How many redheads?
2 percent of Americans
10 percent of the population of Ireland
10 percent of the population of Wales
14 percent in Scotland; 40% of people have the red hair gene.
Source: Littleredheadsacrossamerica.com
KETTERING — People have been commenting about Kaitlyn Bain’s rich red hair since she was a baby.
Kaitlyn’s unique shade captured the interest of an author, who included the 6-year-old girl in a recently published book about children with red hair.
Kaitlyn, the daughter of Leslie Loeffelholz and Shawn Bain of Kettering, is one of hundreds of red-haired children featured in a coffee table book called, “Little Redheads Across America” by Nicole Giladi.
Giladi of Granada Hills, Calif., said she was inspired to create the book after having a son with red hair. The book includes photos of children from every state. It also includes facts and myths about redheads.
A lifelong redhead, Kaitlyn’s mother has pretty much heard all the nicknames and questions in connection to her standout hair. Neither of Loeffelholz’s parents had red hair, and people sometimes asked if she was adopted.
When Kaitlyn was born, Loeffelholz encouraged her daughter to celebrate her hair color.
Kaitlyn has been modeling since she was about 3, Loeffelholz said.
“Right now, she likes print,” Loeffelholz said.
Kaitlyn has told her mother she wants to be a model, and a nurse, when she grows up.
“She’s not as freckly as me,” Loeffelholz said. “When I was her age, I had tons of freckles.”
When Loeffelholz heard through a contact that Giladi was doing a book about redheads, she contacted her. Kaitlyn was soon included.
Loeffelholz said her daughter’s red hair likely comes from Irish ancestors, who are on both sides of the family, as well as Welsh ancestors. Red hair is rare because it comes from a recessive gene.
Loeffelholz said people have been commenting about Kaitlyn’s hair since she was very young.
“I get that a lot,” she said. “They notice she has brown eyes. She likes the attention. She loves it.”
Besides modeling, Kaitlyn keeps active with tap, ballet and soccer. Kaitlyn said she enjoyed visiting New York as part of a modeling assignment.
She said she was excited to be included in the book “because of the redheads.”
Loeffelholz said she understands Kaitlyn’s desire to be with a group of redheads. She recalls feeling connected to others who had red hair and enjoyed seeing famous redheads, just as Kaitlyn now enjoys watching actors such as Lindsay Lohan.
“I think I did that as a child because I did not see them that much,” she said.
For more information about the book, go to little redheadsacrossamerica.com.
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