Jasmine Mitchell Reveals Why She Ditched Her Wigs and Went Bald on ‘Great British Bake Off’

Series 16 of the U.K.'s hit series The Great British Bake Off, or, as Netflix titles it, The Great British Baking Show, aired on the streamer on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, three days after it aired on the U.K.'s popular streamer, Channel 4. The premiere included 12 bakers competing to become the series' overall Star Baker.

Among the contestants was Jasmine Mitchell, an impressive baker and medical student based in London. The Edinburgh native shared her love of baking and using fresh, seasonal ingredients in her sweet treats.

Jasmine's appearance also garnered extra attention, as she proudly wore a bald head during the competition. So, why is the contestant bald? Here's what we know.

Initially, Jasmine didn't explicitly share what caused her to rock a bald head.

However, she did open up about her appearance during Episode 3, and revealed she was diagnosed with alopecia at 12 years old.

"I had my own hair completely, until I was like 12, and the doctors didn't really know why, like no one really knows what causes alopecia," she said. "There was nothing that triggered it. I just randomly started losing my hair."

She went on to explain that she decided to ditch wigs a couple of years before appearing on GBBO. "It was really hard at the start, going outside without wearing a wig and just looking different. But I feel like I'm really getting to the point where I am generally starting to enjoy not having hair and being different."

According to Cleveland Clinic, alopecia arreata is an autoimmune disease that attacks your body’s hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss. In some cases, treatments such as medications and therapies are used. Although Jasmine hasn't confirmed that alopecia was the cause of her shaving her head, celebrities like Jada Pinkett Smith and Towanda Braxton also famously shaved their heads amid their experiences with the disease.

Jasmine's lack of hair may be a topic of conversation, but it's overshadowed by her impressive kitchen skills. At 23, she is also the youngest contestant on The Great British Bake Off's Season 16.

According to Cosmopolitan UK, Jasmine told Channel 4 the monumental moment almost didn't happen. She randomly decided to apply to the competition and was surprised when she was chosen to be a contestant.

"It felt so bonkers and surreal and almost ridiculous that it was actually happening," she shared after telling the outlet she applied "on a complete whim."

"I was on a train in London, I had to talk in complete code because there was a granny sitting opposite me who I am almost 100 percent sure was a Bake Off watcher."

Despite Great British Bake Off not being one of her long-term goals, fans liked what they saw from her from her first week in the competition. Jasmine confirmed that she's just as pleased by her decision as she celebrated completing the first series 16 episode.

"Week 1 was MEGA!!!" she captioned under an Instagram post of her with the cast and moments from the premiere. "Wow, I have a lotta love for these beautiful bakers...Week 2 let’s GOOOO."

The Great British Bake Off is available to stream on Channel 4 in the U.K. Netflix also airs new episodes of the show under the title The Great British Bake Show.