Standards of Beauty

Yesterday, between the third and fourth quarters of the Indianapolis Colts' game, two cheerleaders had their heads shaved.

They did it in solidarity with Chuck Pagano, the Colts' coach, who was diagnosed with leukemia in September. Chemo took his hair. The community, and especially the team, rallied around Pagano, with several players shaving their heads. So Blue, the Colts' mascot, issued a challenge to the cheerleaders: would anyone be willing to have Blue shave her head, if Blue could raise $10,000 for leukemia research?

One brave cheerleader, Megan, took him up on it, and when Blue raised over $22,000, Megan kept her promise. She was joined by another cheerleader, Crystal Ann, and they held hands while Blue did his work with the razor.

Megan and Crytsal Ann are not the first people to shave their heads in solidarity with a cancer patient. All those players did it. And country singer Kellie Pickler did it, too.

To be honest, I think it's great when people do it, but I'm a whole lot more impressed when a woman does it, especially a woman like Kellie or Megan or Crystal Ann who is so visible.

Is it cliche to say that their selfless act is more about inner beauty than outer beauty? Maybe. But it certainly should get people to reconsider what beauty is all about.

Megan's page on the Colts Cheerleaders website includes some personal information, as well as her advice for kids and teens, which begins, "Be proud of who you are and embrace what makes you unique."

That's some excellent advice.