Kayla Martell, Bald Miss Delaware, Readies Her Wigs For Miss America Pageant (VIDEO)

Miss Delaware Kayla Martell will bring three suitcases full of costumes, gowns...and wigs to next week's Miss America pageant. The 22-year-old suffers from alopecia areata, meaning her body attacks its hair follicles, resulting in baldness.

She told ABC News, "When I go grocery shopping, when I'm out with my friends, when I'm at home, I'm without the wig. That's me. That's the real me." But she decided to don wigs for the event because, "people are so surprised to see a bald woman, let alone a bald beauty pageant contestant."

Check out what else she had to say.

(Via BellaSugar)

WATCH:

Comments

[Marissa Woltanski]

07:15 AM on 01/27/2011

I shaved my head a year ago, no big deal. People need to get over this whole, "my hair is my crowning glory." IT'S HAIR! IT'S DEAD!

[pbnyc59]

07:29 PM on 01/16/2011

When I go grocery shopping, when I'm out with my friends, when I'm at home, I'm without the wig. That's me. That's the real me."

So that is not the real you on stage, not that any of the other women are real.

[petzl]

07:26 PM on 01/10/2011

Wow, what a giveaway:
They showed her getting her head shaved!
Ergo, she has hair, is not in fact bald, and is just using this to get sympathy from the judges!

[janiejones]

12:31 PM on 01/15/2011

No, she's likely getting her head shaved so she can use the tape to secure the one she'll wear in the talent competition.
Seriously, what's wrong with you?

[Marissa Woltanski]

07:13 AM on 01/27/2011

With alopecia you often have huge bald chunks, not necessarily your whole head, genius. So she have clumps that grow and lots of unevenness. She doesn't have a natural full head of hair to work with.
It can also grow back then fall out without warning.

[enzodalverme]

08:08 AM on 01/10/2011

Well done! Kayla managed to have the media talking openly about being bald and beautiful.
This is a big thing. People working in the information industry know well that the content transmitted by traditional media must support the advertisers and too often is distorted or simply censored. The bald look might clash with the feminine ideal upheld by advertisers, that's why about twenty fashion magazines refused to publish a story on bald women. http://bit.ly/dokwAa Sharing her story, Kyla Martell is not only bringing awareness to Alopecia Areata, she is also breaking a tabu. Congratulations!!

[PresidentRobertBooth]

09:29 AM on 01/09/2011

I appreciate she has an illness, but honestly, she'd look better with a wig IMO

[nancynancy]

05:23 PM on 01/10/2011

Agreed. When I was this woman's age, I had an extremely severe case of cystic acne (this was many years before Accutane). Should I have said to heck with camoflaging makeup and simply gone natural so the world could have seen my ravaged skin? I don't think so. Some taboos are good taboos.

[Tina Wells]

10:52 PM on 01/08/2011

She's absolutely stunning, and such a great role model for young women.

[CHMB]

09:51 PM on 01/08/2011

I'll repeat the sentiments, she's gorgeous.

[kim from nj]

07:58 PM on 01/08/2011

My beautiful sister started losing her hair a few years ago and it freaked her out. Hair, especially for women, is part of who we are. It is so inspiring to see that this beautiful and inspirational woman goes grocery shopping w/o her wig....guess what? She is amazing!!!! I am not a big fan of beauty pageants -- maybe because I grew up near Atlantic City and it was always kind of a joke around here - however, I think she is a great role model for women!!!

[Gidster]

03:36 PM on 01/08/2011

Bald women are beautiful....

[vegetablelollipop]

11:41 AM on 01/08/2011

She's beautiful.

[Feanor]

11:18 AM on 01/08/2011

I've had the hots for bald women ever since I saw THX-1138

[petzl]

07:27 PM on 01/10/2011

I believe you meant LUH-3417

[Feanor]

05:01 AM on 01/11/2011

I meant the movie, not the character, but, yeah, I guess.... it's been 30 years some of the details are hazy... all that's left is my stiffy

[sski74]

11:26 AM on 01/08/2011

Classy.

[NunuDudu]

09:36 AM on 01/08/2011

Without the wig you notice her features more and you can see she's gorgeous.

[thelipstickfemme]

01:51 PM on 01/08/2011

She is lucky she has a great shaped head and symmetrical features. Her features really stand out w/o the wig, therefore we can really see her beauty. I don't have symmetrical features and have funny pointy ears and I would not look good bald. I tried it for 3 months and I was so miserable.

However, she has strength and has a beauty inside that is appealing. All the best to her.

[wwoody]

07:38 AM on 01/08/2011

She is really beautiful.

[iRock]

10:02 PM on 01/07/2011

Is it just me or does she look more beautiful WITHOUT the wig??

I'm sure I'm not the first to say this here.

She's amazing, and her soul makes her beautiful.

[wwoody]

07:39 AM on 01/08/2011

It not just you, it me too she is really beautiful.