This story is being shared as an entry to the #kbcPinkooShergill Contest.
Yes, you read that right. Beard girl. Beard and girl don’t go together.
How we women freak out when even a single facial hair starts showing up on our lips or chin or even arms or legs. How many trips we make to a parlors in a year? And how many of us are thanking the stars for Urban clap and likes, providing salon services at home these days?
Forget women, even many men prefer a clean shave.
Breaking and challenging such a gender stereotype would be beyond imagination. Yet, here is a real life story of Harnaam Kaur. A Sikh girl born in Slough, England.
She was diagnosed with PCOD at the age of 12, leading to Hirsutism, condition to grow excessive facial or body hair.
She initially did try to clear it off due to constant bullying and absurd looks she would get. But one day she decided to embrace her look and follow the path of true Sikh.
A Sikh is advised against harming any body hair.
She started her career as a primary school teacher, until she caught media attention. Not that the bullying stopped ever, but it took a new turn in Harnaam Kaur’s life.
Today, she has a became a full time public figure. She has become a spokesperson for the body positivity movement.
We all know how challenging the modelling world is, how a single scar can break your entire career. But that did not stop Miss Kaur to pursue such an opportunity. She is a freelance model and one noteworthy assignment is the Rock n Roll Bride shows in London.
In September 2016, Harnaam Kaur was included in the Guinness World Records as the youngest woman in the world to have a full beard. Her record citation read: “Now with a beard measuring as long as six inches in places, she overcame years of bullying to take ownership of her appearance and achieve this record title at the age of 24 years 282 days”.
Hats off to her courage. And let’s take a pledge to not to be critical of the human body, be it yours or anyone else’s. You are in your best form today and always. Stay healthy and safe!
With that note, signing off with my first ever blog,
Bhavneet Kaur <3
