Woman with Hirsutism Chooses to Embrace Facial Hair, Seeks to Be Different

Dora Semanu, a woman living with hirsutism, has spoken out about the constant stigma and discrimination she faces due to excessive facial hair. Hirsutism is a condition causing women to develop coarse hair in areas typically associated with male hair growth, such as the face, chest, and back. Semanu shared in an interview with BBC Pidgin that her appearance draws significant public scrutiny, with people often staring, whispering, and making insensitive remarks.

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Anytime people meet me, they will say, ‘Hey, is she a man or a woman?’ And you will see that I have a big breast. Even with all this, I don’t resemble a man.

"Anytime people meet me, they will say, ‘Hey, is she a man or a woman?’ And you will see that I have a big breast. Even with all this, I don’t resemble a man,” she said, describing the confusion and judgment she encounters. Despite the frequent mockery and judgment, Semanu has chosen not to let others' opinions define her. "But me, I don’t care. I am me. I just want to look natural. That’s all,” she stated.

Semanu first noticed the unusual hair growth as a few strands on her face, which gradually increased. While hirsutism runs in her family, her condition is more pronounced. Instead of continuing to shave, she decided to embrace her appearance, explaining, "The reason why I stopped shaving it, I just want to look different." She added, "I want to be like this so that if you don’t have anything to say in your house, when you see me at any place, you will have something to talk about. The two of you can raise my topic."

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But me, I don’t care. I am me. I just want to look natural. That’s all.

While Semanu projects confidence, she admitted that some comments have deeply affected her, particularly those questioning her desirability. "The most painful thing that somebody has said to me before was that, the way I look, she didn’t think that any man could approach me," she recalled. However, she remains resolute, emphasizing that such remarks will not change who she is. "It doesn’t make me shave. I asked myself, that person is judging me because of this thing. But this thing doesn’t change my lifestyle to be a good person or a bad person."

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The reason why I stopped shaving it, I just want to look different.

Semanu encourages others living with visible differences to embrace themselves and not be discouraged by public opinion. "Don’t mind anyone. You are on your own. If you listen to people, you can’t keep it. And it’s nothing wrong. We are not thieves," she advised.

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The most painful thing that somebody has said to me before was that, the way I look, she didn’t think that any man could approach me.