We recently connected with Dr. Angie Bee and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Angie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
When I first removed my wig and entered a restaurant, I was the only bald person in the establishment. As I felt the air conditioning run across the top of my head, a shiver went down my spine; will everyone point and stare at me? Will the questions be directed towards me: “Is it cancer?” “Where is your hair?” I just wanted to eat a meal and not become a “teaching moment”.
Just the opposite happened! As the host was directing me to my table, other patrons smiled and waved at me! Someone even gave me a thumbs-up with a nod of approval. This was 2015, when no one had seen an actress reveal her baldness. No one witnessed her rapper/actor husband slap a comedian on live television. No one knew about the woman that would stand and vote to impeach a sitting United States President with her bald head glistening and no one had heard of www.NAAF.org. I hadn’t even heard of the organization back then; I only knew that I had Alopecia Areata. My mother diagnosed me after receiving her own diagnosis. It ran in my family, but I was the first to embrace the inevitable and shave off the last few patches of dying hair that remained on my head. I was the first one in the room and the only one in my family and community who “came out from under the burden of wigs, weaves and scarves” to go out in public.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My doctorate degree in ministry may be new (having graduated in July 2024) but my love for the Lord is not new. I am now qualified to teach other leaders about Christ and to help them lead others! I may have been ordained an Evangelist in 2014, but I was leading the evangelism troupe that I founded since 2001. Music is the foundation of my ministry and, as a syndicated radio show host since 2005, I continue to spread the Gospel through Holy Hip Hop, Christian and Gospel Rap music on my platforms.
Today, they are called “podcasts”, but in the early 2000’s when I was first offered the opportunity to create an internet radio show, I found the music, shared scripture and read portions of books that were sent to me. This verbal aspect of my evolution led to the development of my agency. Angie BEE Productions specializes in narrating commercials and audiobooks. We provide social media promotion for our clients and the events that we support and we train other voice over actors in equipment, style, and entrepreneurship.
Proceeds raised from Angie BEE Productions are dedicated to our annual awareness event: “The Bold Beautiful and Bald Beauty Bazaar Weekend Retreat for Alopecia Awareness”. Our 8th annual event debuts in a new city; the historic St. Marys, Georgia, and will include members of the Chamber of Commerce, the Navy Submarine base, residents, entrepreneurs and Alopecians from across the country!
The beauty bazaar was inspired by a neighbor, friend and mentor from Volusia County, Florida. She taught me how to present our inaugural event before the Mayor and City Counsel and she taught me how to plan the event. During our first seven years, the beauty bazaar grew from a one-day fashion show featuring one bald model to now spreading acceptance during a weekend retreat and the largest all-bald fashion showcase in the country! Our 2022 fashion showcase featured more than two dozen bald people and each year continues to make donations to www.NAAF.org.
Prior to the pandemic, we traveled to bring book signings and smaller versions of the fashion showcase. We would always connect with Alopecians in our host cities and feature them in our one-day outreach events. Everyone had SO MUCH FUN that it was difficult to stand down during the onset of the pandemic. Although we complied with safety regulations, people continued to ask, “When are you coming to my city?” Now, the plan is to resume the awareness tour in 2025!
The Bold Beautiful and Bald Beauty Bazaar takes place at the SureStay Plus by Best Western banquet room on Saturday, September 21, 2024 in St. Mary, GA. Alopecians that want to model in the fashion showcase may send an email to [email protected] to join the 12 models that we currently have registered. Entrepreneurs offering health, beauty, fashion, information and inspiration may register until September 15th by calling 407-914-6519. The $100 vendor fee guarantees exclusivity, a covered table with chairs, a promotional flyer and commercial plus 10 free admission tickets, valued at $10 each! Bring your clients, friends, family or sell the tickets. When all 20 registered vendors and models bring their families, a good time will be had by all.
There will be live musical entertainment, a picnic, pool-side lunch on Friday, following the photo shoot at two historic locations! The all-white appearances on Friday are a part of our “awareness” efforts. When locals see a group of 20 bald people, all dressed in white, there are sure to be questions and interest!!
Saturday’s fashion showcase and beauty bazaar on September 21st will include a 50/50 raffle and silent auction fundraiser for each attendee to participate in. Proceeds will be donated to www.NAAF.org, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. The fashion showcase will feature designers, and each model will educate the audience on the type of Alopecia they have and how they manage to take the tragedy of hair loss and see the positive aspects of it.
The beauty bazaar support group sessions have helped others launch awareness walks, dinners, gatherings and events. We have written books and joined book anthologies. As we debut this year’s weekend retreat in a new city, we have 12 brand new Alopecians joining us as models! We don’t know who is more excited… us or them!
Together, we are no longer the “only bald people in the room”. Together, we bring an economic boost to our host city. Together, we inspire and encourage others and together WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As I look back over the success of my evangelist troupe and the Bold Beautiful & Bald Beauty Bazaar, I see three skills, gifts and/or talents that have made a difference in the lives of participants.
First: ADVANCED PLANNING reduces stress. Plan for 6 months and promote for 4 months. When your plans are complete, prepare yourself to be present for your attendees. They will have last-minute questions, and your support will make them feel like they are the only person in the world! PRAY!
Second: OPTIONS THAT INCLUDE THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you create a schedule, be open to the schedule changing. Accommodate for changes and don’t stress about them. If you dedicate your event to God and allow HIM to be glorified in the execution of it, the end result will be fulfilling. PRAY SOME MORE!
Third: Further your education with a mentor or volunteer. DON’T LET THE GRASS GROW UNDER YOUR FEET and become stagnant. No matter what is going on in your life, keep learning and growing to add knowledge and skills to your life. It will show up as a quality that will never fade away from you. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Currently, Angie BEE Productions produces annual fundraisers for three non-profit organizations. Parenting, Alopecia and Sickle Cell Awareness. What do these organizations have in common? PEOPLE! When you focus your efforts on helping, supporting, and benefiting people, you can successfully reach your goals.
We look for organizations to support and collaborate with. Our evangelism troupe partners with churches to bring a weekend retreat for the youth and young adults. Our outreach events search for vendors that can come and bring products, services, and information to our attendees. We want to partner with bookstore owners, hotel owners, venues, etc., that will host our events. We invite people with hair and without hair to attend. We invite authors and those with a desire to write books to participate in our virtual events. Our goal is to work with people that WANT to work with other people to collaborate and support one another.
Every effort needs funding, so we search for authors and publishers that will grant us the honor of producing their audiobooks. Entrepreneurs need commercials and we can do that, as well. Proceeds from our earnings pay for deposits, travel, accommodations, supplies, photographers, and food. Yes, we ask for donations and, when they come in, we are grateful. However, we know that God would not give us the desire to encourage others without the resources that we need. We gain these resources through new clients, partnerships and collaborations.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/BoldBeautifulAndBaldBeautyBazaar
- Twitter: https://x.com/HHHotspot
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/angiebeepresents
- Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/meangiebee/
Image Credits
Images created by Angie BEE Productions
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
