Report · Dubai Online
Rhiannon, a mother to two daughters aged 14 and nine, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2022 after finding a lump. She described her emotional breakdown at the news and her fear of telling her children. After a mastectomy and chemotherapy, her hair began falling out, prompting her to shave her head. She made it a positive experience for her children by letting them play with scissors before the shave. "I wanted to make something hard joyful for my children and for myself," she said.
BOLD (Be Beautifully Out) began in 2022 when Lisa Allen from The Pink Ribbon Foundation met photographer Caroline Sikkenk at a breast cancer conference. Sikkenk had photographed women with hair loss, and the idea was to show them as strong and beautiful. The first BOLD photoshoot took place in 2023. Lisa noted that the impact often began before the shoot, with women feeling supported through a WhatsApp group. "The friendships and support that grow around it last long after the photograph is taken," she said. Both women reported increased confidence and optimism from participating.
Rhiannon shared how the photoshoot boosted her confidence and self-acceptance. "I walked out of there just so confident and I felt so free," she said. Sam echoed this, stating, "Hair loss doesn't define who I am. It's just a symbol that I'm getting through this and I am strong." The project has shifted the cultural norm from hiding hair loss to embracing it openly.
Source: BBC
