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Beauty Queen Goes Bald - Miss Virginia Pulls a Sinéad O'Connor!

by Courtney Dunlop (Subscribe to Courtney Dunlop's posts)
Posted Sep 24th 2009 at 4:00PM  
173 Comments
Share

Hair-story: Tara Wheeler, before and after. Photo: Ethan Miller, Getty Images | MyFox.com



Top-tier beauty pageant contestants always run with a philanthropic platform, but how many of them actually put their money where their mouth is?

Once the cameras go away, are they really that involved in charity?

Well, Miss Virginia 2008 Tara Wheeler showed her devotion to fighting pediatric cancer by shaving her head, proving that she's more than just a pretty face (although that does make having no hair a wee bit easier).

Wheeler made a bold promise last spring (while she was still the title holder) that she would shave her head for charity. Not wanting a bald Miss Virginia, pageant officials only agreed to it if she could first raise $500,000. It soon became clear that it wasn't going to happen, but Wheeler did manage to raise over $30,000 -- not a bad chunk of change.

And as soon as her reign was over, Wheeler made good on her promise as a sign of solidarity to kids battling cancer. And she did it in front of a packed bar and Fox News (watch the video, above).

Maybe the former Miss Virginia will find she agrees with Solange Knowles on the liberating feel of having no hair?

Read All Comments
Filed under: Cuts & Style, Hair, News
Tags: miss virginia 2008, miss virginia shaves head, MissVirginia2008, MissVirginiaShavesHead, solange knowles, SolangeKnowles, tara wheeler, TaraWheeler
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READER COMMENTS

(173)Add A Comment

Lisa, 9-26-2009, 10:52AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Lisa

I shaved my hair off this year. I am a 43 year old women and decided I would not be burrden with my hair and products. Money is to tight and I found out alot about myslef.

Reply »

Jill, 9-27-2009, 10:37PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Jill

I agree. I had long hair (mid back) and cut it short almost a year ago and then wanted to grow it out. It just wouldn't grow and it is thick and curly. Ugh! My husband is back in school and surrounded by young and attractive women. I wake up every morning and look in the mirror and hate what I see. So last week I went to the salon and told her to take it off. It isn't buzzed but close enough. Inch long pixie. I will grow it about another inch and keep it there. I feel so much younger and my stress of trying to look somewhat decent before I leave the house is over. I have a tiny face so when I did it, everyone said OMG you finally look like a grown up. Considering I am 36 and my oldest is 20, married and he and wife have a 4 month old son, it is about time. Try it ladies. Take the hair off. If all you are doing is sticking it in a pony tail? It is time to get rid of it!

»

annie, 9-26-2009, 6:57AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
annie

Emma, Rebecca, sstellasd and Antonioni, go peddle your crap sites elsewhere. Can't anyone of you read?? Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry This article and comments section was for someone doing something wonderful for something she really believes in. I applaud her. How would you feel if someone in your family had cancer and there was an article about it and all you read was crap comments?

Reply »

oelvis55, 9-26-2009, 7:48AM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
oelvis55

Well said Annie. Those who post ads to promote their products should be ashamed of themselves. Everyone, please ignore them and certainly don't go to those dumb websites they suggest. This is not the place to put a free advertisement.

»

DoMaJoReMc, 9-26-2009, 8:27AM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
DoMaJoReMc

Annie:
I couldn't agree with you more! We all need to report all this CRAP. Apparently, this stuff (crap) is not good enough to sell on the open market, so they need to peddle it here.

Re: Tara Wheeler, I stand up and applaud her! Everyone in my family that has died, died from cancer. So it is a cause that is very close to my heart. I had tears in my eyes as I was watching the video. I think she is 100X more beautiful now, knowing that she A) followed through on a promise, and B) shows more of her beauty from within, rather than from just a head of beautiful hair!

WAY TO GO, TARA!

»

ranman, 9-26-2009, 9:50AM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
ranman

When you see someone posting a website or other junk like this instead of commenting on the story, click on the exclamation point (!) or the "Report This" button and once enough people do this, the junk posting will be removed.

»

Karen, 9-27-2009, 8:34PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Karen

You are so right, We should be talking about what a wonderful woman, Miss Virginia is. She kept her word, and shame on the pagent for not allowing her to do so while holding her title. She is a great role model for all, not only keeping your word, but fighting for such a cause, and the pagents didn't approve???? How can an orgainization who claims to be for women, disapprove of something this important to all woman???? Makes you wonder.
Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tara Wheeler you are a true inspiration to all!!!

»

wrl, 9-27-2009, 9:30PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
wrl

just report them all, they could care less what you ahve to say, just hit report and aol will take care of it. don't waste your time. these links are usually a virus so don't even answer them

»

lily, 9-26-2009, 6:58AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
lily

That is an admirable thing she did. She actually looks better with less hair as before her little head looked overwhelmed by all that big hair.

Reply »

Charlie, 9-26-2009, 8:15AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Charlie

Tara,
You put a sincere smile on my face today. I believe you are smiling also because your actions are/were so unselfish.
You are one of the stars I used to sit and watch in the nighttime sky. For your deeds I am grateful.

Reply »

mel, 9-26-2009, 8:14AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
mel

She's not so Beautiful without her hair. Hair is one of the things that make one look, well, good - or not so good... she lost a lot of look...but for a good reason.

Reply »

ricardo, 9-27-2009, 9:15PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
ricardo

you said my thoughts to a T mel, she lost some of her sex appeal, but gained all of my respect as a great person! being an old hippie i have maintained my blessed head of hair, but after seeing this would be willing to give it up if someone could point me in the right direction to do so.

»

Hooper, 9-27-2009, 9:36PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Hooper

Ricardo - Try Locks of Love to see where you can donate your hair. Most hairstylists can give you the info if you can't find a local place on the internet. My granddaughter, age 8, donated to that program when she was five years old and still tells people to "remember to donate your hair!" It's a wonderful program. I don't know if Miss Virginia donated her hair, hope she did. It's still a selfless act, something you don't see much of lately.

»

jhr13il, 9-27-2009, 10:13PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
jhr13il

So you think a woman needs hair to be beautiful? Get a life. So if a loved one lost all their hair due to a medical treatment, you wouldn't like them anymore?

»

Catherine, 9-26-2009, 8:16AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Catherine

Not only is this woman a beauty on the outside, but even more beautiful on the INSIDE. Grateful thanks from a cancer survivor, two times now. God bless her. I thank her.

Reply »

annie, 9-26-2009, 8:47AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
annie

DoMaJoReMc and oelvis55, thank you, I thought I was the only one who hated to see these crap websites posted here. I DO REPORT them every time I see them. I only hope that everyone else will do the same. maybe, then AOL and others who have these blogs will get the message and read comments before posting them to weed out the CRAP. Then we could read comments about the story at hand not CRAP websites. Get the message???? freecut4girls, Emma, Rebecca, sstellasd and Antonioni?????? Go peddle elsewhere.

Reply »

Larry, 9-26-2009, 8:54AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Larry

A great story about a great Lady that cares for others, GOD Bless her and her cause.

Reply »

donnie, 9-26-2009, 9:07AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
donnie

Makes her big nose look bigger.

Reply »

Sue, 9-26-2009, 9:28AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Sue

Ahh, have you looked in the mirror or is yours broken.. Its NOT whats outside BUT whats inside that counts..So by your comment you must be ugly inside and out!! Its very admirable what shes doing and I highly doubt you would go so far..

»

Barbara, 9-27-2009, 8:53PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Barbara

Derr Don. You totally missed the point.

»

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