A woman who proudly sports a full neck beard says she feels “more beautiful and whole” embracing her facial hair – despite cruel jibes from strangers and ex-partners who branded it “disgusting”.
Meagan Riley Nealy-Stevenson, 27, has lived with hirsutism – a condition in women which causes thick hair to grow in male-like patterns – since she was a teenager.
Now the school custodian has ditched the razor and is proudly rocking her beard.
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But it hasn’t always been easy.
“Being bearded has been a struggle for me, not necessarily because I have the beard, but because my beard doesn’t grow how I want it to,” Meagan, from Harriman, Tennessee, US, told What’s the Jam.
“Maybe it is a selfish or greedy aspect of myself, but I wish I had a moustache and less of a neck beard.
“However, after learning about beard growth, I realise I should be more patient because beards usually start to grow on the neck and work their way up.
“I was always a hairy teenager in my high school years, but now that I’m even hairier in my mid-20s, my teen self would have been so proud and impressed.
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“As an adolescent, I intentionally grew my sideburns out because I wanted to be bearded so badly.
“I guess I got my wish.”
Meagan first noticed excessive hair growth at 16, when she developed what she describes as “massive sideburns”.
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She says she once felt pressured to shave every day – and even dress more masculine – to “justify” having facial hair.
Meagan, who has found love with supportive partner Colin, 39, said: “Some of my partners have not liked that I have had facial hair.
“They would tell me it was disgusting for me, a woman, to have facial hair.
“Sometimes I would feel shame from this and dress like a man just so I could have my beard.
“It wasn’t until later that they understood that I felt unhappy that way, and I was able to dress feminine and have a beard.
“I struggle today sometimes with having a beard and being feminine.”
Despite the negativity, Meagan now sees her beard as a blessing.
She said: “I choose live with my facial hair because I honestly thought it was a gift from God.
“As a kid, I remember being fascinated by sideshow performers and I had mad respect for them.
“I thought they were the most resilient people, so when I learned that I was a bearded woman, I really began to feel at home.
“I am proud of my facial hair.
“Even though there are times that I shave it, I do like growing it because it is a confidence booster for me.
“I do, in fact, prefer to live with a beard.
“It has been my life calling to have a beard.
“Even though I have shaved, my body always reminds me that I’m supposed to have a beard.
“It’s expensive to buy shaving equipment, and then to do it every single day is exhausting.
“I prefer to have a beard because I feel more beautiful this way, and less plain.
“I can look into the mirror with confidence rather than with sadness.
“It makes me feel whole.”
While most reactions from strangers are positive or simply curious, Meagan admits she has faced the odd nasty remark.
She added: “Most of the time I get very positive reactions from people down the street.
“Most people are curious about the beard and ask me all sorts of questions about it.
“Sometimes I get compliments on my beard and people seem to appreciate it.
“I had this one gentleman approach me one day and ask ‘Oh wow you’re a bearded woman? Tell me more.’
“However, there are times when people are rude.
“I was once called ‘teen wolf’ by someone in a store and then group of teen boys approached me and yelled, ‘What are you?’
“Comments like these are little and far between.
“Would I prefer to have the negative comments over not having a beard? Absolutely.
“There is way too much positivity that overrides my fear of being seen with a beard and I would honestly prefer to have my beautiful facial hair.”
