A Bearded Woman With a Hairy Body Gets Disgusted Looks, but She Is Determined to Learn to Embrace Herself

Khosi Nkanyezi Buthelezi, a 42-year-old woman from South Africa, has been the target of substantial criticism from others due to her struggle with excessive hair growth. This condition affects her face, chest, back, arms, and legs. At times, she has been unfairly labeled as “male.” However, Khosi has chosen to respond cleverly to online trolls who aimed to humiliate her, and her witty comeback has left them surprised.

Khosi became aware of her uniqueness during her childhood.

Khosi Nkanyezi Buthelezi has experienced excessive hair growth since her teenage years. She has always been mindful of the hair that grows on her face, chest, back, arms, and legs. At 42 years old, she openly shares that she has never considered it a problem. Growing up in a family where other women also had more hair than usual, she viewed it as a familial trait. Recently, however, Khosi became curious about whether this was a significant medical concern, prompting her to seek advice from a doctor.

Reflecting on her upbringing, Khosi remarks, “I grew up accustomed to hairy women like my aunts being seen as blessed, strong and strict so I figured it was something I had inherited.”

Even the doctors were baffled when discussing Khosi’s condition.

The woman had never felt the need to consult a doctor regarding her body hair, as she had not experienced any physical discomfort. However, when she finally visited her GP, the doctor immediately recommended tests for fertility and PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).

To the doctor’s surprise, Khosi’s test results were negative for both conditions. Khosi recalls, “However, they both came back negative. I could have children if I wanted to and there was no need for hormonal treatment, it all seemed fine.”

The doctor explained to Khosi that she had hirsutism, a condition characterized by excessive hair growth on specific parts of the body, which predominantly affects women.

At first, Khosi thought that hair removing was an option.

Self-acceptance didn’t come to Khosi overnight. She initially struggled with her natural appearance, feeling the pressure to conform to certain beauty standards. Khosi experimented with various hair removal methods, driven partly by the need to maintain a “presentable” image for her job. Unfortunately, none of the techniques she tried yielded lasting results.

She explains, “The more I shaved it, the more it grew. I tried waxing, but it proved to be both costly and painful.” Khosi then turned to laser hair removal, and initially, it appeared to be effective. She remembers, “After 10 sessions, the hair became finer and skin was smooth. I was convinced it worked. However, when I stopped for a year the hair started growing back, and I had to go back to razor shaving.”

Khosi eventually realized that self-love was the only path to a fulfilling and happy life.

Khosi made a sudden decision to cease her battle against her facial hair. Instead, she chose to embrace and love it. She expresses, “I stopped shaving and instead, started to love myself. I learned that self-acceptance is a crucial aspect of self-care. It is the foundation for our confidence and self-esteem. I’ve had to remember that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms, and I am bringing body hair to the beauty equation.”

However, her journey was far from smooth, as she began receiving negative comments both in public and online. Khosi disclosed that people would often stare at her with a sense of “fascination” whenever she ventured outside. Although she initially embraced her appearance, she now demands the respect she rightfully deserves.

The woman has a message to all people who can’t accept her unique looks.

Khosi is currently navigating the challenges posed by negative attitudes both online and in her daily life. She has faced hurtful comments such as being called “a male,” and many struggle to fully accept her distinctive appearance. Nevertheless, this courageous and self-loving woman has chosen to address the public negativity head-on.

She states, “People in public have reacted with shock, fascination, disgust and disapproval of my beard, but I am actively working on unlearning the need for external validation. Unfortunately, people can be judgmental and cruel towards someone who looks different in some way, so, it’s important to remember that their opinions and comments do not define my worth.”

Khosi further elaborates, “Ultimately, it is up to me to decide how I want to present and express myself and whether or not I want to keep the beard. It has become an important part of my identity.”

Here’s another inspirational tale of a woman who made the bold decision to refrain from removing her body hair and, as a result, proudly visited the beach in her authentic, natural beauty.