A bald beauty queen

**bonner** Sat Jul 03, 2010 1:38 am

A bald beauty queen is due to compete in the Miss America competition after drawing inspiration from a five-year-old suffering from the same illness as her. Miss Delaware, 21-year-old KAYLA MARTELL, suffers from autoimmune disease alopecia, which attacks hair follicles, CBS News reports. Ms Martell was has been bald for 10 years and was crowned Miss Delaware while wearing a blonde wig. But in recent US talk show appearances the Milford native ditched the wig to show she didn't need hair to be beautiful. "I think I can be a better Miss Delaware and Miss America by taking the wig off, because it shows people the initial reaction that I am healthy and I'm fine," Ms Martell told The Early Show while seated alongside five-year-old Lilliana Hakim, who also suffers from the disease. Ms Martell said she nearly walked away from her chance to become Miss America until Lilliana told her she couldn't give up. "[She] told me that I was [her] Miss America and I had to keep trying," Ms Martell said.Ms Martell's next step is to use her position in an effort to raise awareness about alopecia. (Ninemsn, 30.06.10)