Supriya
“There are a million and one non-traditional ways to find happiness and fulfillment and there is nothing wrong with going off the beaten path at any age.”
Supriya proves that one’s true power lies within their mentality. After experiencing hair loss in her early 30s due to an autoimmune disease called Alopecia Areata, she has decided to embrace the changes that this new chapter has introduced, and educate others along the way. Her journey of resilience is well-documented on her Instagram page and blog, “Baldie Boo,” in which she sheds light on the trials and tribulations of this condition and celebrates many of the little victories; this platform has helped encourage, inform, and inspire other women experiencing hair loss. She is an optimist and a true empath, looking out for others including the many cats and kittens she has fostered over the years. Her tale of transformation shows that no matter the circumstances life throws your way, you can reclaim your identity and choose how you move forward with it. Meet Supriya. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
S: Hi!! My name is Supriya Surender, but some know me as Baldie Boo. I am 38 years old and am an Ohio girl who is living her best life in beautiful Denver, Colorado. Five and a half years ago I unexpectedly lost all of my hair to an autoimmune disease called Alopecia Areata. Losing my physical identity strand by strand was one of the toughest mental challenges I’ve ever dealt with. I was not prepared for the confusion and distress I’d feel staring into the mirror and seeing my own face with no hair, no eyebrows, and no eyelashes. For 30 some years I had become accustomed to one version of myself, and in the blink of an eye I was staring at a stranger.
The crazy thing about life, is sometimes you have to lose (what feels like) everything, in order to find yourself again. My hair was just that. The loss was overwhelming, but as I began to heal my mind and make peace with my new normal, I found myself transforming into the best version of myself. I can confidently say, through this journey, I’ve become stronger, happier, more purpose-driven, and confident than I’ve ever been in any other phase of life. Which is why I started Baldie Boo, my blog and social platforms about my experiences with Alopecia Areata. I wanted to share my hair loss struggles and triumphs, in hopes of showing other hair loss warriors the bright light at the end of this tunnel.
K: Describe yourself in your own words
S: I am an anxious optimist which means my heart and head are constantly fighting each other. My heart is always looking for the best and seeking out the world, while my head tells me to take it down a notch and be afraid of everything. Of course this can be draining, but at the same time it reminds me that I am strong. Because truthfully life is perpetually scaring me and stressing me out by things others would consider miniscule. Yet I have proven to myself that I am brave every single day as I slowly but surely push through every fear my brain throws at me.
I am empath at my core and feel others’ emotions in every fiber of my body. I am a goofball whose childhood awkward turtle-ness never fully left her. I live with a constant nag that there is something bigger and better for me out there, and I’m patiently (most days not so patiently haha) waiting to figure out what it is! I trust in the universe, love gratitude and manifestation, and know great things are coming!
K: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
S: I volunteer for the animal rescue RezDawg Rescue. I foster cats/kittens and help with email campaigns for fundraising. Basically, what I’m trying to say is that my favorite thing about myself is that I am most definitely a cat lady :) Rescuing has become one of my passions and I love helping these cute, little fur balls find their furever homes.
I started fostering in February of 2020 and just fostered my 17th cat. The best part is watching timid and scared cats begin to thrive once they realize they are safe and loved. It’s life changing to witness, and I feel so honored that I get to be a small chapter in their lives.
Yes, I get sad when I have to say goodbye, but I know my temporary sadness means a lifetime of happiness for them and their adoptive families. That makes it all worth it.
K: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
S: Set your bar high and stop shape shifting to fit other people’s expectations of you. Just be you and live for you. Life does not have to be the standard, go to college, get married, pop out babies, work until you want to stick a fork in your eye path unless you want that path for yourself. There are a million and one non-traditional ways to find happiness and fulfillment and there is nothing wrong with going off the beaten path at any age.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
S: To me, being a woman means being a badass. We are born with an innate ability for resiliency, strength and tenacity. Society may try and glasswall us into 82 cents to a man’s dollar, but we never give up. We have never stopped fighting for better and we never will.
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
S: I am inspired by Robin Arzon, a Vice President and Head Instructor at Peloton. Aside from her contagious energy and off the chains motivation, her story inspires me on so many levels. She has proven that she is masterful at using her adversity to fuel her fire to thrive. I’m simply awestruck by the gravity of her accomplishments through all of her setbacks.
If I was chatting with her right now, first I'd tell her how much her path from lawyer to Peloton VP and everything in between has inspired me. Then I would ask her how in the world is she able to speak during her 45 minute tabata classes? Because I barely have the energy to breathe during those classes let alone give a full on motivational speech. Lastly, I’d ask her, can we be BFFs? Because who doesn’t want to be BFFs with Robin Arzon?! The dance parties would be so good!