Ewelike Uchechi Amethysta, a 26-year-old realtor from Imo State, Nigeria, has chosen to stop hiding her beard and instead embrace her appearance after years of stigma, failed treatments, and emotional turmoil. In an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, she shared her journey from a young girl noticing unusual hair growth to a woman who now refuses to let society's judgment define her.
The Discovery of Excessive Hair Growth
Uchechi recalled that she began shaving as early as primary three, around age seven. Her mother and aunt were particularly concerned about pubic and armpit hair, which they considered unusual for a child. They prevented her from bathing with relatives or friends and from going unclothed. Her aunt would often express worry in Igbo, saying, 'What exactly should this be called, should you be called an adult or a child?' At that time, her facial hair was soft and curled close to her skin, noticeable only because of its dark color. The hair on her legs and other areas was thicker and more visible. As a child, she did not think much of it and enjoyed a normal childhood, except for the need to shave regularly.
Stigma and Hurtful Comments
Uchechi's experience with stigma intensified when she entered boarding school at age nine. She faced stares, insensitive questions, assumptions, and mockery. For the first time, she became acutely aware of how different she looked from other girls. The stigma affected her confidence for a long time. Even landlords and caretakers in Port Harcourt rejected her due to her appearance. However, as she grew older, she realized she could either spend her life trying to meet others' expectations or accept herself as she is. She chose the latter.
'What helped me the most was understanding that my worth is not determined by my appearance or by other people's opinions,' she said. 'I focused on building my confidence, educating myself, pursuing my goals and surrounding myself with people who accepted me.' Today, she deals with stigmatization by embracing who she is and refusing to let negative comments define her.
Failed Attempts at a Permanent Cure
Uchechi spent years searching for a permanent solution to her excessive hair growth, which is medically known as hirsutism—a condition often caused by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) involving an overproduction of male hormones. She consulted numerous health professionals, including her father, relatives, and family friends who are pharmacists, nurses, and doctors. She also tried countless remedies recommended online and offline, even using her school fees to pay for treatment at a specialist hospital in Enugu.
After three months of taking various pills and injections with difficult side effects, she went for a follow-up. The doctor, after learning her family history, advised her: 'Go home and relax. Be happy. Live your life as though you are the only person that exists in the whole universe.' Those words stayed with her. She reviewed all her medical records and realized how many years she had spent trying to change herself because of others' opinions. She became angry with herself and, after a week of reflection, decided to stop fighting herself and start accepting herself. 'I chose peace over endless treatments, self-acceptance over self-rejection and happiness over the constant pursuit of other people's approval,' she said.
Message to Women With Similar Conditions
Uchechi has a powerful message for other women living with hirsutism: 'First, make sure you seek proper medical advice and understand the cause of your hair growth. Don't rely solely on what people say online or in your surroundings. If it is something that can be treated and you choose to treat it, that is perfectly fine. If it is genetic or something that cannot be changed easily, please do not spend your entire life hating yourself because of it.'
She acknowledges the pain of comments, stares, jokes, and rejection, but emphasizes that facial hair does not determine a woman's worth, intelligence, beauty, abilities, or future. 'For years, I allowed other people's opinions to affect how I saw myself. Looking back now, I wish I had been kinder to myself. I wish I had understood earlier that being different is not a crime.' She encourages women to make their own decisions about shaving, waxing, laser treatment, or embracing their hair, and to be kind to themselves. 'Confidence does not come from looking like everyone else. Sometimes, it comes from having the courage to be yourself in a world that expects you to be someone else.'
