When Andrea Sierra Salazar began to lose her hair following her cancer treatment she was terrified of being seen in public without a wig.
“Before chemotherapy I had always been a confident person,” she said, “so when my hair started to fall out I would look in the mirror and I wouldn’t feel that confident about myself.”
The 17-year-old model was diagnosed with stage 2 nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma after finding a lump in her neck. While she enjoyed experimenting with various wigs, she was hesitant to do a photoshoot without any hair.
“[At first] I didn’t feel confident enough to do a version without a wig,” she told Buzzfeed, “but then I realised that I had no reason to be ashamed of the way I looked, I should be proud.
“I’ve learned that the hair on someone’s head doesn’t define who they are as a person, but their actions and the way they treat others.”
The photographer behind the gorgeous photoshoot, Gerardo Garmenda, said Andrea is a great example of determination.
“Andrea loves modeling and wanted to have a shoot showing that no matter what you go through in life, beauty lies within,” he said.
The Texas-native hopes her story will inspire other young girls with cancer to remain confident.
“All girls are princesses, and today I feel beautiful inside and out,” she said.
“Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support, you have made this experience a lot easier and worth while!”
What a woman– redefining beauty for us all.
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