Woman spent £51,000 on hair removal before embracing natural growth

Bethany Burgoyne, 35, from East London, has revealed she spent upwards of £51,000 on body and facial hair removal over 17 years. Burgoyne spent around £250 per month on waxing, epilating, and bleaching to manage thick, dark hair on her stomach, legs, and chin. This extensive expenditure followed a 17-year period where she felt compelled to remove hair from the age of 10.

Convinced there must be a medical reason for her hair growth, Burgoyne underwent hormone testing for nearly three years. However, repeated examinations revealed no hormonal imbalance or diagnosable condition. This led her to reassess her belief that something was fundamentally "wrong" with her body.

Early experiences and societal pressure

Burgoyne first noticed her hair growth differed from her peers around the age of 10, when her mother suggested she begin removing leg hair. She recalled feeling like an "anomaly" compared to others with lighter or less noticeable hair. During her teenage years, this self-awareness intensified. At 14, she experienced mockery from classmates due to noticeable stomach hair. A particularly distressing incident involved a new swimming costume becoming transparent, revealing pubic hair and leading to lasting hurtful nicknames.

By 18, Burgoyne had begun removing hair from her chin, dedicating significant time to the process. She stated, "I couldn't imagine anyone finding me attractive. There was a lot of hatred for my body. It felt like a constant battle."

Shift towards advocacy

In her late twenties, laser hair removal was a significant aspiration for Burgoyne, but she ultimately chose to invest in producing content and sharing her story publicly instead. This decision led to her appearance on Channel 4's Naked Attraction, where she deliberately presented herself as a visibly hairy woman. She stated her intention was to see "a woman with hair" on television, as she had not observed such representation in previous episodes.

Burgoyne now advocates for body hair positivity, aiming to dispel the notion that women with excess hair must have an underlying medical condition. She encourages others to accept their natural state without needing medical justification. Despite facing online abuse, including messages calling her "disgusting," Burgoyne reports that positive feedback significantly outweighs the negativity.

Women have approached her in public to express gratitude, crediting her online presence with giving them the courage to stop concealing their own body hair. Burgoyne stated, "I've had messages from women saying they finally wore shorts to the gym with hairy legs because they saw me online and that fills my spirit. I do it for the younger me who never saw anyone that looked like her."

She believes unrealistic beauty standards have caused many women to feel ashamed of natural traits and urges people to challenge these harmful narratives. Burgoyne concluded, "When you don't have any examples, you feel like you're the odd one out and you have to change yourself to fit in. Allowing yourself to name an insecurity takes some of its power away. I mean, it's just hair!"