Podcast Summary: "Alopecia, Confidence & Self-Love | Alex Youmazzo & Emmy Combs on Embracing Your Beauty"
Podcast Information:
- Title: We're Out of Time
- Host: Richard Taite
- Episode Title: Alopecia, Confidence & Self-Love | Alex Youmazzo & Emmy Combs on Embracing Your Beauty
- Release Date: July 22, 2025
Introduction to Alopecia The episode begins with host Richard Taite introducing his guests, Alex Umatso and Emmy Combs, both prominent alopecia advocates and social media personalities. Richard sets the stage by highlighting their significant online followings—Alex with over 6 million TikTok followers and Emmy with over 11 million.
- [00:00] Richard Taite: "Alopecia advocates and social media personalities Alex Umatso and Emmy Combs. Join the we're out of Time podcast."
- [02:02] Alex Umatso: "Alopecia is an autoimmune disorder, so it causes us not to grow hair or to lose our hair."
- [02:21] Emmy Combs: "It's like our white blood cells are allergic to our hair. It thinks that it's wrong. It thinks that it needs to be gone out of the body."
Understanding Alopecia Alex and Emmy delve into the nature of alopecia, explaining its autoimmune basis and the different types they experience. Alex has Alopecia Universalis, resulting in complete hair loss over his entire body, diagnosed at the age of one. Emmy has Alopecia Totalis, predominantly affecting her scalp and sometimes facial hair, diagnosed at six years old.
- [02:12] Alex Umatso: "I have Alopecia universalis. So I have complete hair loss over the entire body."
- [02:15] Emmy Combs: "I have alopecia totalis. I have hair loss just on my head and sometimes on my face."
Early Life and Coping Mechanisms The conversation shifts to their childhood experiences with alopecia. Alex recounts how his parents educated him about potential bullying and encouraged resilience. Despite initial insecurities, Alex made a pivotal decision in high school to embrace his baldness, leading to increased confidence.
- [04:29] Emmy Combs: "I got alopecia when I was around 6 years old... I kind of was, like, okay with it 100% from the start."
- [07:46] Alex Umatso: "In my junior year of high school, I took off my wig. It was the biggest turning point in my life. I realized I didn't need to hide."
Dealing with Ignorance and Bullying Emmy discusses the challenges of ignorance rather than outright bullying. She emphasizes that many negative comments stem from a lack of understanding, highlighting the importance of educating others about alopecia.
- [08:25] Emmy Combs: "It's just about the comments. I think it's ignorance."
- [09:59] Alex Umatso: "It's the accountability too, to like, realize that we've had some people say something that they didn't realize maybe was like, so offensive."
Redefining Beauty and Empowerment A significant portion of the discussion focuses on how living with alopecia has reshaped their definitions of beauty. Both guests express that their experiences have become a source of empowerment, allowing them to highlight inner beauty and self-confidence over societal standards.
- [10:59] Alex Umatso: "With alopecia, I've found more of myself. We really glow from the inside out."
- [11:18] Richard Taite: "Everything's different now, right? When I was a kid, you had to be thin, now there's voluptuous, and bald is beautiful."
Building Community and Advocacy Both Alex and Emmy share their journeys into social media, initially sparked by personal experiences and the desire to connect with others facing similar challenges. Emmy shares a poignant story about her friend whose untimely death inspired her to focus on advocacy.
- [12:25] Emmy Combs: "Without her, my journey would have never started. I wouldn't be sitting here doing any of the things I ever did."
- [14:14] Alex Umatso: "There really are happy accidents in life."
Collaborative Efforts and Future Projects The duo discusses their collaborative efforts in makeup artistry tailored for individuals with alopecia. They highlight events like Baltarage, where they offer makeup services that enhance facial features, thereby boosting confidence for those without hair.
- [16:11] Emmy Combs: "We're a part of an event called the Baltarage, and we did a bunch."
- [18:37] Richard Taite: "Because not only are you making it, but now when you guys come in with your infectious thing you guys got going on, it's like, no, I'm special."
Product Recommendations and Brand Collaborations Alex and Emmy share their favorite beauty products and experiences working with major brands like L'Oréal. They elaborate on how specific products, such as an eyebrow pen from L'Oréal, have significantly impacted their daily routines and confidence.
- [19:03] Alex Umatso: "Their eyebrow pen has changed my life. It took my eyebrow routine from 20 minutes to just one pen."
- [21:13] Emmy Combs: "It's life-changing. Kids told me they bought the pen because of our videos."
Establishing a Non-Profit for Support Towards the end of the episode, Alex and Emmy announce their plans to start a non-profit organization focused on supporting individuals with alopecia and other autoimmune disorders. Their mission centers on creating a supportive community, understanding the causes behind these conditions, and providing resources beyond what pharmaceutical-backed organizations offer.
- [26:56] Alex Umatso: "We are starting a non-profit that will address alopecia and autoimmune disorders as a whole."
- [28:18] Emmy Combs: "We want to share the love, share the community, share the connection."
Mental Health and Societal Pressures The discussion transitions to broader topics like mental health and the detrimental effects of social media's comparison culture. Emmy emphasizes the importance of authentic connections and the pitfalls of cancel culture, advocating for self-acceptance and support systems.
- [35:17] Emmy Combs: "Comparison is like the thief of life."
- [35:35] Richard Taite: "It really is the second beautiful, like magnificent thing you've said today."
Closing Remarks and Interaction Richard wraps up the episode with heartfelt compliments to Alex and Emmy, appreciating their genuine approach and unwavering support for each other and their community. The episode concludes with a light-hearted interaction involving a friendly game of junior bowls.
- [40:48] Richard Taite: "You guys are so good."
- [41:34] Alex Umatso: "Thank you."
- [43:08] Richard Taite: "We're never running this."
Key Takeaways:
- Alopecia Awareness: Alex and Emmy provide an in-depth understanding of alopecia, its types, and personal impacts.
- Resilience and Confidence: Their stories highlight the journey from insecurity to self-acceptance and public advocacy.
- Community Building: Emphasis on creating supportive networks for individuals with visible and invisible autoimmune disorders.
- Redefining Beauty Standards: Challenging societal norms and promoting inner beauty and self-love.
- Mental Health Advocacy: Addressing the importance of mental well-being and the negative consequences of social media pressures.
Notable Quotes:
- Emmy Combs [08:25]: "It's just about the comments. I think it's ignorance."
- Alex Umatso [10:59]: "With alopecia, I've found more of myself. We really glow from the inside out."
- Emmy Combs [35:17]: "Comparison is like the thief of life."
Where to Follow Alex and Emmy:
- Emmy Combs: @EmmyCoss
- Alex Umatso: @AlexYou
This episode serves as an inspiring testament to overcoming adversity, redefining personal and societal standards of beauty, and the power of community and self-love in the face of autoimmune challenges.