bidanya revealed that her experience with cancer inspired the creation of a supplement line, “Better Living by Bidanya Barassa”.
Bidanya’s courageous story resonated deeply with attendees, embodying the brand’s core values of strength, healing, and purpose.
“I was pushed into living healthy and focusing on my health after my diagnosis with colon cancer about 14 years ago. I went through surgery and they had to remove four inches of my colon, and also I had to do chemotherapy,” Bidanya said.
“I did chemotherapy sessions for eight months. After the chemotherapy, I sat with my doctor and asked her what I needed to do moving forward now that I was cancer-free. She told me to live normally, but I felt like that was not enough. So I decided to educate myself on cancer prevention. I was under 30 when I got colon cancer, and I asked the doctor why I got it at a young age, and they had no answer. That pushed me to embark on a journey of that has now given birth to “Better Living”.
The initiative invites individuals to rediscover balance, clarity, and authentic connection with themselves, others, and the natural world.
Being a wellness advocate, Ms Barassa mentioned that her brand is redefining what it means to live well in today’s world.
“Better Living is where healing meets purpose, where science meets spirit. We are creating space for people to reconnect with their bodies, with the earth, and with the wisdom that’s always been within them,” Bidanya said.
She stated that the biggest challenge people face in today’s world is a lack of information and rushed decisions when it comes to dealing with cancer.
“I felt there was a need for education and empowerment in Kenya on how we can prevent cancer because these cases are rising day by day.
“No one is talking about cancer prevention, or supplements, when it’s already happening in developed countries. So we need to feed our bodies right, and that’s why I felt the need to bring these supplements to help my people,” she explained.
She added, “Better living is not just about selling products, but educating the masses on how to take care of themselves,”.
The international model added that she has been on supplements for the past 10 years.
“The supplements are organically certified, and I only source from companies that deal with organic products. So the three superfoods that we have launched today are: Irish Sea Moss- a multivitamin for energy, immunity, and metabolism.
We also have Burdock Root, which acts as an Antioxidant powerhouse for skin & digestion, and Sea Moss + Bladderwrack + Burdock- the ultimate longevity blend for Detox and Joint Health,” Bidanya explained at the launch.
Since overcoming cancer, Barassa says that she has incorporated her love for juicing and fitness into her life – a practice that soon became the cornerstone of her health regimen.
At the launch, I also got up with Melvins Teas CEO Flora Mutahi who gave Bidanya her flowers for launching such a bold movement.
“Today we had the pleasure of being invited here by Bidanya to witness the launch of her brand called Better Living, shared from her journey of healing from her journey of 14 years ago.
“Naturally, products and you know me, anything entrepreneurship, I will be there to support. Entrepreneurship is my passion and I feel entrepreneurs can change the world, especially here on the African continent. As you can see, Bidanya is here solving a problem on Health and I’m proud of her. I want to wish her all the best and remind her that this journey of entrepreneurship is not a joke, but with the right mentors, support, and network, she will go far,” Flora Mutahi said.
Ambassador Thomas “Big Ted” Kwaka. “We celebrated the spirit of homegrown solutions, and I’m very proud of my friend Bidanya for this new milestone,”.
Bidanya’s mother, Jennifer Barassa, who is the CEO of Top Image Africa, was the chief guest at the launch, and she congratulated her daughter on the new milestone.
“As the guest of honor, I’m super proud of Bidanya. The launch of Better Living by Bidanya Barassa inspired by healing rooted in nature has been a long journey. She started thinking about it 14 years ago and today were are here to launch it officially to the world,” Jennifer Barassa said.
"Healthy living is not a trend, it's a commitment to making informed choices in what we eat, how we move, how we think, and how we care for ourselves and each other,".
About Bidanya Barassa
A celebrated name in fashion, wellness, and media, Bidanya Barassa is a visionary entrepreneur redefining what it means to live beautifully and intentionally.
From international catwalks to curating conscious wellness, she embodies elegance, resilience, and transformation.
With a global perspective shaped by her journey having conquered cancer and being the MD of Top Image Africa in 12 countries, Bidanya now brings her boldest chapter yet, Better Living - a lifestyle movement rooted in healing, powered by nature, and inspired by her journey of restoration.
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