Minneapolis, MN – October 12, 2025 – Nicole Curtis, the fearless face of HGTV’s Rehab Addict, marked the show’s 15th anniversary on October 10, 2025, with a tear-soaked Instagram post that peeled back the curtain on her meteoric rise – and hinted at a bombshell health scare that nearly derailed her. The 49-year-old single mom, whose mantra “why in the hell would you cover that up” flipped 200 crumbling homes into treasures, confirmed a slate of new HGTV series, sending fans into a frenzy with #NicoleIsBack racking up 3 million X mentions. But whispers of a hidden tumor diagnosis now cast her relentless drive in a raw, urgent light.

On October 10, 2010, a 34-year-old Curtis, hustling side gigs at Banana Republic and Craigslist, launched Rehab Addict hoping to bankroll a cozy life for son Ethan, then 12. “I sat numb in my yellow house, watching my own preview,” she posted. “Nerves? Hell yes. Would I crash or fly?” Fly she did – the show’s debut smashed ratings with 1.8 million viewers, sparking a restoration revolution. Yet, sources close to Curtis tell Us Weekly a 2019 ovarian tumor scare, kept secret amid lawsuits from Detroit developers and a public spat with Minneapolis’ mayor (lampooned on Kimmel), pushed her to “fight like a bulldog” for legacy. “That scare lit a fire – every hammer swing was for Ethan,” the insider spilled.

Curtis’ post doubled down: “Fifteen years battling cease-and-desists, city councils, even a mayor who became a late-night punchline – I’m Nicole Curtis, and I’m damn proud.” Her empire, now including a memoir deal and HGTV’s upcoming Rehab Addict: Rust Belt Revival (spring 2026 premiere, per Variety), thrives despite “no design degree” snubs. A summer encounter with a fan at her lakefront home – “beautiful Nicole, beautiful house” – left her sobbing, cementing her bond with viewers.

The health whisper? A 2023 medical filing, surfaced by TMZ, hints at “non-malignant growth” surgery, fueling her “no-pause” hustle with Ethan, now 27, by her side. HGTV’s CEO, in a rare statement, hailed her “unstoppable spirit.” As neighbors’ blaring music shook her house during her anniversary reflection, Curtis laughed it off: “Still fighting, still me.” With MAGA trolls flooding X over her “liberal fixer” vibe, and midterms looming, her comeback screams defiance. “God bless,” she signed off, as fans brace for her boldest chapter yet.