Opening up about your insecurities on a public scale can be terrifying, but maybe even more so when you’re a celebrity and that public scale includes millions of fans and others who might comment on what you are sensitive about.
Actor and musician Cheyenne Jackson took the risk anyway in an emotional Instagram post.
Cheyenne is best known for his work on *American Horror Story*.
He has also appeared on 30 Rock, Glee, Watchmen and The Descendants , as well as making appearances on Broadway. It goes without saying that Cheyenne is a talented actor, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have insecurities in his life, which he opened up about.
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“I’ve been DREADING this day for 17 years. The day when my horrible secret would be revealed,” he wrote.
Alongside this dramatic shot , Cheyenne wrote, “No, this gnarly scar across my head isn’t from life-saving brain surgery, nor did I narrowly survive a shark attack. It’s worse. (At least in Hollywood…) I had hair transplant surgery. 5 of them, to be exact, over 14 years.”
“My inner monologue is ‘Really Cheyenne? With everything that’s going on in the world, you’re CONFESSING that you had hair surgery? Get over yourself.'”
“I get it, but I’m admitting this really, to RELEASE how much shame & anxiety I’ve had about people finding out for years,” he wrote, detailing how he started losing his hair at the age of 22.
“It was really emotional for me to watch it fall out & I felt less attractive & truly less like myself as the days went on, so I saved up and got my first surgery at 28.”
“I hid it from everyone. It was painful & expensive but I started to feel better about myself,” he wrote. “Over the years as my hair kept thinning, I kept secretly getting more procedures & would just pray that no one would find out. Why? Why did I care so much? What does that say about me? Being a vain actor in an industry that rewards beauty, I vowed to keep this my secret forever.”
“I feel SO stupid saying that but it’s my truth.”
“As if someone finding out would somehow negate my talent, or make me less viable or valuable in the world,” he wrote, then went on to explain that none of the hair or makeup people he worked with over the years ever cared.
“I’m sharing because maybe this will inspire someone out there to share a secret they’ve been hiding, or show a scar that they’ve been afraid of anyone seeing.”
“Let it go. What I’ve learned during this pandemic is that shit like this just doesn’t matter. I’m trying to teach my kids to accept themselves & to be proud of who they are, & to put value on things that are IMPORTANT & REAL so as their father, the example should start with me. This is that. I’ll go first.”
It’s amazing that Cheyenne feels confident enough to share this part of himself with the world!
