Delaware's Kayla Martell Aims to Be First Bald Miss America

When Miss America 2011 is crowned in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 15^th, could the lovely chosen lady be bald? If Kayla Martell, Miss Delaware, wins the coveted title, she will become the first-ever Miss America to sport a shiny scalp.

Although Kayla Martell lives with alopecia areata, which has caused her to lose her own hair, the 21-year-old Delaware beauty queen boldly strides onto the stage. She also blogs and champions alopecia areata research, education and treatment causes. In fact, alopecia areata is a primary component of Miss Delaware Kayla Martell's platform on the Miss America Pageant stage.

Kayla Martell often wears wigs for pageants and public appearances, but she is just as willing to remove these tresses to make a point about alopecia areata. In fact, the gutsy beauty from Delaware's Kent County actually competed in the Miss Delaware Pageant four times without wearing wigs.

She finally donned a blonde hairpiece for her fifth try and won the state title in June 2010 at the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, in Dover, Delaware.

During the latest Miss Delaware competition, Kayla Martell was also named winner of the community service, evening gown and swimsuit categories.

Miss Delaware Kayla Martell, who graduated from Delaware's Dover High School, has studied at Marymount University. Hoping to pursue a Master's Degree in Speech Communications, she is aiming for a career in broadcast journalist. In her spare time, Kayla Martell volunteers in local children's hospitals, visiting the young patients.

Diagnosed with alopecia areata as a fifth grader, growing up in Milford, Delaware, Kayla Martell began losing her hair as a preteen.

"By the time I was 13, my hair was out completely," Kayla Martell has said. "I am confident and comfortable [with or without my wig]. Hair loss is generally associated with sickness, but there are millions of people like me. I run, I'm healthy, I eat well; I'm just allergic to my hair."

In 2010, Kayla Martell befriended Lilliana Hakim, five-year-old girl, who also suffers from alopecia areata. The two appeared together on CBS TV's "The Early Show" in June 2010.

"For me, I was just very confident in myself because of the great family and friends that I have. And, you know, I think I was a better person because of the faith that I had. It didn't make me nervous to go out without the wig for any reason," Kayla said (on "The Early Show.")

Celebrating its 90^th anniversary, the 2011 Miss America Pageant will air on Saturday evening, January 15^th, at 9 PM ET on ABC TV, with 51 contestants hoping to win the top title.

What is alopecia?

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that generally causes baldness in affected individuals by attacking the hair follicles. An estimated 4.7 million Americans suffer from alopecia areata, according to a statement from the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.