Miss North Carolina Overcomes the Odds

KIERRA LEGGETT | STAFF WRITER

Today at 6:30 PM, North Carolina’s first bald pageant queen, Sandra Dubose-Gibson will be at Cameron Village Regional Library for a screening of her self-documenting film, “Project Liberation, My Alopecia Story.” At 37 years old, Dubose-Gibson, the mother of two, wears her bald head just as proudly as she wears her crown, banner, and title of Mrs. Black North Carolina 2011.

Wednesday night will mark the beginning of Dubose-Gibson’s eight city film tour, fitting, since September is Alopecia Awareness Month. After being diagnosed with Alopecia in 1999, Dubose-Gibson has made it her mission to share her story of triumph and tribulation with as many people as possible, all in hopes of inspiring women to find their “inner strength and true beauty.”

An auto-immune disorder that attacks hair follicles, Alopecia Areata typically causes round patches of hair loss in the scalp, but can lead to total hair loss in various places on the body. While the cause of Alopecia Areata is unknown, some people have been known to develop the disorder after experiencing illness, a major trauma, or as in Dubose-Gibson’s case—pregnancy. In the United States alone, about 5 million people every year are diagnosed with the non-discriminating disorder that is commonly seen in men, women and children. While it is not contagious, heredity is a possible developmental factor.

In her film, “Project Liberation, My Alopecia Story,” Dubose-Gibson provides viewers with an unguarded look at her battle to find inner peace with her baldness, and the struggle to rebuild her self-esteem. The film poses the question to its viewers “What would I do if I lost my hair, and who would I be?”

Only 25 years old when she was given her diagnosis, in the 12 years that have since then passed, Dubose-Gibson has made momentous strides toward bring awareness to the disorder, and encouraging women to be confident in their own skin. Dubose-Gibson asserts, “My mission is to be the catalyst that enables women to heal the experiences that have eroded and challenged their self-esteem. I am here to help them see the beautiful human beings they truly are and boldly celebrate that beauty and strength from the inside out.”

While Wednesday’s screening of the film “Project Liberation, My Alopecia Story,” will be free and open to the public, registering is the only way to ensure a seat. Sponsored in part by The North Carolina Public Libraries, Sandra Dubose-Gibson film tour will make stops in Greensboro, Wilmington and Winston Salem. For more information about Dubose- Gibson and her upcoming appearances, be sure to check out http://www.projectliberationmovement.eventbrite.com/.