Elisha is just champion - find out why
BRAVE 16-YEAR-OLD IS A REAL ROLE MODEL TO OTHERS
WHILE celebrating bald is beautiful, courageous Elisha Appleby is showing young girls that imperfections are to be embraced.
The inspirational alopecia sufferer showed off her baldness on Facebook and then plucked up the courage to model a range of wigs in a fashion show before throwing them in the air to reveal what was really underneath.
From being embarrassed and locking herself in her bedroom to becoming the face and ambassador of a trendy wig company - Elisha has now been nominated for our prestigious Chronicle Champions award in the Young Role Model category.
Nominated by businesswoman Jolene Casey, Elisha cried with delight when she was told the good news.
“I can’t believe it, I cried when I was told,” said Elisha, 16, of Hylton Castle, Sunderland.
“I have come so far within the space of a year. I was literally sitting in my bedroom, hiding behind my wig and not wanting to go out to helping so many others. I’m showing young girls that it is OK to be bald and have imperfections and I’ve even helped older women who suffer hair loss and encouraged them to be proud of themselves.
“I am so shocked that I have been nominated for this award, I’m so pleased that I have helped so many others to feel good about themselves. I’ve pushed that bald is beautiful and it is.”
Elisha’s story started on her 15th birthday when she noticed a bald patch on the back of her head.
So distraught she hid herself in her bedroom and eventually shaved off her hair in a brave bid to cope before posting it on Facebook to raise awareness.
Now she has regained her selfesteem after being chosen as the new face for North East wig company Pdollpalace which has launched a line of high grade synthetic wigs geared towards others suffering from alopecia.
ChronicleLive told how Elisha, who has just left Castle View Academy, worked with Pdollpalace to scout 16 other women to model a range of fun wigs.
After telling her story, she and company owner Jolene were inundated with people living with hair loss who have found the bravery to go public.
Those who stepped forward were given VIP treatment, a makeover and photoshoot to give them the assurances they needed.
And they brought a packed audience to tears with the Woman Warrior Fashion Show to promote bald is beautiful at Bonbar in Newcastle.
After their media coverage, the brave women were invited onto the This Morning sofa to show their new found confidence to the nation. And they are now wanting to help others countrywide.
Mum-of-five Jolene, who has created a community interest company called the Panache Group to get her vision off the ground, is wanting to raise £100,000 through a JustGiving page to create a hub for other hair loss sufferers where they can feel comfortable in their own skin.
But she is putting the successful journey down to Elisha, who is starting Newcastle College to study art and design as she sets her sights on becoming a tattoo artist, and says she deserves our award.
Jolene, 40, of Castle Town, Sunderland, said: “Elisha is so inspirational. She is showing all young girls out there, whether they suffer from hair loss or anything else, that you can have imperfections. Social media today makes youngsters feel conscious about themselves, that they have to be perfect, and Elisha is showing them that they don’t. She is so cool and rocks her wig. She has built up the confidence to be in photoshoots, to going on the catwalk, to appearing on TV. She is helping people of all ages to be confident in themselves and at a time when mental health is being talked about, she is helping so many others cope.”
Our annual Chronicle Champions Awards rewards our unsung heroes and honours the region’s bravest and most selfless people who work tirelessly to make their community a better place.
Each year, members of the public put forward their nominations and the winners are presented with their accolades at a glittering ceremony later in the year.
Nominations are still open.