Teen re-enacts 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' for a good cause


8 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — A classic American movie came to life for a Sandy teenager, but it wasn't just for fun. It was for a good cause.

19-year-old Aubrey Slack wanted to re-create the iconic opening from "Breakfast at Tiffany's," which stars Audrey Hepburn, one of Aubrey's heroes.

"I just love her movies," Aubrey said. "She's just a classy person."

On September 25th, the teen became Holly Golightly for a day.

"I always thought it would be fun to play pretend, like every little girl wants to dress up," Aubrey said.

A Fotofly photographer captured each image outside the Tiffany & Co. store at City Creek Center.

"We just expected to go and take a few pictures outside Tiffany & Co.," said Aubrey's mother, Julie Slack.

But soon enough, Aubrey was welcomed inside to shoot photos at the store counter.

"The next thing we know, the director [of the store] is coming out, and they were putting all this very expensive jewelry on my daughter," Julie said. "$53,000 diamond necklace, $30,000 diamond ring."

The photos aren't just for the memory books.


The next thing we know, the director [of the store] is coming out, and they were putting all this very expensive jewelry on my daughter. $53,000 diamond necklace, $30,000 diamond ring.

–Julie Slack


Aubrey and her mom are trying to raise awareness about Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS.

"It's not very well known. It's an invisible illness," Aubrey said. "I [hear] all the time: ‘But you don't look sick,' but I am. One of my favorite sayings is you may not be able to see it, but I can feel it, and it's real."

POTS is an autonomic dysfunction, an incurable, chronic illness Aubrey was diagnosed with four years ago.

"When she stands up, her heart rate goes way high and her blood pressure goes way down," Julie said.

This year, Aubrey and her mother are decorating a tree with a "Breakfast at Tiffany's" theme for the annual Festival of Trees.

Aubrey, who was adopted, was born with fetal alcohol syndrome and spent much of her childhood at Primary Children's Medical Center.

"We've spent a lot of time crying, a lot of time crying," Julie said.

But on the day of this photo shoot, Aubrey's life was a fairytale instead of a struggle.

"When you're just in bed writhing in pain, and you can't do anything for yourself, if you can go back to those memories of the fun things you can do, it makes those days so much easier," Aubrey said.

Aubrey needs medication and IV fluids to treat her illness. Because of POTS, Aubrey said she can't pursue her dream of becoming a ballerina. She now plans to become a heart surgeon.

Photos

Related links

Related stories

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

Utah
Sandra Yi

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast