DCC Armani Latimer on her inspiring Alopecia Journey
The iconic Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, Armani Latimer, took the stage last weekend at the Cowboys game with a bald head. Her mission is to inspire others to be confident with their Alopecia. Here’s more on her journey.
DALLAS – Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Armani Latimer is inspiring others with alopecia after performing without her wig for the first time during a Monday Night Football game.
She completed her iconic DCC uniform with her bald head, creating a viral moment that resonated with many.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) are known for their beauty standards, and Latimer’s bold move is being celebrated as setting a new one.
“I felt strong, I felt pretty, I felt proud of myself—I felt all the emotions,” Latimer told FOX 4 News.
Latimer said she approached DCC Director Kelli Finglass with the idea of performing wig-free. Finglass encouraged her, saying, “If you’re comfortable with it, then I love the idea.”
Since the performance, Latimer said she has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.
“I love all the support and love I’ve been getting just by stepping into my truth on a football field,” she said.
Armani Latimer’s backstory:
Latimer’s journey with alopecia began at age 12, when her mother discovered a bald spot while taking out her braids after a family cruise.
A dermatologist later confirmed the diagnosis of alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. Latimer gradually lost her hair, becoming completely bald in 2021.
“You go through your entire life trying to preserve something that’s really just fighting you back,” she said. “It was hard when I woke up with no hair and realized my entire fight was kind of pointless.”
Latimer said her decision to go wig-free during the Cowboys’ Monday Night Football game affirmed her belief that her struggle had a purpose.
ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 09: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnati Bengals on December 9, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via G
Alopecia Areta:
Alopecia is an autoimmune skin disease that causes hair loss on the scalp, face, and sometimes other parts of the body. According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, the condition affects both children and adults.
Latimer says everyone’s experience with alopecia is different, with symptoms appearing at various stages in life.
A study by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that women are more likely than men to develop alopecia.
How common is alopecia?
- More than 80% of people show signs of alopecia before age 40.
- More than 40% show signs before age 20.
- About 700,000 people in the U.S. have a form of alopecia areata, according to NAAF.
- Approximately 20% of people with alopecia have at least one family member with the condition.
