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Brave woman who spent 10 years shaving her facial hair is embracing her ‘hipster beard’ after finding love
The 26-year-old has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that can cause male-pattern hair growth
A WOMAN who shaved her face every day for 10 years after cruel bullies taunted her for her beard has ditched the razor for good after finding love.
Nova Galaxia, 26, first noticed hair growing on her face when she was just 12-years-old and began shaving it off after she was bullied.
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At 16 Nova, from Virginia in the US, was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that can cause male-pattern hair growth.
After years of bullying she bravely decided to grow out her beard during No Shave November in 2017 and she hasn't looked back since.
"My confidence has grown a lot now," she said.
"I was letting go of this thing that I hated about myself for so long and now that it was there, it’s like I’m gonna love this now and I do love it.
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"I love it on myself, I love how it looks, it’s interesting, it keeps my face warm when its freezing and again it’s helping a lot of people."
Nova began shaving from a young age after cruel bullies taunted her for her beard.
"A boy in my class at high school pointed at my face and said I had a better beard than he probably ever would," she recalled.
“By this stage, I was shaving every single day before school. It was getting really thick and I would have a panic if I ever forgot my razor at sleepovers.
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“I’d get up early and shave, pretending I was desperate for a shower, but really I couldn’t stand to let myself be seen with a beard.
“I confided in my long-term girlfriend at the time, but apart from that, very few people knew.
"Having facial hair as a teenager really did affect my confidence a lot.
"I was afraid to go to sleepovers, I was afraid of people touching my face, finding out that I had this issue at all.
"It was my dark secret, because of the pressures from society on women to shave all their hair off and conform. I was worried people would think I was a freak if I let my hair grow out.”
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But Nova’s life changed after she found the courage to ask fashion model Ash Byrd, 25, who does not identify as male or female, out on a date in 2012.
Nova said: “I saw Ash on the runway and I thought ‘how cute’. We got talking and I realised this gorgeous model and me had a lot in common.
“I asked Ash out, we went on a date and were living together three months later.”
Within weeks of dating, Nova shared her secret, with Ash responding: “I’ll love you no matter what.”
When they first met, Nova was shaving her face, back, chest and legs.
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She said: “It was becoming too much. I started speaking more about my condition and telling friends that I shaved my face.
"That’s when I realised I wasn’t alone and everyone loved me for me, not for the way I looked.”
A major turning point came last year when British woman Harnaam Kaur, 24, who also has PCOS, hit the headlines after bravely growing out her beard and talking about the condition – inspiring Nova to follow suit.
On October 31, 2017, Nova, supported by Ash, threw her razor away and began embracing her facial hair.
She took part in No Shave November the same year to raise money for men's charities.
"It was scary at the start, but now I love my beard," she said.
"I shampoo and condition it every day and always make sure it’s been beautifully brushed to keep it looking its best."
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Ash added: “I love her beard. It’s a part of us as a couple now.
"Yes, people do stop and stare at us, watch us walk down the street and ask Nova random questions to determine her gender, but she’s never been happier and that makes me proud. I adore her, beard and all."
Nova hopes her beard will help raise awareness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
The condition affects how a woman's ovaries function.
It occurs when the sacs the ovaries sit in are unable to release an egg, which means ovulation doesn't happen.
It can lead to infertility, an absence of periods and an overgrowth of body hair.
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"People don’t talk about PCOS, even though it’s really common and I want more women to realise they are not alone," Nova said.
"I feel like I can do more in the world, I can do more to help people, I can do more to help myself. I can make other people happy, I can make myself happy.
"It’s been a blessing for me. It’s so common, you’re not alone. You’re beautiful with the body you have. You don’t have to hide it.
"I understand the pain that you’re going through, I understand the hurt and I understand the anger towards yourself and the self hatred.
"But you don’t have to be that way, you can let go of it and you can learn to love yourself."
Despite some negative reactions from strangers, Nova has received a lot of positive comments about her beard – not least from Ash, who said it looked “cute.”
She said: “People will come up to me and ask really random questions, just so they can hear me speak and see if my voice helps them to determine my gender.
"I’ve received some cruel comments from strangers and trolls online.
“People have accused me of pretending to be woman, or they think I’m transgender, but I don’t care. It’s not an insult to be trans, I’m just not – I’m a gay woman.
“Anyway, with my hipster beard, I feel happier now than I have ever been.
"I am with someone I love, who supports my decision and loves me for me and my beard. I have no idea when I am going to stop growing it.
What is polycystic ovary syndrome?
It occurs when the sacs the ovaries sit in are unable to release an egg, which means ovulation doesn't happen.
For many, the only hint of PCOS is irregular periods, while in more severe cases sufferers can be left with embarrassing hair growth on their faces, chest, back and backside.
Medics don't yet know what causes polycystic ovary syndrome, according to the Mayo Clinic.
But there are several factors thought to play a role, including:
- excess insulin in the body - if you have too much insulin in your body it may increase your androgen (male hormones) production which could interfere with your ovaries ability to ovulate.
- low grade inflammation - some research has shown that women with the condition suffer from low grade inflammation, which can stimulate the ovaries to produce androgen.
- it's hereditary - the chances are that if your mother or sister suffers with polycystic ovaries then you will develop the condition too.
"It’s a part of me now, and I love it.”
And Ash, who also works part-time in a sandwich shop, is full of praise for Nova’s new look.
Ash added: “I find her beard really tickly when we kiss, but in a good way.
MORE ON WOMEN'S HEALTH
"I’ve not told my mum about her facial hair yet, but she’ll find out when we see her next.
“It’s a part of who Nova is now, she is so confident and that’s really attractive, too.”
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common condition affecting one in five women in the UK, including celebs Victoria Beckham and Jools Oliver.
Previously Instagram star Alice Liveing revealed she’s battling polycystic ovary syndrome after A&E dash.
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