Daring to go bare, the ladies who scoffed at stigma and ditched their wigs on live TV
THEY all wear wigs to deal with the self- consciousness they feel about being bald.
But in the glare of the television cameras, these eight women had no qualms about taking them off in a bid to change how society views hair loss.
The dramatic moment on ITV’s This Morning came after the women – all but one of them alopecia sufferers – gathered to discuss the stigma of female baldness. After sharing their stories about how it had knocked their confidence, they bravely removed their wigs en masse to reveal how they really look.
Viewers reacted with praise, describing the ‘women warriors’ as inspirational and praising their courage in confronting a taboo subject on live television.
All eight are members of a North East England support group called Panache set up to tackle what they say is a lack of help for people suffering hair loss.
Seven of the women have alopecia, which is estimated to affect at least 65,000 people in the UK. An eighth lost her hair while receiving treatment for breast cancer.
Elisha Appleby, 16, said she first experienced hair loss on her 15th birthday.
She told how her hair came out ‘in clumps, day by day’.
‘It was hard at first,’ she said. ‘I wouldn’t leave the house, I wouldn’t go to school, I
‘Such an emotional moment’
just locked myself away from everyone.’
But in January, Elisha, with the help of her mother Kelsie, made the decision to shave off the wispy hair she had left and get a wig.
‘I was happy once it was off and it’s the best thing I’ve done,’ she said. ‘I love it.’
Another of the women, Carole Cavanagh, added: ‘Panache have done so much. You’re so isolated and there is no support, not in the North East, not even in the country, that your doctors or clinical people will inform you of.’
Shannon Peacock, who started losing her hair at 14, added: ‘The Panache group have really lifted me up on their shoulders and shown me what I am worth.’
Viewers praised the group for being inspirational, adding that they looked beautiful with or without hair.
On Twitter, Dawn Ballard-White wrote: ‘Such an emotional moment. Well done and fair play, ladies! Be proud!’
Another viewer posted: ‘I’ve lost half my hair recently through illness and I am struggling ... those women are so brave and beautiful. Well done to them all.’