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Nakisha J. Gregory had been trying to hide her hair loss for years.

The Navy veteran who had been diagnosed with lupus had been wearing wigs, but one day, she received the confidence she needed from her 7-year-old son.

“I’ve spent so many years hiding with my wigs and being afraid. I started losing my hair in 2011, and I didn’t officially reveal it to the world until 2019. And it took my 7-year-old son telling me, ‘You know, mommy, you’re beautiful,’” Gregory said. “He was the only one that knew I was bald, and so he was my lookout when I was putting my wig on. And so one day, he told me I was beautiful and kissed my head and asked me to take a picture of him kissing my head and post it on Facebook. And I was actually too nervous to do that, so I ended up just posting it on Instagram.”

She went back to her room and hid for the rest of her day fearing what the reaction might be to that post, but she was surprised by the response when she logged back on the next day.

“And when I woke up that morning, I had so many wonderful messages from women who had also dealt with alopecia and were sharing their stories with me. And so from there, this just developed a movement.”

The movement she dubbed the “Baldie Brigade” that began that day on Jan. 25, 2019. It eventually led to her writing the Crowned Confidence trilogy, which includes “Crowned Confidence: A Journey Beneath the Bald,” “The Bald Truth Unveiled: Redefining Beauty and Shattering Stereotypes” and “The Confidence Collective: Building Your Tribe, Finding Your Power.”

All three books are available for sale on Amazon, and Foot Soldiers Park will be having a book signing event on Thursday, July 31, from noon to 4 p.m. at Foot Soldiers Park Administrative Offices at 1018 Water Ave.

Gregory will be making her first trip to Selma for the “Crowned Confidence” Book Signing. This unique experience features a personal meet-and-greet, signed copies of all three books in the Crowned Confidence trilogy, and exclusive Baldie Brigade Apparel.

The event dates back to a meeting with JoAnn Bland while on vacation.

“She was with two stunningly bald women, and I instantly felt a sisterhood,” Gregory said. “And so I gifted them both copies of my Crown Confidence trilogy. Then later, Ms. JoAnn, she personally invited me to do a signing at the Foot Soldiers Park.

“I researched her legacy and the park’s mission, and I knew it was a divine alignment. I’m a Navy veteran, and I fought a lot of battles myself. And so I just felt like it was an honor to bring my message of healing and empowerment to a space that’s so rooted in liberation in history.”

Gregory said the plan for the event is more than just a book signing. She wants to inspire women who are experiencing baldness or fighting any other battle that they are hiding from others to be their true selves and help them find their “tribe” as described in one of her books.

“It’s a celebration. It’s a sacred space about connection, empowerment and storytelling,” Gregory said. “I’ll have all three of my books, and we’ll also have real conversations with the attendees about their journey, mine as well, as far as honoring the crown of women. Beauty isn’t just defined by hair or status or perfection. It’s about how we can rise and love ourselves and how we can hold space for others as well. You know, I myself, I’ve been homeless. I’ve lost my hair and I have a little bit. We might be where we lost it all and still became everything we’re destined to be.”

For more information on the event, log on to www.footsoliderspark.org.