"Jeopardy!" champion Christine Whelchel, who auditioned for the game show while undergoing treatment for breast cancer, made a powerful statement before Monday's game.
"After the winnings, I decided that I didn't need to hide behind a wig anymore, and I wanted to normalize what cancer recovery looks like," Whelchel said.
The game show shared a video clip of Whelchel discussing her decision on Twitter.
A strong Jeopardy! player and an even stronger person. �� pic.twitter.com/NQqJS2uAs1
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) March 1, 2022
As a breast cancer survivor, Whelchel had worn a wig for her first three appearances on the show.
Cancer-free and now on Jeopardy! Congratulations, Christine. 😊 pic.twitter.com/6GcY866Zrc
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) February 23, 2022
After playing five games, Whelchel lost Tuesday night but took home over $88,000.
She says she's currently cancer-free.
Additional reporting by the Associated Press. Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here: https://bit.ly/Newsy1.