Why Seeing Bald Women Represented Matters More Than We Think
Seeing bald women in everyday life matters. Not just when the conversation is about alopecia or our hair loss, but in the ordinary moments too—working, laughing, resting, creating, loving and simply living sis. Let’s talk about why seeing ourselves represented can mean more than we realize.
BALD REPRESENTATION
Why Seeing Bald Women Represented Matters More Than We Think
When I was in elementary school, I remember looking around at the other girls my age. I saw long, curly ponytails hanging down their backs, fancy colorful barrettes and ponytail holders. Everywhere I looked, I saw girls with hair. What I didn't see were girls who looked like me.
And if I'm being truthful, it embarrassed me. It made me sad too. I went through different phases with those feelings. Sometimes, when the sadness became too much for me, I escaped into my imagination.
I had always been a little girl with a vivid imagination, so in my mind I created another Kim—a Kim with hair. I would imagine myself with the ponytails, the colorful barrettes and those big fluffy curls I saw on the other girls. In my imagination, I could look like them too.
Looking back now, I understand that was one of the ways little Kim learned to cope. I didn't have words like representation or self-esteem to explain what I was feeling back then.
I just knew I wanted to see a girl who looked like me.
Then One Day, I Saw Me
Years later, something happened that I will never forget.
I went to the movies to see Black Panther. By then, I was already rocking my bald head. And there on that huge movie screen were these stunning African women—the Dora Milaje—wearing their bald heads proudly.
They were beautiful.
They were strong.
They were confident.
And sis, I remember sitting there watching them and feeling so proud.
Black Panther already meant something special to me as a Black woman. Seeing African culture celebrated on that scale, with a predominantly Black cast, was a proud moment in itself.
But seeing those beautiful, strong, bald African women on that screen?
That made it personal.
I walked out of that movie theater with my chest stuck out a little farther. 😂 I was bald too, and there was something about seeing women who looked like me represented that way on the big screen that made me stand a little taller.
That's when you realize representation isn't some little thing.
Seeing yourself can change the way you see yourself.
We Deserve to See Ourselves Living Too
And as proud as that moment made me as a Black bald woman, this is bigger than me.
I want that feeling for every one of my beautiful bald sisters.
Black women. White women. Asian women. Latina women. Indian women. Women of every shade, background and age.
I don't want us to see bald women only when the subject is alopecia or hair loss.
I want to see us working, laughing with our girls, exercising, creating, resting, traveling, loving, building careers, raising families and simply living our lives.
Because that's who we are.
Alopecia may be part of our story, sis, but it is not our whole story.
Our bald heads don't have to be the whole story to deserve a place in the picture.
Your Shining Crown
And sis, if you're still wearing your wig, scarf or hat, I'm not here to tell you when it's time to take it off.
That's your journey.
I know something about that journey because I've walked it too.
But if the day comes when you're ready to shed the wig or the hat and let your shining crown be seen, my prayer is that you don't step into that moment ashamed.
I pray it's a proud moment. A confident moment.
A moment when you know—and most importantly, believe—that you are beautiful.
Not because the world finally decided bald was beautiful.
But because your Creator, your Daddy God, already said you are.
Why I Create What I Create
And that, sis, is one of the reasons God's Shining Crowns exists.
It's also one of the reasons I created Bald Women: Living Full Lives Unapologetically.
I didn't want to create coloring pages where bald women were only sitting around thinking about being bald. 😂
I wanted to see us living.
Working. Resting. Exercising. Spending time with our girls. Enjoying quiet moments. Laughing. Showing up for life.
I wanted us to have something that says:
There you are, sis. I see you.
Because that little girl who once looked around her elementary school and couldn't find another girl who looked like her grew up.
And today?
She's creating some of the representation she once needed to see.