After doing an interview with the UK, she left for the other side of the world. During her travels, Heeres became increasingly confident. And she wants others to feel that way, too. That is why she is participating in the television programme Je zal het maar hebben (in English: What if it was you?).
Heeres has had alopecia since she was four years old. This means her hair falls out. One moment it would be growing, and the next it would fall out – until approximately two years ago. All her hair fell out and did not come back. She has been bald ever since. ‘I now have a very rare version of alopecia. Of course that would happen to me.’
But the student of economic geography is not one to give up. Over the past two years, she and her backpack have travelled all over the world – Australia, Chile, New Zealand and Thailand. The biggest difference with two years ago: she is currently completely bald. ‘My first thought when I wanted start travelling again was, ‘But I can’t, I have no hair.’ But then my second thought was that I shouldn’t let that stop me.’
‘I had what you have’
Her wigs barely even left her backpack. ‘When you’re travelling, people pay much less attention to you. Everyone is much more relaxed and no one cares.’ People barely asedk her about her head until one evening in a hostel in Chile. ‘A Chilean girl came up to me and said: ‘I had what you have last year.’ She had leukaemia. That was pretty rough, having to tell her that I was perfectly healthy, but ‘just’ bald.’
Back in Groningen it was less easy for her to leave her house without a wig. ‘It was the return to my regular life. It was much harder to not wear my wig. It’s like leaving the house without my make-up on, which I don’t do. I look literally bald without my make-up.’
Travelling did increase her self-esteem. ‘When it’s really hot, I’ll just take it off.’ And yet Heeres notices it takes a lot for her to go to the supermarket without her wig on in the Netherlands. ‘It’s a big step to take, every single time. The way people react. It’s really awkward if people are startled by your head.’
Boundaries
She likes to push her boundaries, both literally and figuratively. That is why she signed up for the television programme Je zal het maar hebben. ‘Teenagers are usually so insecure, especially when it comes to social media. I want to show people that they don’t need to be insecure and that they shouldn’t let any condition hold them back.’
She confronts her own remaining insecurities on the television show. ‘We went to a festival where I took off my wig. Except no one was looking at me. Instead, they were looking at Tim Hofman, who presents the show.’ Another place where looks play a big role is the gym. ‘That one is pretty difficult for me. It’s just a little too much. It’s the only thing I won’t do. Working out wearing a wig is pretty uncomfortable. But I don’t really like working out anyway.’
Heeres does not hold back in the programme. ‘If there’s something I’d rather not talk about or something that’s embarrassing, I go for it anyway. I just force myself to talk about it.’ She did not really feel compelled to be on television, but she would really like to help people by telling her story. ‘If I could help just one person with my story, that would make me really happy.’
‘Je zal het maar hebben’ will be broadcast on NPO3 at 9:25 p.m. on Tuesday.