Heather Fisher, a former England and Team GB rugby player, has spoken out about her struggles with alopecia, an auto-immune condition that causes hair loss. The 41-year-old felt "disgusted" by the way she looked in her mirror for years, with people treating her like a "something" rather than a person.
Fisher's journey with alopecia began when her hair started falling out during the 2010 Rugby World Cup countdown. She was diagnosed just over a month later and went on to lose all her hair in about five weeks. Her coaches even shaved it off while she was at camp with her teammates.
But the physical change was only part of the issue. Fisher has said that she struggled to come to terms with her new identity, feeling like she no longer fitted in as a woman. She tried wearing wigs but felt they were not authentic and made her feel like she was hiding.
"It felt like I was hiding and I didn't want to hide," Fisher explained. "I felt like I had to be brave and I had to own it. But that's not easy."
Fisher's experiences off the pitch are just as challenging as those on it. She has faced sexism, misogyny, and even vandalism while playing rugby. Women with muscular physiques or bald heads are often seen as "different" and not feminine enough.
However, Fisher believes the sporting world is slowly becoming more accepting of women in all shapes and sizes. Social media platforms like TikTok have helped shift perceptions and allowed athletes to share their own stories.
Fisher credits social media for changing her perspective on being a woman with no hair. She now sees it as an opportunity to stand out rather than hiding it.
"It's made me who I am today," Fisher said proudly. "It's made me really resilient and I really, truly believe that I was born to stand out."
Since retiring from rugby, Fisher has forged a new career in motivational speaking, punditry, and leadership consulting. She continues to speak out about her experiences, using her platform to promote acceptance and inclusivity.
Fisher's story is one of resilience, bravery, and self-acceptance. Her journey shows that even in the face of adversity, we can find strength and purpose in who we are.
Fisher's journey with alopecia began when her hair started falling out during the 2010 Rugby World Cup countdown. She was diagnosed just over a month later and went on to lose all her hair in about five weeks. Her coaches even shaved it off while she was at camp with her teammates.
But the physical change was only part of the issue. Fisher has said that she struggled to come to terms with her new identity, feeling like she no longer fitted in as a woman. She tried wearing wigs but felt they were not authentic and made her feel like she was hiding.
"It felt like I was hiding and I didn't want to hide," Fisher explained. "I felt like I had to be brave and I had to own it. But that's not easy."
Fisher's experiences off the pitch are just as challenging as those on it. She has faced sexism, misogyny, and even vandalism while playing rugby. Women with muscular physiques or bald heads are often seen as "different" and not feminine enough.
However, Fisher believes the sporting world is slowly becoming more accepting of women in all shapes and sizes. Social media platforms like TikTok have helped shift perceptions and allowed athletes to share their own stories.
Fisher credits social media for changing her perspective on being a woman with no hair. She now sees it as an opportunity to stand out rather than hiding it.
"It's made me who I am today," Fisher said proudly. "It's made me really resilient and I really, truly believe that I was born to stand out."
Since retiring from rugby, Fisher has forged a new career in motivational speaking, punditry, and leadership consulting. She continues to speak out about her experiences, using her platform to promote acceptance and inclusivity.
Fisher's story is one of resilience, bravery, and self-acceptance. Her journey shows that even in the face of adversity, we can find strength and purpose in who we are.
! But seriously, it's awesome that she's using her platform to spread acceptance and self-love. I mean, who needs hair when you've got attitude? 
Fisher's story is like, totally inspiring – we should all be her bald hero now 
.
. Losing all her hair at 41 was tough, but what's even tougher is dealing with body shaming and sexism on top of that. I think social media has been a game-changer for women like her who want to break free from societal norms 
. Seeing people share their stories and be unapologetically themselves is so empowering! It's amazing how something as simple as going bald can become a strength 
.
she's been through so much on & off the pitch & it's awesome that social media has helped shift perceptions about women in sports. i think her story is a great reminder that being different isn't something to hide, but rather something to be proud of 
I think its so inspiring that Heather Fisher is using her platform to spread a message of acceptance and inclusivity 
Its great to see social media playing a part in changing perceptions and creating a more open and accepting community 
. As someone who's been affected by societal pressures and expectations, it can be really tough to navigate and find your own identity 
. By sharing their stories, athletes like Fisher are not only promoting acceptance but also challenging traditional notions of beauty and identity 
!!! I mean, I can relate to feeling like you're hiding parts of yourself, but she's like totally owning it 
. She had to deal with people treating her like she's not a woman because she lost all her hair 
. But what's amazing is how she turned it around and now sees it as a chance to stand out 
. Social media played a big role in that, I think. It's great to see athletes using their platforms to promote acceptance and inclusivity 
.
I mean, alopecia isn't something you can just 'snap out of' or hide from the world. It's a real condition that affects people in different ways. And yeah, social media has helped shift some perceptions, but we still have a long way to go... 
! And honestly, I think social media is where it's at for spreading acceptance, but let's be real, we still got a ways to go before everyone feels confident in their own skin 
!