Model opens up about coming to terms with her rare conditicoming-to-terms-with-her-rare-co
Model opens up about coming to terms with her rare conditicoming-to-terms-with-her-rare-co

Christie Valdiserri has been struggling to cope with her changing appearance for years, but now she’s proudly flaunting her natural look.

The 26-year-old model is a finalist for the cover of Sports Illustrated’s legendary swimsuit issue cover.

She also has alopecia, an autoimmune condition that can cause hair loss.

Valdiserri opened up in an interview with Fox News about how her career has taken off... after years of fearing she’d have to give up her dream of dancing and modeling.

She says she “hid” under a blonde wig for a year and tried to pretend she wasn’t struggling with alopecia.

Over the next few months, Valdiserri’s hair grew back, then started falling out again.

“I guess [I’ve] got to shave my head and own the look,” she told Fox News.

“I don’t want to look this way.

In a confident moment, Valdiserri’ decided to submit a video for open casting for Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue — ditching her typical blonde wig.

Her confidence is working for her.

Just one month after deciding to remove her wig, she’s booked a photoshoot.

— and now she’s in the running to land one of the most iconic covers in magazine history