A woman from County Tyrone who has been named in the BBC’s 100 Women 2024 list has expressed her pride in representing women with alopecia, describing it as “an honour.”
Olivia McVeigh, who began losing her hair at the age of 17, has since used social media to raise awareness of the condition and connect with others who are living with it. Now an advocate for alopecia, Olivia says that what was once a source of insecurity has become a central part of her identity.
“I used to think that when people found out I had alopecia, they would think I was weird,” she told BBC News NI. “But now, it’s my favourite thing to tell people. I talk about my hair loss every day on TikTok and Instagram.”
Olivia, originally trained as a makeup artist, recalls the moment she first noticed her hair thinning during her school formal. “I remember looking at myself in the bathroom and thinking, ‘I can see through my hair,'” she said. “At the time, I didn’t think much of it and attributed it to the stress of A-Levels.”
However, by the age of 21, Olivia’s hair loss progressed, leading her to seriously consider wearing a wig. “All those little milestones in life made me realise I would have to think about wearing a wig for them,” she explained. “It doesn’t seem like a big deal to most people, but once you go through it, you understand how deeply it affects you.”
As she navigated her hair loss, Olivia began sharing her journey on Instagram. “I’m from a really small place, so I thought if I told everyone I was wearing a wig, no one could talk about me behind my back,” she said. Her candidness led to a surge in support, and she quickly built a following.
Today, Olivia has nearly half a million followers and runs workshops to help others who wear wigs. “Usually, when I walk into a room, I’m the only one wearing a wig, and that can feel isolating,” she said. “But through the workshops and connecting with other women, we’ve created a community that has helped me embrace this part of myself. All my wigs have names, and I love showing them off.”
Despite the progress made, Olivia acknowledges that there remains a stigma around alopecia. “It’s still a taboo subject for many,” she said. “People don’t always know how to approach it. My aim is to normalise it and reduce the stigma.”
The BBC 100 Women 2024 list celebrates inspiring and influential women from around the world. Olivia joins the ranks of astronauts, survivors, and global figures, including stranded astronaut Sunita Williams, rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot, and actress Sharon Stone.
“I’m so happy to make this list and represent women with alopecia and hair loss alongside such incredible women,” Olivia said. “I’m incredibly proud of how far I’ve come.”
Related topics:
- “Miracle Worker”: Woman in Her 50s Credits Supplement for Transforming Her Hair
- Nutrafol Appoints Cindy Gustafson as CEO, Succeeding Co-Founder Giorgos Tsetis
- Breaking Barriers: The Founder of Charlotte’s First Black-Owned Curly Hair Salon
