TV reporter's courage ‘I'VE LOST MY HAIR BUT NOT MY VOICE'

TVNZ sports journalist Michelle Prendiville opens up about her alopecia and wearing a wig on telly

- Kelly Bertrand

Michelle Prendiville loves a lofty goal. When she was little, it was to be a Black Sticks hockey star. When that didn’t work out, she decided she’d make it to the Olympics anyway – as a sports reporter.

And sometime in the future, she hopes that she will have worked up to ditching her wig and being able to share photos of who she is naturally – a strong, confident woman who happens to have alopecia.

“We’re working up to it, but I’m also OK if I never get there!” the TVNZ 1 sports reporter smiles, tossing her lush locks back as she poses for our shoot.

It’s been a long journey of acceptance for Michelle, 25, who first started losing her hair aged five and hid her condition from almost everyone for decades.

“My parents had no idea what was happening to me and I remember rubbing steroid creams into my head,” she recalls. “But nothing really worked – I have so many pictures of me playing hockey with massive headbands on to try to hide the hair loss.”

Then, in 2006, Michelle broke her arm and the trauma made her hair fall out even more rapidly, so a wig was her only option – one she’s worn ever since.