My name is Hayley. I am 11 years old and I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata when I was 5 years old. Initially, my hair started falling out in circle patches, when 3 months had passed I was totally bald and had lost all body hair. The treatments offered were invasive or had side effects on my body so my mum helped me embrace having Alopecia. People in my community get confused when they do not know me, they think I have cancer and it confuses them as I look healthy and well. Mum has helped me figure out how to talk to people about alopecia and we role-play scenarios to help when people stare or make inappropriate comments. 

At first, I felt nervous and scared because I was not sure what was happening to me or why. It would burn and itch when the hairs fell out and it would sting a lot. When my mum kissed me on the head and reassured me, I knew I was loved and everything was going to be ok. Mum always encourages me to continue to do the activities that bring me joy. One of these is dancing.

People often made comments to me like, “how come you didn’t tell me you were sick with cancer?” or “why would your mum shave your head like that?” “are you dying because you have no hair?” “Kids would call me butt-head and leave me out because they thought they would catch it. People didn’t know what to think or say.

One time a prep student thought I was a boy when I went to the girl’s toilet, she said “boys aren’t allowed in here”. I giggled at this as I understood she didn’t understand.

Mum got me connected with the AAAF foundation, we attended awareness days at the Melbourne Zoo, Gumbyaworld, and Anglesea Camp 2021.  

In 2017 I got to do a special photoshoot to raise awareness, I was allowed to bring my alopecia friend who I met at Melbourne Zoo with me. Her name was Aria. We had so much fun dancing in the fairy dresses.

I have tried different types of wigs. My favorite is the suction Wig. I was very lucky to have the help of a variety of kids who got me one made through angel wigs in Melbourne. I can dance, do cartwheels and flip on the monkey bars and it doesn’t fall off. It’s legit epic! When I wear my wig It feels weird at the start but when you get used to it you feel like wearing it every day. I chose often not to wear it though as I feel comfortable being me now. I know I’m not alone and all my friends don’t care what I look like. They say I am kind, funny, pretty, helpful, confident, and creative.

A lot of people tell me I am really good at my dancing. I love to dance. I have danced since I was a toddler. Dancing makes me feel happy because I get to learn new moves and I enjoy performing on stage so learning new moves means I can perform more. Dancing is really good exercise for my body.

Since alopecia started, I have met some nice people and made some new friends, with the help of mum I even have a friend with alopecia who lives in London, we enjoy catching up when we can, by face time of course.

I am so grateful for the opportunity of being granted the silver sponsorship for my dancing. Thank you. The sponsorship has made it possible for me to expand into new dance styles and learn the correct techniques. I am currently doing Ballet, Tap, and Jaz and I am so passionate the teacher is letting me try Silk Dancing. I am so excited about this and can’t wait to perform with my new skills.