Congressional Rep. Ayanna Pressley got very candid in a new interview with The Root, where she revealed that she has alopecia, unveiling her bald head for the first time and confirming what we already knew, she is truly beautiful. 

Pressley said she just became aware of her condition recently. “In the fall, when I was getting my hair retwisted, is the first time that I was made aware that I had some patches. From there, it accelerated very quickly,” she said in the interview. 

The Democratic rep is known for her signature twists, a style that has become intertwined with her political brand, a symbolism of freedom for Black women professionals everywhere. She said she decided to come forward to the public about her condition because she “thinks it’s important that [she’s] transparent about this new normal.”

Alopecia areata, the condition Pressley has been diagnosed with, is described as an “autoimmune disorder that makes the body attack its own hair follicles, causing hair production to slow down to the point that hair growth may stop,” according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. 

I was completely bald. And in a matter of hours, was going to have to walk into the floor [of] the House Chamber … and cast a vote in support of articles of impeachment. And so I didn’t have the luxury of mourning what felt like the loss of a limb. I was missing [my mother]. I was mourning my hair. I was mourning the state of our democracy. I was mourning my mentor, Chairman Elijah Cummings. It was a moment of transformation, not of my choosing. But I knew the moment demanded that I stand in it and that I lean in.” 

While she is still adjusting to her lived experience, Congresswoman Pressley is embracing this moment and is experimenting with different hairstyles and wigs. “One I call ‘FLOTUS’ because it feels very Michelle Obama to me, [and another] I call ‘Tracee,’ because it feels very Tracee Ellis Ross to me,” she said.

“I’m trying to get to a place where I give myself the space to be, to find joy in options,” Pressley said. 

Thank you for your vulnerability and your transparency Congresswoman Pressley. We hope that you find support from this community, knowing that you have truly liberated others through your story. 

Credit BOTWC

Michelle Timberlake is the owner of the first and only Black, woman-owned beef jerky brand, Marjorie’s Beef Jerky, Black Enterprise reports.

“I raised my own money so that I am not controlled using someone else’s money.”-Timberlake

Michelle began in 1991 after a bad truck accident that was a threat to her job. She been very concerned about her welfare took it up in prayer. She states, “I didn’t know what to do. I had a 5-year old boy to feed, and I really could not see a way out so I prayed about it.”

Three days later, Michelle says she got enlightened with a vision to start beef jerky company. Immediately, she began her journey into making “the best tasting beef jerky on this planet!” She named the business after her late mother Marjorie Leona Dawson. Michelle comments, “My mother was my number one beef jerky fan. In 2010, she told me, ‘Michelle it’s time for you to put your beef jerky through. It is going to make you.”

She continues, “I said to my mom, ‘really?’ and she replied, ‘Yes, this beef jerky is going to make you! Only I won’t live to see it.’ I said, ‘Sure you will!’ but my mother replied, ‘No Michelle I will not!’ She then gave me this really serious look, and I told her that I am thankful that she gave me life and allowed me to be my own person. I told her that her picture will be on every bag of beef jerky that I sell in honor to the woman who gave up her life just to raise me and 10 other children as she put her own life on hold. My mother believed in me when no one else did. She died in 2010 shortly after telling me to put the beef jerky through. She knew that she was dying, and she died of stage 4 kidney failure and a heart attack. I was shattered! I feel her strength and her wisdom inside of me now.”

Michelle continues, “Often I have to deal with a people who say I should take the picture off the bag for fear of lessor sales because of my mother being a black woman. I say no way! I was even told that perhaps I should do an animated picture of my Mother just like they did for Aunt Jemima. Well let’s just say I no longer have that friend after 40 years of friendship. That’s why I worked hard and raised my own money and still trying to raise money by sales to build a warehouse and to provide jobs and offer dreams to the less fortunate so that they can feed their families. We want to also build a facility for child care for the single parents so that they can be close to their babies and take their breaks and check on them or eat lunch with them to keep the bond of closeness. I do all of this from the help of my friends from over 30 years who believe and invested in me. I raised my own money so that I am not controlled using someone else’s money. So the orders from our customers will someday allow me to give back to the community. We still have a long way to go for we are a work in progress being that we used our own resources. We welcome any donation but we would just prefer you to purchase at least one or two bags of beef Jerky per month. Where I live there is no minimum wage. The Employers can pay a person $5.00 per hour and some do. I don’t believe in sweat camps! How can a person pay their bills and feed their families being oppressed? Our ultimate goal is to someday own our own manufacturing plant without having to subcontract a manufacturer. This will allow me to keep the cost down having my own manufacturing plant. Without our own plant the cost will stay high for us.”

Timberlake often tells people to try her product even if they aren’t fans of beef jerky, because they often become new customers after tasting her version of dehydrated meat.

Congratulations to her!

Being a confident woman begins from the inside. This has little to do with her physical looks,material gains or status. Yes! Most ladies still have bags of insecurities.

If you already see yourself as confident or not, or want to work on becoming a confident woman, the listed qualities below would help you identify where you are defaulting:

1.She is Optimistic

Been negative is not her thing. It reflects on how she desires good things and believe they will succeed. Her words are filled with positive words, ‘I can’ , ‘it will’ ‘yes’. This makes her unstoppable, because she believe in what she is about. No fears!

2. She Know What She Wants And Goes For Its.

She doesn’t spend her time dreaming all day. When she is sure about something, without a waste of time, she gets an action plan, then go all out to get it, knowing she will succeed and if she doesn’t,she moves on.

3. She Can Go Without Makeup

We all need to put on some nice mascaras and lip glosses most days. Your looks matter yes! But knowing you are good and still attractive without this is confidence. She breaks the trend, If she finds herself in public without this it wouldn’t it spoil her day. That’s where self care comes in.

4. She Has A Self Care Routine

This is what will make you feel really attractive and popping to move in the right energy. She takes some time off to help herself to something like a massage, vacation, or even a simple DIY or afternoon nap as soon as she is worked out.

5. She Is A Good Communicator

She will speak clearly about her opinion and will stare right into any eyes without looking away.  She will only take a good advice because she has a mind of her own. Her body language will display itself freely. She would even speak publicly when there is an opportunity.

6. She Respects Herself A lot

You can not give what you do not have. A confident woman has a graceful way she carries herself, she doesn’t have to get intimidated by another woman, with this she commands respect for herself. And her respect teaches her that she deserves the best, and the best always comes to her.

A confident woman is a Queen, this is to help you know where you are going wrong on this💛.