Sandra Dubose-Gibson Brings Alopecia Awareness to the Triangle and Beyond

Written by Ella Tarver Tuesday September 27, 2011 8:45pm

The City Insight interviewed Sandra Dubose-Gibson, who is the reigning Mrs. Black North Carolina. In addition to holding the title of Mrs. Black North Carolina, Mrs. Dubose-Gibson is also an advocate for people who are affected by alopecia. The month of September is alopecia awareness month, which is the reason we interviewed Mrs. Dubose-Gibson regarding her advocacy on alopecia.

CI: For those who are not familiar with alopecia, what is the medical definition for Alopecia?

SG: Medically the word alopecia simple means hair loss, but with hair loss there are several different types and disorders. Specifically, the one that I have is alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. this one started when I was 25 years old. I also have another form of hair loss, which is called cicatricial alopecia. This is known as scaring alopecia because it causes scaring underneath the skin and causes permanent hair loss since it closes the pores. There are so many different types of hair loss conditions.

CI: Everyone has a word or phrase that means something different to them than the technical definition. What does alopecia actually mean to you?

SG: It means to me a “reality check”. You do not realize how important your hair is and how much you define your beauty and your sense of self. Also you appreciate all of those things that is attached to the value of your hair. It is not until you are faced with a challenge that takes it away. You have to deal with how that feels and how deep it goes. It is a true reality check and it forces you to reevaluate where you put your priorities. So that is what alopecia means to me.

CI: What happens during the month of September?

SG: September is the designated month to celebrate Alopecia awareness around the world. Just like any other awareness month it is an opportunity to get creative to say what we can do to bring this information to the masses. For some people it is a turning point to get to a different place or in building greater confidence in themselves, to maybe challenge themselves to go outside bald for the first time or something like that. It is also an opportunity for people who are dealing with alopecia to take their temperature to say “how am I doing with this” or “what can I do to get better” or “what can I do to help others”.

CI: What are some of the challenges for someone who is affected by alopecia whether it is them directly or someone they love, like a child or spouse?

SG: On a personal level everyone deals with it differently and your support system is important. What you have been taught to believe or whether or not you already have low-self esteem is influential as well. If you are raised in a home with people who are vain, there will be a big emphasis on how you look and their response to you and to how you handle it would be impacted. For parents, it may be the fear of how they can protect the child.

CI: What was that moment like when you were crowned Mrs. Black North Carolina?

SG: This was my first pageant. I had never thought about being in a pageant. When it was suggested I thought it was the funniest thing I ever heard because I had never seen myself in that way. But when I was asked a second time the reaction was Wow! I really think I need to do this not just for myself but for everybody who feel like they may be the underdog when it comes to beauty. I need to show them we can do it, we can compete in a beauty pageant and we decide what beauty looks like. We are who we say we are. It’s time for us to push against what society says beauty is and for us to stand up and say this is what we think beauty is. It was making a huge statement to say we are “ok” just the way we are. I was just happy to be a part of it and to stand up there and say I am doing this. I felt like competing would be enough.

CI: What is the one thing that you would like people who are not familiar with alopecia to know?

SG: Sickness can knock on the door of anyone and that means you too. At no point for any reason does a person have a right to look down or be judgmental of others.

CI: What is the Project Liberation Movement?

SG: Project Liberation Movement is based on the documentary film that I created. I started with this journey when I was 25 years old and I am now 37 years old. So it has been a while that I have been dealing with alopecia and to grow and get to a place where I am feeling more confident. In 2008, I made the decision that I was not going to wait until my hair grew back anymore but fully embrace the experience. If I was going to be a bald women, I was going to be a bad woman, a hot women, like we are going to do this full out. I am going to fully accept myself and make it work for me and this was the reason for creating the film. I wanted people to understand. It is currently available in libraries throughout the United States and on Amazon.com. This is an opportunity to bring people together, to start a healthy dialog about hair. As Mrs. Black North Carolina, my platform is alopecia awareness. I wanted to take the show on the road, so that is how the movement got started. It was for us to hold a mirror up and take a long look at ourselves. I want it for myself and for everybody.

Mrs. Sandra Dubose-Gibson is also a national motivational speaker and professional performing artist with her company Dubose Entertainment along with being the founder of the Alopecia Community of the Triangle support group (www.AlopeciaCommunity.org). Her story has already been featured on several television segments including WRAL, FOX8, My Charlotte Today and My Carolina today. In regards to the Project Liberation Movement, it is aimed at those people who have hair loss conditions, who may be challenged with low self esteem, or just someone who wants to know more about Alopecia. According to Mrs. Dubose-Gibson “everyone loves to hear an inspiring story.”