GREENUP, KENTUCKY, USA: THIS inspirational mum-of-one has been sharing her hirsutism and PCOS story on social media in a bid to help other young girls, and to be the person she needed after her facial hair made her feel like a ‘freak’ growing up. Waitress, Olivia Qualls (30) who lives in Greenup, Kentucky, USA, was diagnosed with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) when she was 10-years-old after suffering with severe tummy pains that made her pass out on her periods and she started to develop body hair. Growing up, Olivia didn’t see any positive female role models with facial hair, only women who were part of circus acts or side shows which made her feel like less of a girl. She started sharing pictures of her body hair under the hashtag, hirsutism to provide help to other girls who might feel isolated due to having body hair in places beauty stereotypes don’t permit. It’s been five years since she removed her underarm hair and a year since she shaved her legs, she does still shave her face from time to time due because of her work but now loves herself and knows that hair is not the only thing that defines her worth or beauty. Cooter Rasputin / @mostexalted / mediadrumworld.com

By Rebecca Drew

THIS inspirational mum-of-one has been sharing her hirsutism and PCOS story on social media in a bid to help other young girls, and to be the person she needed after her facial hair made her feel like a ‘freak’ growing up.

Waitress, Olivia Qualls (30) who lives in Greenup, Kentucky, USA, was diagnosed with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) when she was 10-years-old after suffering with severe tummy pains that made her pass out on her periods and she started to develop body hair.

Cooter Rasputin / @mostexalted / mediadrumworld.com

 

Growing up, Olivia didn’t see any positive female role models with facial hair, only women who were part of circus acts or side shows which made her feel like less of a girl. She started sharing pictures of her body hair under the hashtag, hirsutism to provide help to other girls who might feel isolated due to having body hair in places beauty stereotypes don’t permit.

It’s been five years since she removed her underarm hair and a year since she shaved her legs, she does still shave her face from time to time due because of her work but now loves herself and knows that hair is not the only thing that defines her worth or beauty.

“When I was a kid the only other womxn I saw with facial hair were circus and sideshow acts. I felt like a freak, I was made to feel like I was less of a gxrl or not even a gxrl because of it,” said Olivia.

Cooter Rasputin / @mostexalted / mediadrumworld.com

 

“I started sharing my journey with hirsutism because if one young gxrl saw my posts and got something positive out of it, it would be worth it to expose myself in that way. We have to be the people we needed when we were younger.

“I was diagnosed when I was around 10 years old. I was having severe lower abdominal pain during my periods, I was even passing out from how badly it hurt. I started developing body hair shortly after.

“It has been a difficult journey. I hid it for a long time. The opinions of others and myself were extremely influenced by the beauty standards of the 90s. It was hard to deal with.

Cooter Rasputin / @mostexalted / mediadrumworld.com

 

“I will sometimes still remove my leg hair. But it’s been a year since the last time I’ve done that. It’s been about five years since I’ve shaved my under arms.

“My face I shave pretty regularly. Living in rural Appalachia means I have to sort of conform to work in the public, unfortunately.

“I love myself. I know that my hair is not a thing that determines my beauty, ability, or worth. I know that I am loved and supported. There are still bad days, and that’s always going to happen, but we just have to learn to be gentler with ourselves.”

Cooter Rasputin / @mostexalted / mediadrumworld.com

 

According to the NHS, PCOS has three key features; irregular periods, excess androgen that can cause excess body hair and polycystic ovaries. It affects one in five women in the UK and more than half of these have no symptoms at all.

On her journey to body positivity, Olivia has faced some nasty comments from strangers but says her close family and friends are largely very supportive of her.

“I’ve definitely had some aggression toward me because of my body hair. Specifically, my face. Men are accusatory of me, saying that they think I am a man trying to trick them, and some derogatory terms based around sexuality and gender,” she explained.

Cooter Rasputin / @mostexalted / mediadrumworld.com

 

“For the most part my family and friends are very supportive.

“There are a few people who think it’s dirty or unbecoming of a lady. But they can decide how their body looks and I can decide how mine does.

“If someone says they are your friend and aren’t supportive of your choices then they likely aren’t really your friend.”

Going forward, Olivia hopes to be an inspiration to other women with PCOS and hirsutism and shared her words of advice.

Cooter Rasputin / @mostexalted / mediadrumworld.com

“I just want gxrls to know that this isn’t as rare as people make it out to be. One in ten womxn have PCOS. That is a huge amount,” she added.

“The beauty standards placed upon womxn by the media are not only unrealistic but toxic. I want gxrls to know that they are worth more than the opinions of weak minded people. That they are strong, brave, capable and worthy of love.

“You are more than the hair on your body. You are more than what some idiot thinks of you. Their opinions are irrelevant.

Cooter Rasputin / @mostexalted / mediadrumworld.com

“There are so many incredibly strong womxn in the world who are living their lives with hirsutism, shedding light on something that has been kept in the dark for far too long.

“We deserve happiness, comfort, and inclusion.”

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