West Chester native Christie Valdiserri – a professional dancer, fitness instructor, and public speaker who now lives in Southern California – is one of six finalists in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Model Search, writes Brittany Talarico for People magazine.

Valdiserri, who owns a bikini in every color available, was inspired to attend the Model Search in Miami after gathering enough strength and confidence in herself as a bald woman.

For years, Valdiserri had been struggling with alopecia. When her hair fell out completely for the second time in April 2019, she realized it was time to stop letting the pain dictate her life. So, she took back her power and decided to own her new look.

When the open casting call was announced, she knew it was her moment to “be a voice for all the women and young girls who cry every day because they just want to feel normal again,” she said.

Her message to young girls is the same one she would share with her 13-year-old self.

“You can be whoever the hell you want to be,” she said. “Never give up on what you want out of your life. You will always be okay, no matter what.”

Read more about Christie Valdiserri in People magazine here.

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