Youth Mentor Program

Hello! My name is Paige Moore. I was initially diagnosed with alopecia areata when I was a sophomore in high school. Experiencing something like this, and still being young was a very tough adjustment. Having an autoimmune disease, like alopecia and being active wasn’t an easy task. My major issue was sweating, making it so hard to keep the spots covered even with the topiks powder. Fortunately, I did overcome for a while, and I went into a period where I had no hair loss and I was over the moon! Fast forward to second semester of my freshman year in college, my hair took a turn for the worst. Within two months I became completely bald and then someone with universalis. I like to think that god only gives us what we can handle. I believe I was blessed with this to help other along their journey.

Hey, I’m Alex. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata when I was 5 years old which quickly developed into alopecia totalis by the time I was 6. It didn't bother me and my parents assumed a wig would only slow me down so I rocked the bald look for first grade. Surprisingly though, all my hair grew back by second grade and I didn't have any problems with it until middle school. After many expensive and painful treatments, I decided to quit the medications and just let nature take its course. I shaved the last few tufts of hair off my head the day after Christmas of seventh grade. I also received my first wig that Christmas. I was so scared that my classmates would realize I was wearing a wig that I lied and told everyone I got a haircut during Christmas break. Over time my confidence grew and I knew I wanted to be open about my alopecia. The summer before eighth grade I ‘came out’ about my baldness over social media and was met with love and acceptance. Throughout the eighth grade, I experimented with different wigs each day and just had fun. My confidence only grew in highschool when sometimes I wouldn't even wear a wig and I still felt like I was rocking it. I had the opportunity to graduate when I was 16 and took that confidence with me to college. I understand how unpredictable alopecia is and what it is like to be bald as a kid and teenager. I can help both parents and kids navigate the world of alopecia and hopefully make that journey a little less daunting and a lot more fun.

Hello! My name is Erica and I am a Midwestern girl from Chicago who has called Dallas home for the past 10 years. I currently live in the suburbs of DFW with my husband, son and two dogs, Roo and Brer. I’ve had alopecia ophiasis (a particularly rare form) since I was in my early teens, but recently decided to shave my head. It was scary but worth it! I was so empowered and inspired by that experience that I felt compelled to help support others navigating their alopecia journey. I hope to be an example for younger children and teens that it is possible to have alopecia and have a fulfilling personal life and career, especially in a traditional corporate environment. In my spare time, I love running, swimming, DIY projects and spending time with my family.

I’m a designer, artist, and educator living in Western Queens. I teach dance and visual art. Other interests of mine are: storytelling, acting, learning languages, spirituality, cooking, nature, feminism, and science. I get very nerdy about games of all kinds, and Harry Potter!

My journey with alopecia started at age 10 (in 1999). I developed bald patches that came and went. My parents sought out all kinds of remedies for me, but none seemed to help. Middle school was rough — I was bullied, I had few confidants and no role models for living with alopecia, and on top of it my father died suddenly. Eventually I tried a wig. It helped me blend in, but was also burdensome and I was always afraid of being outed. I found other things to focus on, but I was relieved when my hair grew back in high school. Then many years later, when it started falling out again and I could no longer hide it, I shaved my head. It was liberating. Now I'm completely bald with very little body hair and no eyebrows or lashes. I draw eyebrows on daily, and often wear eyeliner.

I’ve learned to separate my ever-changing hair from my sense of self. So nowadays I hardly think about it (except when random strangers tell me how great I look), and I can focus on the things I care about in life. I can't wait to meet you, hang out, and support you in your journey. I bet we could learn a lot from one another.

Hi, I’m Maya! I am from Los Gatos, California but am currently a student at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo pursuing my studies in Graphic Communications. My alopecia journey began at the age of 17. I rapidly lost 85% of my hair and had to shift my focus from social events and school work, to how I was going to cover my balding head. It was traumatic to face events like prom and graduation with the insecurity of not having hair. I wore hats or headbands everyday to cover my bald patches until they got too large to be concealed. I then moved to a hair piece. My hair piece became a security blanket for me as I entered college. I hated every stage I had to go through, but over time I always found a way to accept what was happening to me. Throughout my hair loss, I went to countless doctors and eventually found a clinical trial that prescribed me the drug Xeljanz. It helped stop my hair from falling out and promoted regrowth. I decided to stop the medicine and I noticed my hair beginning to grow back. I recently stopped wearing my hair piece and cut my hair short. I am proud to rock my short hair that is 100% my own! This past year has been a roller coaster of emotions and learning, but my alopecia journey has taught me how to be strong and confident. I now try to focus less on the disease and more on doing what I love: hanging out with family and friends, hiking, going to the beach and enjoying my freshman year. I look forward to helping others who are also on this emotional roller coaster!

My name is Traci and I was born and raised in sunny California! I currently live in Los Angeles, after 5 years of living in New York, and am a journalist and writer. I started losing my hair when I was 7 years old and was diagnosed with alopecia shortly after. Growing up with alopecia was challenging because it was such a new experience for my parents and for me to navigate those conversations with my peers (as well as trying to figure out the world of wigs!), but I think it's made me a stronger person too. I've been lucky to have supportive friends and I've learned to talk about alopecia without feeling self-conscious and scared about judgement – but I also know how challenging that process is, and it's not always easy, but I know with the right support system, we can all make the world a kinder and more accepting place!

Hi, my name is Jamil Wilkerson. I am originally from Indiana, but as a military brat also lived in Texas and Hawaii. I am currently a student at the University of Southern California studying sociology with hopes of attending law school after. Looking back, as a young kid I developed alopecia and never imagined still having it. Through it all, I have become a more sensitive and compassionate person. This is my first encounter with NAAF and I am thrilled for it!

My name is Kevin Bernstein, and I’m originally from Seattle, WA (I now live in San Francisco). I was diagnosed with Alopecia when I was 8 years-old shortly after having an Emergency Hernia surgery. Shortly thereafter, from fourth to twelfth grade, I struggled to accept the fact that I looked different then my peers, and went forward with wearing a hat every single day when I stepped in public. I even quit basketball in sixth grade because I was told that I couldn’t wear a hat anymore when I played!
By my senior year of high school, I realized that Alopecia was controlling me, and that I was not controlling it. I had attempted several different forms of treatment (several prescribed pills, topical steroids, injections, Chinese Medicine, etc.) but none were working very well. Ultimately, I slowly began to accept the way I looked, which dramatically increased my happiness and well-being.
After high school, I attended, and graduated, from the University of Southern California (Fight On). I enjoyed my time in college, and never realized until recently that many of my friends didn’t even know what I looked like with hair! After graduation, I moved to San Francisco where I now work at Visa as part of a two-year leadership/cross-discipline business rotational program.
Things I do for fun... playing/watching sports (played tennis and lacrosse most of my life), reading about technology, trying new/foreign foods, traveling whenever I can, big Seattle Seahawks fan, mentoring/helping those who may be less fortunate than me, watching all types of movies, hikes/exercise/walking.
I hope, and look forward to developing a relationship with a mentee(s)!

I am a North California native living the Southern California lifestyle. I received my bachelor’s degree at Chapman University and now work in public relations serving clients ranging in industry from government to nonprofit to national corporations. I don’t remember a time not having alopecia and I believe it has really shaped who I am today from the values I hold to what I look for in others. Alopecia has made me a stronger person and I would love to listen to your story and share my experiences!

Hi I’m Janitha! I am from Tulsa, Oklahoma but I currently reside in Dallas, TX. I am an elementary school music teacher and have had the pleasure of teaching for the past 6 years! I enjoy all things music but a few of my other hobbies are reading, running, and thrifting!
My journey with Alopecia begins at the age of 2 right before entering into elementary. My mother told me that my hair began to fall out in clumps all over my head and that they took me to the doctor where I was diagnosed with having Alopecia. Because I was so young my parents decided against the steroids to possibility regrow my hair. My parents decided to start me out with wearing wigs which they quickly learned would not work for me after I returned home one day after school with the wig in my backpack. I made the bravest decision and decided to not hide my bald head and went to school without wigs. The constant scrutiny and name calling left me feeling alone growing up. I didn’t believe there were others like me because I never saw them growing up.
Over the years I became comfortable in my skin and with my features to the point that I forget that I am bald. At times I still struggle with the trauma from my childhood but I truly believe it has shaped me into the amazing person I am today. I was thrilled to find out about this mentoring program because I know that this program would have done wonders for me as a child growing up with Alopecia. I would be honored to be your mentor and help you navigate through all the ups and downs of having Alopecia. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Hi, I’m Caroline! I am currently in graduate school in Amherst, Massachusetts. I study geology and am getting my masters studying tsunami risk in Japan. Before this, I grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and went to undergraduate at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania. In terms of hobbies, I love to hike, rock climb, run, watch movies, cook new recipes, and learn new things. I was diagnosed with alopecia universalis about 4 years ago while at Lafayette, when I turned 20. It all happened pretty quickly for me: my hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes all went within a few months. I do own a wig, but don’t wear it very frequently. Even though my experience with alopecia was very recent, I know that without it I would be a very different person today. I have really become able to embrace and love who I am, no matter what that entails. Because of how alopecia has changed me, I feel inspired to talk to others about their experiences and especially work with children and younger people that are going through this. Alopecia is challenging for everyone, but with some help you can come out stronger and more confident on the other side.

Born and raised in Syracuse, NY, I am the middle child of 5 kids (4 girls and 1 boy). I started losing my hair when I was around 8 years old. No one in my family had experienced hair loss like this before, so I remember going to doctors to figure out what was going on. We tried lots of different treatments, but nothing seemed to be helping. I remember the embarrassment, shame, sadness, and anxiety I felt whenever going out in public or having people in my own home. At times, I felt like no one could ever love me looking the way I did. I experienced bullying at school and was often asked if I had cancer. I was afraid to wear a hat to school, as I did not want to draw attention to myself. I was afraid to go into a pool and get my hair wet, as it made my bald spots show even more. Overall, Alopecia made me afraid of many things.
From these experiences, I decided I wanted to spend my life helping children and adolescents that experience anxiety and sadness. Now living in Connecticut, I am currently living that dream as a Licensed Professional Counselor (basically a therapist), working with people of all ages (mostly kids) that struggle with this stuff. On my free time, I love spending time with my 4-year-old identical twin boys, Louis & Luca, going to the beach, doing arts and crafts, trying new foods, listening to music, and laughing as much as possible!
When I signed up for this program, I could only think about how my life may have been different if I had someone growing up going through the same thing as me. I hope to provide that for you. From my view, things do not seem as scary when we don’t have to go through them alone. Please reach out with any questions. I look forward to connecting with you!