This February, as the nation observes American Heart Month, Charleston based author and fashion model Cheri Glover is sharing a story of survival that began long before she ever stepped onto a runway. In her memoir, The Model Motivator: One Woman's Journey Past the Runway, Glover reveals how she overcame the odds of a premature birth and life threatening heart defect to become a beacon of hope for others.
Born at just 24 weeks and weighing only one pound, twelve ounces, Glover began her life in a fight for survival. Because her heart was not fully developed at birth, she lived with a congenital heart murmur that worsened over time. By age 27, the condition became critical as blood began flowing in the opposite direction through her heart, leading to life saving open-heart surgery on Feb. 2, 2009.
“I was given a second chance at life, and I decided I wasn’t going to waste it hiding behind fear,” says Glover. “I went from sneakers and a 'Plain Jane' lifestyle to walking professional runways at age 35. My goal is to show people that no matter your circumstances—or your medical history—your dreams are still valid.”
A Legacy of Giving Back
Glover has turned her survival into a mission of advocacy. Since hitting her 10-year "heart-versary" in 2019, she has raised thousands of dollars for heart health initiatives, including:
The American Heart Association: Serving as a 2020 Go Red for Women Honoree (Lehigh Valley) and a dedicated fundraiser for the National Heart Walk & Run.
Most recently, through her business The Model Motivator Consulting & Training Services, she hosted the "Beauty Empowerment Workshop" in August 2025, raising vital funds for the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital cardiology department to support families staying at the hospital.
A faith filled guide to stepping out, The Model Motivator is a memoir rooted in faith, encouraging readers to dismantle the "walls in their minds." Glover shares her journey of becoming a fashion model later in life, proving that it is never too late to achieve a goal when you set aside fear and step out of your comfort zone.
The Model Motivator: One Woman's Journey Past the Runway is available now on Amazon here.