TW: Eating Disorders, Body Image
What does it mean to show up in the world as yourself when the world isn’t always ready to see you? In this episode I sit down with the incredible Laura Mathias: campaigner, model, and ambassador for Changing Faces UK , who shares her story of living with alopecia, navigating confidence, dating, body image, and choosing when (and if) to wear a wig.
Laura opens up about losing her hair at 13, missing months of school, living 17 years in wigs, and how the pandemic shifted everything. We talk about self-confidence as a practice rather than a destination, the push and pull between comfort and visibility, and how campaigning for others has been a way of healing for herself.
✨ In this episode we cover:
- Growing up with alopecia and the impact on self-image
- The six months Laura couldn’t face school
- 17 years of wigs, and what changed in lockdown
- Finding community online and learning to see bald beauty
- Confidence, dating, and showing up in the workplace
- Laura’s TED Talk and why campaigning is also self-healing
- The importance of choosing comfort over social discomfort
📍 Watch & Explore More of Laura’s Journey:
Connect with Laura:
Instagram: @relightalopecia
LinkedIn: Laura Mathias
Connect with your host Chloé:
Instagram: @chloedallolio
Podcast Instagram: @thebodytalks.love
💌 If this conversation resonates with you, please share, subscribe, and leave a review - it helps this podcast reach more people who might need to hear these words.
