Harnaam Kaur, a 23-year-old teaching assistant from the U.K, suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome, which causes excessive hair growth.
The
beard started to appear on her face when she was just
11 and spread to
chest. She tried shaving, bleaching, waxing twice a week but nothing quite worked.
In school, she was bullied, called names like "beardo" and "she-male". It even got to the point where she was afraid to leave her room, self-harming and was having suicidal thoughts.
Miss Kaur baptised as Sikh at age
16 and stopped cutting her hair and beard― as one of the five distinguishing symbols of the Sikh (Kesh)
Her parents initially opposed the decision as they worried she wouldn’t be able to get married and get a job, but Kaur said she was tired of hiding her true self.
This is me. This is who I am. It's my inner beauty, it's my outer beauty. It's my oneness, it's my wholeness. I'm different, and I've learned to accept it—fully.
I feel more feminine, more sexy and I think I look it too.
Kaur emphasizes her femininity by wearing skirts, dresses, jewelry and getting her nails done like every other girl..... but her situation is still challenging;
I still get shop assistants calling me ‘sir’ and strange looks from people. They see my beard first and realize I’ve actually got breasts, too. It must be confusing for a lot of people. The funniest reactions I get are from the children at my school. Some ask me what my beard is and I joke it’s a Halloween costume.
I haven’t found a potential husband yet. I still get some grief ... and it does still seem to be a barrier to marriage, but I’m young and there’s still plenty of time for that. All that matters to me at the moment is that I love myself. I love my beard and all my other little quirks –- my tattoos, my scars, stretch marks and blemishes.
Although she's had at least one marriage proposal from a man who saw her sharing her story on YouTube, Kaur said some of the men in her community haven't been able to get over her beard.
Harnaam is happy living her life, does what she wants to do: "It's the way that God made me, and I’m happy with the way I am".
Embracing femininity
She embraces the thick hair on her face and chest
Harnaam and her brother Gurdeep Singh, 18- her biggest supporter
