Inspiring others – and refusing to conform: the woman… with a beard

Harnaam Kaur is still just 24 – but she’s already weathered her fair share of personal storms.

For one, and much to her initial distress, she started growing facial hair from the age of 11.

The Berkshire-native was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition that causes the body to produce more male hormones than usual.

In response, she spent thousands on treatments and procedures to get rid of the beard-like growth.

“For many years, I removed my facial hair, and it was emotionally and physically painful.

“I remember having my face waxed and threaded, and it was horrible. It burned because my skin was so soft and tender at that age,” she told Women’s Health.

“My skin would rip, and I used to bleed. I used to wax two to three times a week, but, like with arm or leg hair, the hair on my face would still come back.”

She added: “I really wanted to get laser treatments done, but I was too young at the time.

“I even started bleaching my hair at one point to make it lighter and less noticeable, but you could still see it, especially when I was out in the sun.”

Sadly, as a result, she suffered at the hands of bullies: things got so bad that at one stage she considered ending her life.

As Harnaam has also told Rock ‘N’ Roll Bride: “At the age of 16 I hit my biggest low. I had been suicidal all year due to immense bullying from school and people in society.”

However, one day she recalls thinking: “Why don’t you try living with your facial hair? Why don’t you try embracing it and actually growing it out and see how you feel?”

So she stopped listening to the bullies and instead decided: “I’m just going to live how I want to live.”

In the spring, Ms Kaur’s photo was included in a major London exhibition celebrating the world's best facial hair and she was also invited to appear on ITV's This Morning.

Today, she is says she is a “brave, confident woman who isn't afraid to break society's norms”.

Based in London, she considers herself a “body-confidence activist”.

Harnaam explains that a lot of women with PCOS now reach out to her to talk about their struggles, thank her, or tell her her story has given them strength or inspired them.

“I think the comments that have really stood with me the most are the ones where people say things like, ‘I want my daughter to be as strong as you,’ or ‘I’ve started to love myself after hearing your story’.”