Memphis News Anchor Pulls Wigs Off On Air

By Barry Burch Jr.

For some people, the local news team is not just the local news team; these people are family.  One news anchor in Tennessee understood exactly this, and shared something personal about herself that most would probably reserve for only their family.  After recently winning her battle against cancer, she courageously made the decision to remove her wig while on air and reveal all that has been going on with her.  It was very emotional to say the least.

The brave anchor is Pam Mckelvy of WMC-TV.  During a broadcast on Wednesday she announced, “I’m going natural.  No more relaxers to straighten my hair.”  The segment was regarding women and their “crowns of glory.”  Mckelvy shared her recent experience with chemotherapy treatments and how they caused her to lose her hair.  She did so while wearing a long silky black wig.  By the end of the discussion; however, her wig was off and her natural curls were showing.

“All right, this is it.  This is my new hair,” she declared, as she fought back tears.  The former beauty queen and 15-year TV news vet, as reported by Yahoo! Shine, said she was so very thankful for all of the support she received from her co-workers while she dealt with her illness.   One co-anchor touched her arm and said, “We love you baby, you look good.  You look good, child!”

This is not the first times the Memphis anchor has revealed personal information about herself.  Back in 2012, she shared with viewers that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  She also shared with them the details of a double mastectomy, and even underwent chemo live on the air.  She told viewers last week to be self-loving.

McKelvy said she made her decision partly with others in mind.  “I made my choice also because I think about the message I send to young women about confidence and self-acceptance,” she said.  She followed this statement with a special shout-out to 12-year-old Vanessa VandDyke, who was threatened with expulsion if she did not tame her “distracting” natural hair, as reported by Yahoo! Shine. “The times are changing, and God’s delivered me with a brand-new spirit and a head full of hair, and here it is,” McKelvy continued.

She added, “I want everyone to know that no matter what you go through, it’s not about what’s on the outside, it’s about what’s on the inside.  And I feel, on the inside, I am more radiant and beautiful than I’ve ever been.”

Barry is an award-winning writer and political scientist.  His business, “Barry Writes,” provides biographies, speeches, press releases and so forth to individuals and businesses in need of potent and compelling literature.  Reach him @ Facebook.com/barrywrites and Twitter.com/barryburchjr