Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna Rae Leonard is used to the spotlight in her lengthy political career, but a recent diagnosis initially found her pulling away from the public eye.

About 10 years ago, she noticed hair loss around her scalp line and her hair receding from her forehead. She was diagnosed with frontal fibrosing alopecia 香蕉视频直播� a form of scarring hair loss, which means hair will not grow back.

香蕉视频直播淚 lost my eyebrows and all the hair on my arms and legs 香蕉视频直播� and it was not a good thing,香蕉视频直播� she says as the next guest on The Record香蕉视频直播檚 Off The Page podcast, set to be released July 20.

香蕉视频直播淵ou start to ask why? And there was no particular reason 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 a new kind of alopecia. So it香蕉视频直播檚 not something that I inherited from somebody else. (My doctor) also told me that more and more women are starting to present with this pattern of baldness.香蕉视频直播�

Balancing public life and the loss of her hair, Leonard experienced a multitude of emotions from frustration, anger and grief.

She understood the social stigmas of women and hair and felt added pressure being a public figure. She worried about her wig falling off and exposing her scalp and what people would associate with her hair loss.

香蕉视频直播�(The) other piece of it is people will look at you and think that you香蕉视频直播檙e not well 香蕉视频直播� (but) I香蕉视频直播檓 totally well; I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 be healthier. Unfortunately, because of the role of hair in our society, it is more than just skin deep.香蕉视频直播�

In June at a meeting with the NDP caucus, Leonard made the decision to remove her wig for the first time in front of her colleagues. It was in front of what she refers to as a 香蕉视频直播榮afe audience香蕉视频直播� and was nervous, but notes she knew there was a bigger picture to her decision 香蕉视频直播� being in the public and reaching out to others in a similar situation to show support and solidarity.

香蕉视频直播淚 thought that I might do it while I was in Victoria before the end of session, but I just didn香蕉视频直播檛 have the courage to do it. And it really took that backing to know that these people would be there for me. And it really demonstrated to me what the word encouraged means: it香蕉视频直播檚 people that give you courage.香蕉视频直播�

Once the wig came off, she received a kiss on the head from Premier John Horgan and posted a series of photos on Twitter showing her decision to remove her wig.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e heard from the opposition as well as my own colleagues and from strangers to applaud what I香蕉视频直播檝e done. And people who have alopecia have shared that information and talked about what their experiences are 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 just so important.香蕉视频直播�

As for how the experience has changed her perspective on women香蕉视频直播檚 hair and its role in society, you香蕉视频直播檒l have to listen to the podcast to find out.

To listen to the full episode, download Off The Page on , and everywhere podcasts are heard, or visit . New episodes of Off The Page drop every Wednesday.

To submit podcast topics or guest ideas, email offthepage@comoxvalleyrecord.com.