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Six years ago, my friend Carolyn was a successful TV executive who liked to blend into the background. Then she lost every single hair on her body to alopecia - and it forced her to become the most confident version of herself she'd ever been.

Carolyn Ozkoseoglu is the Vice President of Sales and Distribution at Sony Pictures Television, working in an industry notoriously obsessed with appearance. When Alopecia Universalis stripped away every hair on her body, she faced a choice: hide from the world or own her new reality.

What followed was a journey from shame and fear to unexpected confidence and empowerment.

In this conversation, Carolyn shares how losing the thing she thought defined her actually helped her discover who she really was - and why standing out became her greatest strength.

This conversation is for anyone who's ever felt like they had to hide parts of themselves, anyone facing their own identity transformation, or anyone who simply wants to understand what real confidence looks like. Carolyn's journey proves that sometimes the thing we fear most becomes the thing that sets us free.

While Carolyn keeps a relatively private social media presence, you can follow Sony Pictures Television's work in the Australian market through industry publications.

This conversation was deeply personal for me to share, as Carolyn isn't just a podcast guest - she's one of my dearest friends and the godmother to my children. Her courage in sharing this story, and in living it so authentically, continues to inspire me every day.

00:00 Welcome to Big Stuff

00:30 Understanding the Role in Film and Television

02:58 The Importance of Appearance in the Industry

04:34 Alopecia Diagnosis and Initial Reactions

10:43 Coping with Hair Loss and Finding Support

15:49 Embracing a New Identity

22:43 Living with Alopecia: Challenges and Insights

30:23 Confidence and Self-Development

38:56 Eyebrow Adventures and Nasal Hair Woes

40:12 The Irony of Hair Loss and Beauty Standards

45:42 Empathy and Visible Differences

53:16 The Journey of Alopecia