I am fourteen years old, and my name is Tonya Rae.

I have big hazel eyes, a thin build, and am fun to be around.

I wish I could say something about my hair, but the truth of the matter is this: I don't have any hair. None. I'm as bald as a newborn baby.

Oh, I did have hair at one time, but at about the age of four or so, it started falling out. In clumps. Huge clumps. It terrified me. I had no idea what was going on; neither did my parents.

That's when they took me to the doctor's. They thought at first it was cancer; later, all tests came back negative (much to their--and my--relief). It was really strange; I felt vindicated somehow, because of my (thinning) hair.   I tried to take it in stride. I tried to live life being a normal kid, but it was hard when kids would ask questions, poke fun at me, feel sorry for me because they thought I had cancer.

It was really annoying. Pretty soon, I got sick and tired, and I started lashing out. I wanted people to leave me alone; I was embarrassed about how I looked, and I didn't want to be seen by others.

Well, one day, I went to this doctor, who thought he knew what my problem was. He suspected I had something called alopecia, which is a disorder that causes hair loss, not only on the head, but on the body. It wasn't unusual for some alopecia sufferers to become completely bald over time (as I had); yet he offered us hope in the announcement that I could wear scarves or wigs as a way to hide my problem.

I started wearing scarves--different colors, co-ordinated with what I was wearing that day--, and I sometimes wore wigs; I didn't like the wigs much because they itched terribly; I would have rather gone without, show my bald dome to the world. (I wasn't that brave yet, plus my head often got chilled.)

It was like a whole new world opened up for me. When I started with the scarves, people took notice. I would fix the scarves in elaborate ways, and I would apply makeup to my face--anything to make myself look good!

I may have had no hair, but I still wanted to look glamorous; I was a typical teenaged girl.

Still am.

I like to listen to rap and country music (my dad kiddingly asks me what you get when you cross country with rap--CRAP! LOL), chill out with my buds, talk on the phone, go to MySpace and visit my friends there--have met some pretty famous folk there; it's too cool!--, read (I'm a regular bookworm!), and draw. I also write poetry, do photography, and help handicapped children in any way I can.

Well, I wanted to let you know about me, so here I am! I will write in here again; take care and God bless!

~Tonya Rae Philmore, aged 14.

P.S.: What do I want to do when I'm older? Be a country singer, just like my favorites, Carrie Underwood and Faith Hill! :)