Meet Jasmine The Woman Who Powers Through Despite Alopecia Stigmatisation

Samuel Okoruwa

4 years ago

It is possible to create beauty out of suffering. At least, that’s what a woman with Alopecia, Tolulope Jasmine Ogunbodede, has proved by opening her foundation, the Heroic Alopecian Foundation.

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Jasmine started experiencing hair loss 15 years ago at the university. This led to a discovery that she had alopecia. Alopecia is an autoimmune condition that involves partial or complete hair loss from areas of the body where it normally grows. Jasmine’s discovery had a great impact on her mental health. As a result, she started wearing wigs to shield herself from ridicule. In an interview with BBC News Pidgin, she recalls a time when her engagement was called off by her fiancé’s mother after she opened up to her about her alopecia. Jasmine has indeed experienced judgment and stigmatisation due to her condition. But this has not deterred her from finding hope and becoming a source of inspiration to others like her.

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One of the ways Jasmine found strength was through research. She started the Heroic Alopecian Foundation after she came across relatable stories of people with alopecia who have been stigmatised for their appearance. She started the foundation to raise awareness about alopecia and end the stigma around the condition.

The foundation is home to several women who have stories to share about life with alopecia and are passionate about educating the public about the condition. Featured Image Source: BBC

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