Influencer, 28, who ditched shaving her face daily says she’s embraced her beard because there are ‘bigger things in life to worry about’
- Becca Wilks, 28, from Birmingham is fighting back against beauty standards
- Read More: Bebe Rexha shares struggle with weight gain after PCOS diagnosis
A woman with a ‘beard’ is determined to fight back against beauty standards saying trolls constantly taunt her – but she ‘loves her hairy chin’.
Becca Wilks, 28, from Birmingham, has been dealing with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) since the age of 14.
One of the side effects of the condition is hirsutism – an excess of body hair, which can include the face, chest, stomach, and back. In Becca’s case it also appears across her arms, hands and legs.
Growing up she faced a lot of cruel comments from her school peers and lacking PCOS role models to look up to, she developed low self-confidence, and would often try and hide her symptoms.
However, after years of suffering, she has decided to accept her beard and has become a social media star with over 72,000 followers across TikTok (@_theali.house).
Becca documents her struggles with PCOS and how she shaves her face, including what products she uses and how often she does it
The influencer is determined to remove the stigma of women with facial hair so no one else feels ashamed like she did growing up with excess hair
Beautiful Becca has revealed how hard it was for her growing up and that at 18, when she should have been enjoying her teenage years, her low confidence urged her to shave her face and ended up cutting her neck
Speaking out about how she felt going through puberty and growing up, Becca said: ‘The hair on my neck, legs and chin has stood out since I was just 14.
‘I remember using my mum’s razors and hair remover cream without her knowing – one time the cream caused a nasty burn.
‘The leg and neck hair were the worst, the pain of the ingrown hairs and the constant rapid hair growth made me feel so self-conscious.’
Kids can be cruel and constantly being insulted for how she looked as a youngster made things especially hard for Becca.
‘The negative feedback was really hard for me when I was younger,’ she reveals.
‘I used cheap make-up products [to cover up] but it didn’t work as hair would literally poke through it.
‘At 18, I accidentally cut my neck while shaving and everyone at my sixth form noticed the cut, that’s when I finally reached my breaking point.’
Becca claims doctors ‘ignored’ the symptoms of her PCOS for years, which also include extreme period pain, ovarian cysts, fluctuating weight gain, and fertility loss.
And she also suffered at school, being forced to wear the mandatory uniform with tights and trousers ‘gripping’ hairs on her legs, leaving her skin ‘in pain and itching’.
WHAT IS POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a very common condition that affects how a woman’s ovaries work.
There are no exact figures but as many as one in 10 women of childbearing age are thought to have the condition.
It’s a hormonal disorder which causes the ovaries to become enlarged and to develop numerous small cysts on the outer edges.
Symptoms of PCOS include:
- Irregular periods, in which eggs aren’t released properly or at all by the ovaries, which can affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant
- Excess androgen – high levels of ‘male hormones’ in the body may cause physical signs such as excess facial or body hair
- Weight gain, which is also triggered by the increase in male hormones and is usually worst on the upper body
- Thinning hair or hair loss
- Oily skin or acne
While the exact cause of PCOS isn’t known, it is thought to run in the family and be triggered by hormones. Insulin resistance, which is a precursor to diabetes and caused by a diet high in sugar, is thought to be a big cause.
There’s no cure for PCOS but many of the symptoms can be improved with lifestyle changes such as losing weight and eating a health, balanced diet.
Medications are also available to treat symptoms such as excessive hair growth, irregular periods and fertility problems.
Source: NHS and Office on Women’s Health
But, despite the difficulties Becca has faced, she has a positive outlook on her future – and her hair growth and only shaves if she feels like it – and not as a daily occurrence.
She said: ‘Sometimes I now let my hair grow for up to three weeks when I am super busy.
‘There are bigger things in life and I think my hair growing long on my neck is not one of them — and if I am not bothered, I do not care about the opinions of others.
‘PCOS is a part of me, but it does not define me and is not defined by the negative thoughts of others.
‘When I want to shave I use a sensitive skin face wash and razors.
‘Then I continue with the rest of my skincare routine.’
Becca, who has built an online community of like-minded women, is sharing her story in the hopes that it will help others and help women feel less ashamed about facial hair.
She said: ‘Some people have told me I gave them the confidence they need to go out without make-up and made them feel less alone.
‘Sharing my story has been a form of therapy for me, too.
‘I am on a journey of expression, and being my most authentic self, I want to bring awareness and make people understand that having hair does not mean a woman is imperfect.’
Becca hopes that by starting a conversation about shaving and PCOS in general it will encourage more women to embrace their hair without feeling self-conscious
Although Becca does shave her face sometimes, she’s keen to point out that often she doesn’t bother as she knows there are more important things in life
Becca is regularly contacted by her followers thanking her for the advice and recommendations she shares
Becca has built a huge following of women who are thankful for her for bringing awareness to the condition
One person said: ‘You are beautiful’.
In a recent TikTok, which has 35,900 views and over 1,950 likes, Becca proudly shows off her shaving routine.
The video has left social media users in awe, complimenting her for being ‘vulnerable’.
Shav wrote: ‘Thank you for sharing and being so vulnerable You will be just fine’. [sic]
Another commented: ‘I have pcos too sis. This video gave me confidence thank you’. [sic]
Nik wrote: ‘You are brave and beautiful! Thank you for shining a light on PCOS’. [sic]
Sarah added: ‘I have pcos too, thanks for sharing this. You are a beautiful woman. God bless you’. [sic]
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