Exclusively by Mo Clark
Hair has always been more than strands—it is a crown of glory, a shield of identity, and for many Black women, a living reflection of resilience. In every twist, braid, curl, or even in baldness, lies a story of strength, survival, and self-definition. For survivors and thrivers alike, the journey of embracing one’s crown is deeply tied to healing, confidence, and the courage to stand boldly in authenticity. Dr. Jacque has been committed to doing her part to educate and restore.
HH: Hair has been described as both a crown and a shield for Black women. How has your own hair journey—through different styles and seasons of life—become a reflection of your healing and resilience?
For many Black women, our hair is more than just an accessory; it’s an expression of our identity, our history, and our spirit. It has indeed been both a crown and a shield, but for me, it became something transformative; a living canvas of my journey through healing and resilience.
In every season of my life, my hair has told a story. When cancer took the hair from my head, it was the ultimate stripping away of what felt like a part of my essence, but I soon realized that it was totally okay. I was bald, but in that baldness, I chose to celebrate and elevate my crown. I made it an act of profound self-love. It was my way of saying, “Even without hair, I am whole. I am beautiful. I am me.”
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Through the journey from baldness to the gradual growth of my hair, to wearing braids, I was determined to rock it. My only requirement was that my head and my hair at least look neat. In that process, I realized that true beauty and confidence don’t come from the style on your head, but from the spirit you carry. My hair became a symbol of my unwavering spirit, my determination to show up, and my commitment to living with gratitude and joy.
My hair journey has taught me that resilience is not about avoiding change, but about embracing it. It’s about finding strength in vulnerability and celebrating every step of the journey. Today, my hair continues to take on a life of its own; different challenges abound, and sometimes that requires laughter and simply remembering that I am not my hair.
HH: Sipping PositiviTEA was born from both survival and purpose. How do you see the connection between beauty rituals, like hair care, and the emotional wellness work you’re doing through your nonprofit?
The connection between our beauty rituals and emotional wellness is at the core of our mission at Sipping PositiviTEA. It’s the belief that to truly heal, one must care for oneself completely, not just a piece of oneself, but from one’s deepest inner spirit to the crown of one’s head.
For me, one of my mantras has always been simple, but powerful: “Look good, feel good, do good.”
Beauty rituals, such as hair care, are not just about vanity; they are acts of self-care that are truly beautiful. In a season of survival, when everything can sometimes feel out of your control, the simple act of washing your hair, or in my case, oiling my bald head, styling a wig, or carefully detangling a braid can be an anchor. It is a ritual of restoration; a moment to look in the mirror and reaffirm your worth, knowing that either way, you are good enough!
At Sipping PositiviTEA, empowering someone with the financial support to focus on healing also means giving them the peace of mind to engage in these restorative rituals. Our focus is not to generalize, as the journey is different for everyone; nonetheless, we believe that when you feel good on the inside, you can show up fully in the world. And when you look good and feel good, you are empowered to do good, for yourself and for your community.
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HH: During your treatment, you chose to show up boldly—teaching a full Zumba class on the same day. What role does movement, style, and self-expression play in helping you reclaim your joy and power?
For me, movement, style, and self-expression are not just tools for coping; they are the very vehicles through which I reclaimed my joy and my power.
I have always believed in the symbiotic connection between a strong body and a strong mind. My boot camp classes are a testament to that. Teaching boot camp on the same day of my surgery in 2008, it is not recommended for anyone so please don’t do that! 🙂
That said, when I was in treatment, showing up to teach was an act of defiance against the disease that was trying to slow me down. It was my way of demonstrating to myself that even while my body was fighting on a cellular level, my spirit remained unbroken. Each burpee, each push-up, each joyful shout from the class was an assertion of life.
This is where style and self-expression come in. I chose to wear bold, colorful outfits—even when I was bald—as a visual manifestation of my inner joy. And, on those days when I didn’t feel so cute, I simply rocked the cutest head scarf that I could find. The style was a statement. It was a refusal to let cancer define me. It was an expression of power and a declaration that I would not be diminished.
Movement and style together allowed me to take back control of my narrative. They were a way of saying, “I am here. I am strong. I am beautiful. I am joyful.” They helped me realize that our power isn’t just about what we can endure, but about our ability to find and express joy in the midst of adversity
HH: For many women, hair is tied to self-definition and cultural identity. How do you encourage other survivors to embrace their “crown” as part of their healing journey, especially when illness or treatment changes how they see themselves?
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This is a beautiful and deeply personal question, because every woman’s relationship with her hair is unique. While my own journey involved embracing baldness and later rocking braids, I never want to prescribe a single path for another survivor. The goal isn’t to look like me, per se, or do exactly as I did; the goal is to feel like yourself again.
When I was first diagnosed in 2008, the options for hair replacement and styling were more limited. Today, there are incredible advances in wig technology, beautiful head wraps, and innovative hair care products that enable women to explore what feels most authentic to them. I believe the conversation has shifted from “what have I lost?” to “what can I reclaim and redefine?”
My message to other survivors is not about what style to choose, but about the permission to choose. Your “crown” is whatever makes you feel most like you, in this new season of your life. It is the wig that makes you feel powerful, the head wrap that makes you feel beautiful, or the simple courage of embracing your bare head.
The actual work of healing is about finding your own sense of power and self-definition. I encourage every survivor to explore the best products available today and find the option that allows them to look in the mirror and see their strength reflected back at them. At the end of the day, a woman’s crown is not just on her head; it lies in the unbreakable spirit she carries.
This Suicide Prevention Month, you’re sparking a powerful conversation about beauty and mental health. What do you hope women—especially women of color—take away from your message about honoring their crown and reclaiming their confidence?
This conversation on beauty and mental health, especially during Suicide Prevention Month, is so vital. It’s about pulling back the veil and acknowledging that our outer expression is deeply tied to our inner state. In a world where beauty standards can be typecast so to speak and cultural norms can change, it is my greatest hope that women, particularly women of color, take away this simple but revolutionary message: Your worth is not defined by external standards of beauty, and the courage to honor your crown in all its forms is an act of radical self-love and a powerful investment in your mental health.
For too long, women of color have carried the weight of both external and internal pressures to conform to rigid beauty ideals. This relentless striving can be an invisible burden that drains our confidence and erodes our sense of self-worth.
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By choosing to honor our crowns—whether it’s with a bald head, a wig, weave, or our natural texture—we are reclaiming our narratives. We are saying that our value is inherent, our beauty is a birthright, and our well-being is non-negotiable.
I want ALL women to understand that reclaiming their confidence is not a passive act; it’s an active practice of self-acceptance. It’s about permitting ourselves to be authentic, to be vulnerable, and to seek help when we need it. True strength is not in suffering silently, but in speaking our truth, lifting each other, and reminding ourselves that we are beautiful, we are worthy, and we are not alone. Keep pushing and don’t let societal noise push you to the edge of no return – the world needs you, whether you have hair or not! You are beautiful!
As we honor Suicide Prevention Month, this conversation with Dr. Jacque reminds us that beauty is not bound by society’s standards—it is anchored in self-love, emotional wellness, and the power to reclaim our crowns in whatever form they take. Whether adorned with curls, scarves, wigs, or proudly bare, our crowns remain symbols of resilience and worth. Let this serve as a call to women everywhere: cherish your crown, nurture your spirit, and never forget that your beauty—and your life—are immeasurable gifts to this world.
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