My name is Dayna and I am born and raised in Vancouver, BC. I own a small health and fitness business and am passionate about helping others on the road to wellness. In my spare time you’ll likely find me doing something active – ideally outdoors – cooking, reading and snuggling with my furry friend.

My Alopecia journey began when I was in my late 20’s with a small patch on the back of my head and quickly developed to a full body shed in what felt like overnight. Over the years it has fluxed from Universalis to regrowth and fall out a few times now to varying degrees. As I write this I have body hair, lashes, brows and some hair on my head that I keep in a short cut. I try not to get too attached to as I recognize it can shift anytime.

Alopecia had been one of my biggest challenges in life so far and it felt like a long journey to acceptance and loving myself without hair. I’ve worked in health and fitness for many years and when it first happened I thought It was something to be fixed and that I was somehow broken. Over time I have learned that I am whole and perfect. I just have an autoimmune condition. Not an easy path but a rewarding one.

When I was first diagnosed I struggled to find others that understood what I was going through, my family and friends supportive but they really didn’t get it and I remember feeling very alone with it all. I am grateful to be a mentor with CANAAF and hold space for others as they navigate their own hair loss journeys, to share my experiences and knowledge and hopefully ease some of those same feelings I struggled with in the early days.

No matter what you chose to show the world (or not) the most important is how we feel about ourselves within.

My name is Michelle Desjardins and I am from Timmins, Ontario. I am a Respiratory Therapist focused in the homecare field. In my role, I build relationships with my patients and help them come to terms with their newly diagnosed lung condition. I help them cope with this new chapter in their lives and I help motivate them to keep pushing forward. In being a mentor for CANAAF, I hope I can accomplish a similar rapport with my mentees, and to be able to help them with their journey to self-acceptance.

I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata when I was 13 years old which progressed to Alopecia Universalis. At that time, I felt that my only option was to deny the existence of my hair loss. I refused to talk about my Alopecia to loved ones, I denied that I was wearing a wig when others would ask, and I avoided most social gathering in fear of the unknown. I felt like an imposter in my own life. After a health scare, I realized that I needed to make some changes in my life. I needed to unburden myself and unload my secret. I have felt such relief and peace since being open and honest with myself and others about my Alopecia.

I continue to struggle with my self-image, I continue to care about others perception of me and at times, I continue to wish that my hair would grow back. My journey to self-acceptance is still ongoing but the difference between now and then is that now I refuse to hide something about myself that is true.

Hi there! My name is Marcy, I live in London, Ontario and I’m a full-time student at King’s University College through Western. I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata at the age of 6, it only started out with little bald spots that I was able to easily cover with my long hair. When I was 10 years old, I lost 90% of the hair on my head. At 19 years old, I became fully Universalis and lost all the hair on my body. Due to my Alopecia and the lack of awareness among students on it, I suffered through a great deal of bullying and teasing during my middle school years when my hair loss became more apparent. I also dealt with online cyber-bullying on top of in person. I started wearing wigs around the same time to disguise my Alopecia, however, finding a wig with a child-sized head was extremely difficult. I began doing presentations in front of my classmates, which lead to a presentation in front of the entire school in order to raise awareness for my condition. I’ve seen incredible growth within myself through having Alopecia, it’s given me a purpose, a new perspective on the world, and the want to support others to feel confident within their own skin. I’ve always been a leader, and being a mentor and advocate is the one thing I wish I had growing up as a kid with Alopecia.

Through helping others find their confidence in their Alopecia journeys, we are getting one step closer to normalizing baldness. Everyone has the right to be happy and to feel safe within their own skin. By supporting others and showing them the amazing things Alopecia has to offer and helping them to accept and embrace their difference, this will only improve their overall quality of life. Alopecia has taught me to not judge a book by its cover, to embrace all differences, to love everyone just the way they are, and has shown just how beautiful baldness can truly be.

I’ve been doing musical theatre since the age of five, I absolutely love to sing, act and dance. I love going to see live theatre and watching Disney movies. I love to volunteer and work with children. Another hobby of mine is running my Alopecia awareness social media platforms and doing tutorials, wig reviews, and sharing personal experiences. I’m a complete social butterfly, I enjoy meeting new friends and getting out of the house.

Hi! My name is Sophie and I currently live in Vancouver, BC. I am a third year medical student at the University of British Columbia and am excited to pursue a career in Pediatrics or Family Medicine. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata when I was 6 years old. Growing up in a small city in Manitoba, I felt particularly isolated as no one, myself included, had ever heard of the condition. I struggled to feel confident in my own skin and spent a considerable amount of time and energy trying to hide what made me different. Three years ago my hair loss rapidly progressed to alopecia universalis as my hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes fell out. I was confused and upset – unsure how to navigate this new challenge. I always felt one step behind trying to adapt to these changes and trying to find ways to look ‘normal’ became exhausting.

While my family and friends have always been empathetic and supportive, I found it most helpful to connect with others experiencing similar challenges as myself through social media. After years of trying to hide my hair loss, it was so inspiring to see individuals who were vulnerable and open about their challenges and who were unapologetically themselves. Seeing others embracing and even celebrating their hair loss made me realize that although it does not define who I am, it is important to accept it and find meaning within it. Everyone deserves to feel safe and comfortable in their own skin and my goal as a CANAAF mentor is to provide a safe and supportive environment for others navigating similar challenges.

Outside of school I love being outdoors and active – playing soccer, tennis, and hiking. I love trying new restaurants and looking for the best ramen in Vancouver.

My name is Alexandra Hodder and I am from St. John’s, Newfoundland! I am a 3rd-year Bachelor of Kinesiology (Hons.) student at Memorial University of Newfoundland and also work & volunteer part-time. I am a total nerd and love academics – I am hoping to pursue a career in medicine in the upcoming year! I also compete in powerlifting and have a huge passion for health and fitness. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata at 18 years old, after living with the condition in a number of ways throughout my entire life, from childhood onward. Growing up, I always felt very confused about why my hair looked different than other peoples’, which gave me low self-esteem for many years. As I grew older, I began to understand that there truly was a difference between myself and others in this aspect. It created countless challenges throughout my youth and adulthood – one unique challenge that has presented itself is my relationship with sports while living with alopecia!

In being a mentor, I hope to use my experiences in a constructive and positive way to help guide others similar to myself through related difficulties. I have always felt a responsibility to use adverse experiences and lessons I have learned to guide and support others! One of the main things that I have learned throughout my entire journey is the value of persevering through difficult times and the importance of using those to better yourself in every facet of your life.

Having hair loss does not make you any less worthy – if anything, it can change you for the better with the right mindset and support system! I have learned the importance of a good safety net of family, friends and the alopecia community, and I would love to serve as that for somebody who might not have access to these important figures in their life. When in doubt – reach out!

Hi there! My name is Cassie Johnston, and I’m from Toronto, Ontario. I currently work at an IT staffing agency as an Account Manager based out of Toronto. I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata when I was 22 years old. It all started with a small patch on the back of my head and quickly spread across my entire scalp. Within the year, I had lost all of the hair on my body. Alopecia was a significant struggle and definitely impacted my self-confidence. It was a massive learning curve and an eye-opening experience.

I have learned so much and have come to peace with Alopecia since my initial diagnosis. I want to help others reach that place of self-acceptance and confidence. Assisting someone in building confidence and self-acceptance is incredibly rewarding. It’s all about making a difference in someone’s journey towards self-esteem and a positive self-image. While Alopecia may challenge one’s self-image, it can also be an opportunity to discover that true beauty and confidence come from within. Embracing one’s unique identity and finding the strength to be authentic can lead to a more profound sense of self-worth and resilience. After a few months of finding resources, conducting research, and connecting with others on social media, I decided to change my mindset and accept what has happened to me. I chose to embrace it, by ultimately having fun with it and not letting it define me!

In my spare time, you can usually find me reading a book, working out, or spending time outside. Another hobby of mine is sharing wig tutorials and wig reviews on my social media platform. I love meeting new people and socializing!

My name is Dawn Knuff and I reside in Barrie, Ontario with my husband and 9 year old triplets.  I work full time with the County of Simcoe. I have worked for them for the last 17 years. When I was 7 years of age I lost all my hair within a week and was diagnosed with Alopecia Universalis. I have had Universalis for 30 years now with no hair coming back anywhere on my body.

Growing up with no hair was difficult. I had very few friends and fast tracked through high school as the social aspect of school was hard for me.  I have had low self esteem for many years alongside anxiety. Now that I have children of my own I want to show them that they can be anything they want to be. After 30 years I have embraced who I am and am now moving forward with helping others affected by Alopecia, not only the one with Alopecia but the loved ones supporting them.

I want to pass on that no hair does not mean you are not a person just like everyone else and that your feelings don’t matter.  We all have to embrace who we are each day and treat others with respect.  Having Alopecia for so long I can support children, adolescents, young adults and middle aged adults as I have gone through all those stages with Alopecia myself. In my spare time, which is not much ( 🙂 ) I love to go for walks with my puppy and enjoy my backyard that has a pool.

Hello, my name is Jason I currently work as a machine learning engineer in Toronto and was also an Ontario Certified Teacher. I recently graduated with my Master of Science in Computer Science and was previously a visiting graduate student at Stanford. I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata Universalis when I was 6 years old. Growing up with AA, I always had a difficult time with my self-image. I struggled with my self-esteem – all throughout grade school and up until the 12th grade, I wore a hat – and felt that I had something to be ashamed of. Of course, this wasn’t true! I woke up one day and realized I no longer cared about other peoples opinions of me. Instead I focused on something I knew to be true: I am a delight!

My new-found perspective of my AA has shown me that being bald is something that makes me unique – it is a part of who I am, but that isn’t all that I am. Fast forward to today, I have accepted that having no hair is part of my identity – and I couldn’t be happier.

I’d want others who have been struggling with their AA to know is that happiness is a lot more achievable when you become less concerned with others opinion about you. In my spare time I enjoy reading books, playing board games and painting with my partner!

I am a student and I live in Vaughan, Ontario. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata when I was 3 years old and I currently have alopecia universalis, which I acquired at 17. Because I had alopecia areata when I was really young, I didn’t find it all that difficult to accept the hair loss. I think I just began to acknowledge it as something that makes me who I am instead of trying so hard to ‘fix’ it. I am a volunteer with CANAAF because I want to help other people who are going through something similar to what I experienced. I was lucky enough to have a great support system to help me, and I want to be able to provide that to other people as well.

If you are going to hide your alopecia, hide it to give yourself time to come to terms with it, not so that you never have to come to terms with it. Sure, your hair might come back, but those weeks or months or years that you spend feeling down about it is time you will never get back. I love sports, reading, music and video games. I really love talking about books, I mostly read fantasy books but I read the occasional non-fiction, and I hope to write a book of my own someday.

Hello! My name is Lisa and I am currently living in Vancouver, British Columbia and working as a Clinical Research Coordinator for oncology trials.

I was 18 when I was first diagnosed with patchy Alopecia Areata. For over 10 years I was able to easily cover-up my patches with my long, thick hair. Then in 2016, I developed Alopecia Totalis and started wearing wigs.

Losing my hair was a huge shock to my identity and self-worth, as I always received a lot of attention for my hair. It took me time to move through the painful emotions that I experienced when losing my hair, but meeting others who shared the same condition as me was a big part of the process toward acceptance. Lately I have been embracing the fact that I can switch up ‘my look’ anytime I want with different wigs. I am having fun with all the styles and colours!

I learned that everyone’s journey with Alopecia Areata is unique and should not be compared with other people. I know that having a Mentor would have helped me a lot during those difficult years, so I am grateful to have the opportunity to bring my own perspective and enthusiasm in supporting someone with this condition.

Some of my interests include partner dance, specifically kizomba. I love the joy that it brings me! I am also interested in clinical counselling, which started by completing a course in this area and later evolved into years of volunteer work at a Crisis Centre; offering emotional care, safety planning, and resources to the local community.