County Tyrone Woman Honored on BBC 100 Women List for Alopecia Advocacy

A woman from County Tyrone, included in the BBC’s 100 Women 2024 list, expressed that it is an “honour” to serve as a representative for women affected by alopecia. Olivia McVeigh, whose hair loss commenced at age 17, utilizes social media channels to foster awareness and engage with others who experience the condition. “I used to think that when people found out I had alopecia, they would think I was weird, but for me now it is my favourite thing to tell people,” she stated. “I talk about my hair loss every day on TikTok and Instagram.” Olivia, initially trained as a make-up artist, informed BBC News NI that wearing a wig has become integral to her identity. “I realised I was losing my hair when I was 17, I actually realised at my school formal,” she recounted. “I remember looking at myself in the bathroom and being like ‘I can see through my hair’ but I didn’t really think too much of it.” Initially, Olivia attributed her hair’s thinning to the pressures of A-Levels. Nevertheless, by age 21, she experienced balding and began considering wigs. “All those little milestones in you life, I started having to think of myself doing that wearing a wig,” she explained. “It doesn’t sound like a big deal to most people but I think once you go through it you understand how much of an impact it has on you.” Olivia commenced sharing content about hair loss on her Instagram account as she experimented with various styles. She elaborated: “I started speaking about it on social media basically because I’m from a really small place.”I just thought that if I tell everybody that I’m wearing a wig then nobody can talk about me and it just really blow up after that.” Subsequently, she has accumulated nearly half a million followers and conducts workshops focused on wigs. “Usually when I go into a room, I’m the only person wearing a wig and that can feel so isolating,” she remarked. “But since creating the workshops and meeting other women like me, we have been able to create a community which has helped me love this part of myself.”All my wigs have names; I love showing them off.” “There is a stigma, it is still sort of a taboo subject,” she commented. “People just don’t know what way to approach it. What I do is try to normalise it.” The BBC 100 Women 2024 list comprises inspiring and influential women globally. Notable individuals on the list include astronaut Sunita Williams, who was stranded, rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot, and actress Sharon Stone. “I am so happy to make this list and represent wig wearers and women with alopecia and hair loss alongside all these amazing women,” Olivia stated. “I’m so proud that I’ve got this far.” Alopecia areata constitutes an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system targets hair follicles, leading to hair loss. In advanced instances, hair loss extends across the entire body, impacting eyelashes, nasal hair, or body hair. Pronounced manifestations of the condition can heighten susceptibility to infections and diminish the capacity to regulate body temperature. Furthermore, coping with alopecia can be exceptionally difficult, resulting in anxiety and stress. Individuals might encounter challenges in educational and professional settings, potentially leading to social isolation, according to experts. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.