Mexican actress and singer Maite Perroni recently joined Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths campaign, to encourage Hispanic women to grow, cut and donate their hair to benefit cancer patients.
Pantene Beautiful Lengths was created in 2006 with the sole purpose of inspiring people and distributing real-hair wigs (for free) through the American Cancer Society. According to their statistics, approximately “one in three Hispanic women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point; this disease being the second leading cause of death among U.S. Hispanics.”
To celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the fight against cancer in general, Mamiverse had the opportunity to talk with Maite Perroni, who shared more with us about Beautiful Lengths and why it is so important to her.
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Mamiverse: Why did you decide to join Pantene Beautiful Lengths?
Perroni: I believe there’s nothing like having good health, and I strive to support women struggling with cancer. Pantene will do so by donating wigs made from natural hair; it’s a way to give them the gift of hope. These ladies deserve it—they are fighting for their lives and I’m very proud to be part of it.
Mamiverse: You are an inspiration to many women and young girls. Is there any message you’d want to give to them, related to breast cancer awareness?
Perroni: People often associate cancer with death—however, this isn’t always the case. I see it as a chance to overcome fears and obstacles. One of the most difficult moments of my life was when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. I realized it can come knocking at your door. What do I tell the world? We must spread the word; educate ourselves and our relatives by receiving annual checkups. You can win over cancer if it’s detected early.
Mamiverse: What do you expect from this campaign and your mission with Pantene Beautiful Lengths?
Perroni: I’m truly expecting my message to reach out to everyone out there. As women, we should take care of our bodies and mind. I want to inspire people to donate their hair, to tell them there’s hope after cancer and to help those in need.
Mamiverse: A study by the American Cancer Society found that 58% of women considered hair loss to be the worst side effect caused by chemotherapy, while 8% of them risked avoiding such lifesaving treatments out of fear of losing their hair. What can you tell these patients?
Perroni: Women can always attain a sense of femininity one way or another. Essentially it boils down to the very essence of who you are. To be healthy, to be happy, is priceless. It doesn’t matter whether you lose your hair now. It’s for a good cause; those treatments can save your life. It will grow back, after all! Don’t be afraid. I personally think we have to celebrate our lives—and that alone is a miracle.
