When it comes to senior photos, every teen wants to look their absolute best. It can be hard to keep one’s confidence, especially when a teenager is struggling with an outside battle. You’ll never guess what this girl did to remain positive when the situation looked grim.
Madisyn Babcock is a high school student in Arkansas. She once rocked long blonde hair – until the unexpected happened. One day, Madisyn was diagnosed with alopecia.
The National Alopecia Areta Foundation describes “alopecia areata [as] a common autoimmune skin disease, causing hair loss on the scalp, face, and sometimes on other areas of the body” The website goes on to explain that “it affects as many as 6.8 million people in the US with a lifetime risk of 2.1%.”
Madisyn was hit with some pretty hard news, but the ever-optimistic girl didn’t let this information get the best of her. As her hair fell out, she found new ways to celebrate her beauty.
The teen took advantage of her upcoming senior photos – she knew this would be the perfect opportunity to capture something she could never lose. Madisyn let her inner beauty shine through in a stunning photo shoot.
The creative girl decided to collaborate with her mom, who is a painter, on a truly artistic look. There were now beautiful colors where her long locks had once been.
Madisyn’s mom painted an array of flowers on her daughter’s head, in a broad spectrum of colors that ranged from yellow to blue to purple. Green leaves adorned each plant – Madisyn’s head was an artwork all around.
“I decided to paint my head to raise awareness and to promote natural beauty,” the teen explained to Little Things. “My mom, an artist, was the perfect candidate for my head masterpiece.
With her vision in mind, it was time to contact a photographer. Madisyn reached out to Chelsea Taylor, a photographer with whom she had worked before. The two were both excited for the upcoming project.
Chelsea was thrilled to work with Madisyn on such an inspirational display. She shared her admiration of the young girl with Little Things. “Madisyn has never once let any of this affect the way she sees herself – if anything, I think she is stronger, braver, and more confident than the day I met her,” the photographer shared.
The photos were absolutely beautiful. Madisyn may have had some bright artwork on her head, but what shone most was her smile. This teen’s courage in expressing herself serves as an inspiration to anyone who has ever felt insecure in his or her own body. We could all take a page out of her book.
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