Maimah Karmo

Maimah Karmo is the Founder/CEO of the Tigerlily Foundation (Tigerlily) and a fifteen-year survivor of breast cancer. On February 28, 2006, at 4:45 p.m., Maimah was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. She had no family history and was 32-years old. While undergoing her second round of chemotherapy, she made a promise to God that if she survived, she would create an organization to educate, empower, advocate for and support young women affected by breast cancer. After her second treatment, Tigerlily Foundation was born. Tigerlily provides breast health, educational, empowerment wellness and transformational programs to young women; and works to end disparities of age, stage and color.

After working with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to develop the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act, in October 2011, Maimah was appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women, a committee established by the Affordable Care Act, on which she works to develop initiatives to increase knowledge of breast health and breast cancer, for women under the age of 45 and those at heightened risk for developing the disease. In 2015, Maimah advocated with Members of Congress to ensure that young women had access to breast screening. Tigerlily Foundation flew young women to Washington, D.C. to meet with 74 members of Congress. The visit resulted in doubling the House and Senate support for the Protecting Access to Lifesaving Screening (PALS) legislation. The bill was signed into law within a month, protecting the lives and rights of millions of women. Maimah has worked with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to launch national campaigns and has served as an Ambassador for National Women’s Health Week, an initiative of the Office of Women’s Health.

A first-generation immigrant from Liberia, who has experienced disparities first-hand, she is a leader in the women’s health field, creating and implementing national health initiatives for women and girls, with a goal of eliminating disparities of age, stage and color. Under Maimah’s leadership, Tigerlily Foundation has launched national and global health initiatives focused on ending disparities, through the #InclusionPledge, partnering with global stakeholders, with a call to action to recognize health disparities as a social justice issue; and working to end disparities for black women in our lifetime. She is a global health advocate, committed to justice and equity for all. Maimah has appeared in USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, Black Enterprise, Oprah Magazine, Essence Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Redbook, Women and Cancer, Cure Magazine, Traditional Home Magazine and more. She has also been featured on Fox 5, ABC 7, CBS, the Oprah Winfrey Show, OWN, Good Morning America, the Today Show and more. She is a sought-after speaker by the media and for policy events; and she is a philanthropist. Most dear to her heart is her 18-year old daughter, Noelle. Noelle and Maimah dote on their Morkies, Honey and Sugar. In 2010, Maimah published Fearless: Awakening to my Life's Purpose Through Breast Cancer. In 2018, she published the “Badass Girl’s Book of Prayers”. She recently published Divine Downloads: Transforming through Trauma, followed by Unicorn Boss, in June 2020. In 2013, she founded Bliss Magazine, a digital publication that inspires others to live their purpose. Maimah is a transformational coach, hosts The Pure Bliss podcast and “Manifest” Conference. Visit www.maimah.com to learn about her podcast, products, workshops, masterclasses, card decks, jewelry line and more. Visit www.tigerlilyfoundation to learn about how you can support young women – before, during and after breast cancer, and collaborate to end disparities of age, stage and color. You can find Maimah on Twitter @maimah, on Instagram @maimah and on Facebook @maimahkarmoofficial.