Lesbifriend Luminary: Taleala “Tee” Rivers
lu·mi·nar·y
/ˈlo͞oməˌnerē/ - n - a person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent in a particular sphere.
Each month we take a moment to show appreciation for an exemplary member of our community. Affectionately named “Lesbifriend Luminary”, we honor you.
Taleala “Tee” Rivers is a 42-year-old mother, author, advocate, and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community whose journey embodies courage, authenticity, and radical self-love. A Baltimore, Maryland native, Tee is known for her fearless approach to personal growth, her passion for representation, and her unwavering commitment to helping others reclaim confidence on their own terms.
A self-described Leo with a lifelong love for hair as personal expression, Tee once saw her mane as her crown, bold styles, constant reinvention, and unapologetic flair. When alopecia entered her life, thinning hair and bald patches challenged both her identity and visibility. Like many, she initially turned to wigs, presenting confidence publicly while privately learning to accept her changing reflection.
That transition became transformative. Encouraged to step fully into herself, Tee made the decision to go bold and bald, an act that shifted not only how she saw herself, but how others responded to her. The response was immediate and affirming, reinforcing a truth she now champions openly: she is not her hair, and baldness can be just as powerful, beautiful, and regal as any crown.
Professionally, Tee is a Patient Advocate and Certified Community Health Worker, with a career grounded in health equity, empowerment, and community engagement. As an author, she writes self-help and reflective works centered on the importance of loving yourself first, guiding readers through introspection, healing, and the courage it takes to live authentically. Her writing is rooted in lived experience, inviting readers to honor their own journeys without apology.
Tee is also a 2026 Bald Pageant Contestant, hosted by SHE Is Movement, where she proudly represents Baltimore, Maryland. For her, the pageant is more than a competition, it is a platform to challenge conventional beauty standards, amplify underrepresented voices, and affirm that confidence begins within.
Through advocacy, authorship, and visibility, Tee continues to inspire others to embrace who they are fully, boldly, and without permission.
Follow her journey as a bald pageant contestant and advocate for self-love and representation via her Instagram: @my_talkingheart
You can also donate to her pageant journey by clicking the photo below:
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