Ayanna Pressley Reveals She Has Alopecia In Poignant Video

When Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D) gave her victory speech after being elected Massachusetts first Black congresswoman in November 2018, she posed a question to a jubilant, celebratory audience. Can a congresswoman wear her hair in braids? she asked. Rock a black leather jacket and a bold red lip?

The quote, like Pressleys election itself, inspired T-shirts and became a symbol and a win for political representation.

Now shes making yet another powerful statement. On Thursday, the lawmaker revealed she has alopecia in an exclusive and vulnerable interview and video with The Root . Pressley appears in the video first in a lace-front wig, and then with a bald head for the first time.

Alopecia is an autoimmune disease which causes the body to attack healthy hair follicles in people who are typically otherwise healthy. This, according to the National Alopecia Areata foundation, causes the follicles to become much smaller and drastically slow down production to the point that hair growth may stop.

The condition impacts 6.8 million people in the United States, and can happen to anyone with hair on the scalp or other parts of the body. Certain factors, like having close blood relatives with alopecia, asthma and thyroid disease, can increase the chance someone has the disease. The hair follicle does not die during this process so regrowth of the hair is also possible but its not guaranteed.

In publicly sharing her story, Pressley joins people like teen Raquel Roth who organized a health fair after being bullied for her hair loss and Nichola McAvoy , founder of an app that connects people with alopecia called Ally. Each one has worked to create awareness and crush stigma surrounding alopecia.

Detailing the process, Pressley told The Root she was first made aware of patches on her scalp when she was having her hair re-twisted (she has had both Senegalese and bomb twists ). Her last piece of hair fell out on the eve of President Donald Trump s impeachment.

I was completely bald, and in a matter of hours was going to have to walk into the floor of the House of Representatives and cast a vote in support of articles of impeachment, she said. I didnt have the luxury of mourning what felt like the loss of a limb. It was a moment of transformation not of my choosing.

Pressley ultimately decided she needed to openly share her condition, despite the fact that her husband thought otherwise.

Everything doesnt have to be political, she recalled him saying.

But Pressley felt it was necessary, and that she owed it to the young girls who reach out to her about their own hair. She also talked about it as a way to come to terms with her new truth. While shes still on the road to feeling comfortable, she told The Root that sharing her story is a way to move that process forward.

Now, on this journey, when I feel most unlike myself is when Im wearing a wig, she said. So I think that means Im on my way.

An outpouring of support for Pressley has flooded social media in response to the video, with many once again praising her for her openness and honesty.

Moments like this really underline how representation matters. A congresswoman who's had Senegalese twists like I have?! Who gets that our hair is personal & political?

What beautiful vulnerability. Thank you, @AyannaPressley. https://t.co/nqi2K8Ztna

Wagatwe Wanjuki (@wagatwe) January 16, 2020","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Wagatwe Wanjuki ","author_url":"https://twitter.com/wagatwe","cache_age":86400,"description":"Moments like this really underline how representation matters. A congresswoman who's had Senegalese twists like I have?! Who gets that our hair is personal & political? What beautiful vulnerability. Thank you, @AyannaPressley. https://t.co/nqi2K8Ztna Wagatwe Wanjuki (@wagatwe) January 16, 2020\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Wagatwe Wanjuki on 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Moments like this really underline how representation matters. A congresswoman who's had Senegalese twists like I have?! Who gets that our hair is personal & political?

What beautiful vulnerability. Thank you, @AyannaPressley . https://t.co/nqi2K8Ztna
Wagatwe Wanjuki (@wagatwe) January 16, 2020

I'm in tears. To realize that she was dealing with this in addition to all of the obvious challenges that come with being who she is ... wow https://t.co/b2ErEAk2LH

Jene (@jdesmondharris) January 16, 2020","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Jene","author_url":"https://twitter.com/jdesmondharris","cache_age":86400,"description":"I'm in tears. To realize that she was dealing with this in addition to all of the obvious challenges that come with being who she is ... wow https://t.co/b2ErEAk2LH Jene (@jdesmondharris) January 16, 2020\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Jene on 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I'm in tears. To realize that she was dealing with this in addition to all of the obvious challenges that come with being who she is ... wow https://t.co/b2ErEAk2LH
Jene (@jdesmondharris) January 16, 2020

vulnerability as leadership. we are so lucky to have @AyannaPressley blazing trails. https://t.co/27HIf6aZFo

Robbie Couch (@robbie_couch) January 16, 2020","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Robbie Couch","author_url":"https://twitter.com/robbie_couch","cache_age":86400,"description":"vulnerability as leadership. we are so lucky to have @AyannaPressley blazing trails. https://t.co/27HIf6aZFo Robbie Couch (@robbie_couch) January 16, 2020\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Robbie Couch on 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vulnerability as leadership. we are so lucky to have @AyannaPressley blazing trails. https://t.co/27HIf6aZFo
Robbie Couch (@robbie_couch) January 16, 2020

Queen.

Your courage in sharing your story is what makes you so incredibly special @AyannaPressley.

I love you sis. https://t.co/0OtFXsrXlK

Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) January 16, 2020","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Rashida Tlaib","author_url":"https://twitter.com/RashidaTlaib","cache_age":86400,"description":"Queen. Your courage in sharing your story is what makes you so incredibly special @AyannaPressley. 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Queen.

Your courage in sharing your story is what makes you so incredibly special @AyannaPressley .

I love you sis. https://t.co/0OtFXsrXlK
Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) January 16, 2020

Your courage in sharing your story is what makes you so incredibly special, fellow congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) tweeted in response .

Our sentiments exactly. To learn more about alopecia, visit the American Academy of Dermatology .