Duneshia Griffiths

My story: crowned In courage

At the age of 19 I began losing my hair – an experience that quietly unraveled my sense of self. What started as a tiny bald spot became a painful reflection of loss, not only of my hair but of my confidence. Behind my smile and laughter was moments of deep despair, feelings of worthlessness and isolation that also led to suicidal thoughts. For years I masked my pain behind wigs and weaves trying to appear whole while silently I was falling apart on the inside. The mirror became my enemy, reflecting not who I was, but who I feared I had become.

Then at 44, life delivered another challenge – a diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This diagnosis should have been another blow to my already fragile self-esteem. Alopecia, suicidal thoughts and now IBS but somehow within this struggle I heard a divine whisper – telling me it was time to stop hiding and start healing. On 9/27/2024 I did the big chop. In that moment, I didn’t lose anything – I gained my freedom. I looked in the mirror and, for the first time in decades I saw ME: strong, resilient, whole and beautiful.

Then I received an invite to audition for the Ms Bald and Beautiful pageant. At first I hesitated and even after being selected it took me a very long time to ultimately decide to participate in the pageant. But then there was that whisper again and I decided to move forward. I was the last contestant, #16. You see this pageant was more than a competition. The S.H.E. Movement created a space for us in a world where we could defy the standards of beauty and show up as our authentic selves and for me that meant more than a title. So standing on that stage, bald and radiant, I wasn’t seeking validation – I was honoring my survival. Winning the title symbolized my triumph over Alopecia, IBS and suicidal thoughts. But more importantly, it ignited my purpose.

As Ms. Bald and Beautiful 2025, my platform brings awareness to these deeply connected struggles of self-image, health and mental wellness. True beauty begins the moment you stop hiding and start healing. Every scar tells a story and every bald head shines with courage. This crown isn’t just mine, its for every woman learning to see her worth beyond what the world can see. Through my crown, I champion a message of hope that beauty is not in what we conceal but what we courageously reveal. My journey is proof that from pain can rise purpose, and from loss can emerge light.