Woman with PCOS reveals how she learned to embrace her full beard and hairy chest

A woman whose diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome has left her with a full beard and chest hair is now embracing the part of herself that she used to hate.

Nova Galaxia, 26, from Virginia, began to develop dark facial and body hair when she hit puberty.

However, it took three years before Galaxia admitted to her parents what was happening to her body - at which point she was eventually diagnosed with PCOS at 16.

PCOS is a hormonal issue that affects 10 million women worldwide. Symptoms typically begin during puberty and include period loss, weight gain, infertility, acne and hair growth known as hirsutism.

Although there are treatments, there is currently no cure for PCOS.

Despite the diagnosis, which explained the hormonal changes that were causing the hair growth and her lack of periods, Galaxia told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning how she kept the condition to herself for years.

“I started shaving everything always. I was nervous that I would be looked at as a freak.

“It was basically a demon that I had to keep hidden from everyone. If I wanted to go to sleepover parties or go out of town with people I always had to hide my routine, I had to hide my whole process. If I forgot a razor, I would have a meltdown,” she told the hosts.

But after meeting her partner, who loves her despite her excess body hair, Galaxia began to embrace her appearance.

“We both have the view that our bodies are our own and we love each other for our personalities,” Galaxia said.

However, it wasn’t until she saw model Harnaam Kaur, who also has PCOS, did Galaxia learn to fully accept herself - with a full beard.

She told the hosts: “It wasn’t until I saw a model that has the same condition that I have and she is drop-dead gorgeous and amazing and super confident, and it wasn’t until I saw her that I just realised it’s okay - I can be like that too. I can embrace everything that I have and be happy with it.”

After some slight anxiety about showing her face in public for the first time during a grocery outing, Galaxia realised it was time to stop rebelling against her own appearance - and proudly showed it off.

Since the liberating experience, Galaxia has started wearing a full beard and quit shaving her chest - and she’s inspiring other women with PCOS to do the same.

“It was something that held me back for so long and something that I hated about myself… once I stopped it was like I was rebelling against that hate. And it felt amazing,” she said.

As for the public response, Galaxia said it’s been mostly positive - and she’s received hundreds of messages from people saying: “Hey, I have this same condition and when I saw you I cried.”

Since telling her story, viewers of This Morning have applauded Galaxia for her bravery.

“Woman with a full beard and hairy chest on #thismorning. Take my hat off to the lass and if my beard looked that good I’d flaunt it too. You go girl,” one person wrote.