Olivia Rusk

13 year old Olivia Rusk is totally bald due to the medical condition, Alopecia. She developed this condition at 2 years of age and has lost/regrown all of her hair twice since then. When Olivia was 8 years old and lost all of her hair for the second time, I had a custom wig made for her. It looked wonderful and everyone loved it, but Olivia. She wore the wig for 5 months to school. One day she woke up and announced that she was "Done" and was not wearing the wig to school that day (or ever again), You can imagine my surprise and concern. Ironically, nothing bad happened that day and she has lived her life publicly bald since then. Olivia felt like she was hiding something and feels that "It's Okay to be Different".

Since then some amazing things have happened. Olivia has shared her story in the media numerous times, was hired as a Kid Caster for Radio Disney (where she has worked for the last 2 and a half years/since age 11), wrote/produced a music video about Alopecia and bullying that is being viewed worldwide ("I Could Be Great!"), was selected to receive the 2009 Power of Children Award from The Indianapolis Children's Museum (where her story is on permanent display), created a line of tee shirts and launched a lecture program in the local schools system.

"I Could Be Great!" has been viewed worldwide and Olivia has received hundreds of emails and comments from people all over the world who were inspired by it's positive message.

Olivia has shared her story on television, on the radio, in numerous magazines (including the October, 2010 issue of Highlights Magazine for Kids), local newspapers and has traveled as far away as Houston, Texas to speak. She has received standing ovations and has received feedback from a boy who planned to beat up another boy after school that day, but changed his mind after hearing Olivia speak.

Her story has a profound affect on audiences. With the recent focus on bullying and teen suicide, Olivia would be a wonderful addition to your list of speakers. I have attached links to Olivia's music video, "I Could Be Great!" that she shares during her lectures and a clip from a recent news feature where she spoke to the students at Greensburg Jr High, after a recent suicide there.