Fishers Girl with Hair Loss Creates Video to Inspire Others

Olivia Rusk represents a brave, beautiful, determined and caring role model who has made the best of an unfortunate situation. Olivia has an autoimmune condition called Alopecia (pronounced alo-pay-sha) that causes hair loss. Olivia developed alopecia just after she had her 18 month vaccines.

“I have lost all my hair twice since I was two years old,” says Olivia, who is now 12. “I decided not to wear wigs or hats except when I am acting or modeling. I am totally bald, and I like who I am!” There are widely-used and effective options like non surgical hair replacement that could help her restore her hair however, she has taken the conscious decision to keep and this look and embrace it as her personal signature.

To help prove her belief, she has written and produced a “video short” with the help of her mom, Sandy Rusk, who is her biggest fan, always supporting her and allowing her to be herself. This music video, called “I Could Be Great!” is intended to raise awareness about alopecia and bullying. Although Olivia has never been teased or bullied personally, she and her mother — the Indiana support group leaders for The National Alopecia Areata Foundation — both know others who have had terrible experiences due to their hair loss. Olivia’s confidence, strength and her ability to inspire others were the motivation for making “I Could Be Great!”

“When she was 8 years old, Olivia decided not to wear wigs or hats and has lived her life ‘publicly bald’ since then,” says Sandy, who was shocked at first that her daughter would choose not wear her wig. “Ironically, having alopecia has brought some amazing opportunities into her life.”

Olivia represents a true role model to young girls. She has shared her story in our local media numerous times and was offered a job with ABC/Walt Disney. For the last year she has worked as an On-Air Kid Caster for Radio Disney. Olivia was the guest speaker at the Healthy Choices Conference in Bloomington, Ind., where she shared her story in front of 300 young girls.

When Sandy and Olivia took on the challenge of this project, they knew it would be a way for Olivia to enthuse others in a totally different way. As the idea for the script began to develop, they met with singer/songwriter Sally Anthony of Fishers, who happened to have an original song with lyrics that fit the project theatrically.

Funding for Video Was a Major Challenge

With literally no budget or sponsors to film and edit the video, Sandy had contacted numerous production companies, even the best ones like this San Antonio video production company, schools and churches for help with the project. After months of hearing “no” and expensive quotes up to $35,000, Sandy finally found her lucky break when she made a timely phone call to IUPUI’s Media Center. After explaining the dilemma to Michael Maitzen, he laughed and told Sandy that he had just assigned his students (who were in their final year of training) an assignment to film/edit a music video. This would be the perfect opportunity for these students who had the talent and experience for this type of project. Finally, Sandy and Olivia were on their way!

“The amount of community support that we received was overwhelming. So many people donated their time, energy and creativity to bring our vision to life,” says Sandy who is so proud of this successful mother-daughter mission. With the assistance of IUPUI’s Media Center they were also able to enlist the help of local actors, models, extras, family members and friends, most of whom had never had the opportunity to be involved in this type of project before.

In addition to Sally Anthony, these contributors helped donate products and services making this video possible: Fashion Designer Nikki Blaine; Fashion Photographers Jay Gambino and Jeremiah Laughner (who agreed to play themselves in the video); Border’s Books; Buckle Clothing Store; Hamilton Town Center IMAX Movie Theater; Carey of Indiana Limos; Cici’s Pizza; Simon Properties; Justine Magazine; The Men’s Wearhouse; Fishers High School; The Indianapolis Star; Kelly Vaughn of B105.7 Radio; Karen Hall and Co.; Fisher’s Chamber of Commerce; Fast Signs and White Cliffs Hair Replacement Company. In addition, Forrest Landis of the “Cheaper by the Dozen” movies and Morgan Wood of 2007’s “Kid Nation” made cameo appearances.

After completing “I Could Be Great!” a screening was held at Hamilton Town Center IMAX Theater where two of the scenes had been filmed for the video. A lot of the local teenagers who worked so hard on the project were able to see themselves on the same BIG screen where they normally go to see movies. Sandy and Olivia found it exciting to see how it touched their lives.

In the United States over 5 million people have alopecia or related hair loss. Some are due to alopecia, some are due to treatments for cancer, and some people have male or female pattern baldness. Whatever the reason, people are deeply affected by hair loss. It can be devastating, and “I Could Be Great!” inspires people with Olivia’s main message: “It’s okay to be different. You can be great with or without hair.”

Sandy and Olivia have posted “I Could Be Great!” on YouTube and Alopecia World, where it is being viewed all over the world. They receive daily emails and comments about its dramatic impact and inspiration. They have communicated with people in numerous countries including Germany, Australia, Puerto Rico, India, and Switzerland.
Olivia, who will be a seventh grader at Fisher’s Junior High this fall, was asked to make a speech at The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) conference in Houston, Texas, last month. After speaking to over 650 people sharing her story and showing this new impressive video, she received a standing ovation. Also, the Internet Movie Database just recently approved not only “I Could Be Great” as a video short, but also Olivia’s profile.

If you would like to view Olivia’s profile and video please access this website:http://www.alopeciaworld.com/profile/OliviaRusk

Here is a sampling some of the especially touching comments from the video:

Ivonna from Australia wrote:

I just watched your video and it brought me to tears for 2 reasons. First it brought back the hell i went through going through school and then the sadness went away half way through the video but the tears persisted, but not from sadness, but from being so inspired by your courage and beauty. I still haven’t gone out in public without my wig since being tormented as a child for looking different, but I honestly think that I will spend the next few weeks wearing myself out of wearing the wig out in public, thanks to you.

Thank you so much Olivia!

Shailender from India wrote:

hi

i saw your video and that is really great20and inspiring. in fact i listen to that every morning to keep my mind at peace.

i saw that actually are great.

keep going like that

bye

Kimberly from Ohio wrote:

Olivia, I sat & watched this video w/ my 4 yr old daughter, who has AA. My hope is for my daughter to be as self confident & strong as you. You are a wonderful role model and my dd now wishes she could ‘model’ too! J
You are an amazing person doing wonderful things…keep it up!