The University of Miami is about to turn into a powerful spotlight on an overlooked condition. On Saturday, Sep. 27, UM senior Brianna Braun will lead students in the first-ever South Florida Walk for Alopecia — a vibrant event that blends music, movement and community to reframe the way people think about hair loss.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss on the scalp and sometimes across the body. It affects nearly seven million people in the United States, yet those living with alopecia, like Braun, often feel misunderstood.
“It’s not just hair loss,” Braun said. “It changes how you view yourself. You think about your eyebrows, your eyelashes, your face. You miss out on things like sports or the beach. It’s an added thing you have to consider every single day.”
That’s why Braun—who juggles pre-med studies with her degree at UM’s Frost School of Music—is determined to shift the story. Her own diagnosis at age six means this cause is personal. Now, she’s turning her experience into momentum.
The Walk for Alopecia will take place at 10 a.m. on Sep. 27 at UM’s Foote Green. Registration is free, and participants can sign up or donate through the event’s website. The event features music, activities and contributions led by UM campus organizations.
Braun is the official site leader for Miami’s walk—the first of its kind in South Florida. She chose to host it at UM to spark broad student involvement.
Delta Gamma, multicultural organizations, business fraternities and other student groups have rallied in support.
“It’s about building community and uniting students around something bigger than themselves,” Braun said.
For Braun, the walk is more than a fundraiser. It’s a stage for empathy. All proceeds will support the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF), which funds mentorship programs and research. Through mentorship with younger children, like a six-year-old she befriended named Ronni, she found empowerment in advocacy.
“Locals love to support UM,” Braun said. “They value seeing students and youth uniting over a good cause. It adds a positive energy to Coral Gables.”
Braun sees alopecia as frequently misunderstood. She notes how society has learned to accept her mother’s condition, vitiligo, and hopes the same recognition will come for alopecia.
“This isn’t cosmetic,” Braun said. “It’s about health, energy, and identity. It’s emotional just as much as physical.”
Community, Braun insists, is the backbone of this event. “The walk brings together families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and allies. It’s free to register and attend, so it’s not just about donations — it’s about people walking side by side.”
For Braun, the UM setting is just as important as the cause. “Watching the UM community unite for something so personal — that’s what I’m most looking forward to,” she said.
Braun’s message is direct: alopecia is not just about hair. Her experience comes with ebbs and flows—losing her hair in middle school, watching it grow back briefly in high school, only to see it fall again later.
“I hope awareness grows so people understand those with alopecia shouldn’t feel like they have to ‘fix’ themselves,” Braun said. “Alopecia is about confidence, identity and resilience. You are not alone.”