2003 PHS graduate, Lauren Brady, got together with some other PHS friends recently to make a video on a condition known as “Alopecia”. In the two weeks that the video has been on Youtube, it has received almost 4,000 hits. Mercury reporter, Paige Hill, recently sat down with Lauren to talk about the video, the disease, and reasons for Lauren’s involvement in the project.
This Is Me” Public Service Announcement
The recently introduced public service announcement (PSA), entitled, “This Is Me” has become quite popular with a vastly diverse range of people. From those who have Alopecia, to all of us who feel a little different, everyone can relate to the inspiring video. The producers themselves (sisters Caitlin and Lauren Brady) are affected by alopecia, and I was able to ask a few questions of Lauren about their experience with raising awareness and creating the announcement.
What inspired you to make your PSA?
We had been trying to figure out how to raise awareness for alopecia for a long time. It was on a Tuesday, and we found an interview Miss Delaware, Kayla Martell, had done earlier that morning. She was doing press for the upcoming Miss America Pageant and said she had alopecia like Caitlin and I. As we continued to watch, she all of a sudden took off her wig to show herself. We were so excited to see someone who is defined as a ‘beauty queen’ do this for the world to see. We were so inspired that we started brainstorming how we could inspire people the same way. We decided on the “This Is Me” campaign to not only bring awareness to alopecia, but try to inspire anyone who faces an insecurity to know they are not alone and everyone is perfect in their own way.
What is alopecia, and who is affected?
(I have taken this information from www.naaf.org)
Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. It usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis).
Alopecia areata affects approximately two percent of the population overall, including more than 4.7 million people in the United States alone. This common skin disease is highly unpredictable and cyclical. Hair can grow back in or fall out again at any time, and the disease course is different for each person. – National Alopecia Areata Foundation
Do you think the video has been effective/influential? If so, what are your even bigger goals?
Caitlin and I have received so many emails, letters, messages, calls and texts in regards to the PSA. The feedback has been so amazing and I think we have made a bigger impact then we could have ever imagined. Some of the most amazing feedback we received came from others with alopecia. Knowing we inspired people who go through what we do has just been so humbling. As far as our next step we are still in the planning stages. We had no idea the “This Is Me” PSA would catch on so fast! We would like to tie together alopecia awareness and anti-bullying and raise money and inform people across the board to know that everyone goes through something and just be kind.
How did you find people brave enough to openly talk about their differences?
We are blessed with amazing friends! From the time we decided to do “This Is Me” to the time it was done was only a 3 week span. When we started pitching the idea so many people jumped right on. They knew this was so important to us and wanted to help no matter what. It takes a lot to expose your insecurities to the world and I think everyone involved knew by doing so they could help someone else. Including Caitlin and I there were 18 people in the video! I think that is why so many people are touched by the video because there are so many different faces, everyone can relate to someone!
Are you going to make any related films in the future?
We hope to! We have received so many messages from people wanting to be in “This Is Me” part 2! We want to make sure we touch as many people as possible with this PSA- and soon we will start a new project!
Congratulations on your video’s success!
