Kerri Anne Besse

■ Date and place of birth: Dec. 23, 1980, Wareham, Mass.

■ Family: Husband Ryan Hobbs and cat Cubby

■ A typical Saturday night for me includes: My husband and I love to go to dinner with friends. Pizzeria Ruby in Springdale is amazing. And then a movie at the Skylight Cinemas.

■ The quote that resonates the most with me is: “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

■ The best advice I’ve ever received: I worked at a sewing school in New York City for eight years teaching evening and weekend classes, and the owner was tough. She once said to me, “The cream will rise.” Meaning that the hard workers who are passionate and kind come out on top in due time. Pretty sure I’ve started every new job with this thought in mind.

■ One thing that would get us closer to a perfect world is: More accessible health care such as free mammograms with or without insurance coverage. And better health education in schools.

■ My favorite place in Northwest Arkansas: Two Friends Books in Bentonville. The best sandwiches and a book club for almost every genre of book; always a great conversation when visiting and great selection of books.

■ The thing that makes me laugh the most: Any and ALL cat videos. And just watching our cat in general doing everyday things like drinking from his water fountain.

■ The book/movie/art that had the biggest impact on me was: I’ve had so many amazing eye-opening moments at art museums around the world. As far as a book, it has to be “Radical Remission.” I started reading this about two months after my diagnosis. And I am a sucker for a good ’80s movie. If you’ve never seen “Better Off Dead” or “Gleaming the Cube,” add them to your list! John Cusack for President!

■ For me, yoga is: A very important part of my mental clarity. I always feel like I have a better grounded sensibility afterward. It’s my church.

■ To what do you owe your success? Hard work, perseverance, passion and kindness.

■ What’s next for your work? I would like to come up with a spring 2024 swimsuit line. And I’d love to get my (Cancer Calendar) book picked up by a major hospital or pharmaceutical company.