‘I’ve had to shave my beard everyday since I was 15 – but I’m still beautiful’
A woman who has shaved her beard everyday since she was 15 still feels beautiful.
Torri Sunshine was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)when she was just 13.
The condition that affects how a woman’s ovaries work can cause a range of symptoms from irregular and heavy periods to excess androgen – also known as the ‘male’ hormone.
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It all started at school, when Torri spotted three long black hairs on her face that were quickly plucked away.
The 33-year-old content creator, from Florida, US, didn’t think anything of it until more facial hair started growing through.
She started shaving everyday as she felt “shame” – but now she’s so used to taking a razor to her face that it feels normal.
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(Image: @torrisunshine)
Torri has since learned to love herself rather than feeling ashamed.
“I have to shave every single day, I gain weight SUPER easily,” she exclusively told Daily Star.
“Every time I go out in public I have to shave.
“I work from home so luckily I don’t have to every single day but I definitely need to every day.
“I was in 6th grade (year 7) when my mum noticed I had three long black hairs on my face.
“We pulled them and I didn’t notice any come in until I was in 11th grade that’s when I had to start shaving every day and in my early 20s I had to learn how to cover my undeniable shadow.
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(Image: @torrisunshine)
“I even had an eating disorder in my younger 20s to keep the weight off.
“PCOS also makes me extremely tired 90% of the time and when I get my period its extremely painful and heavy.”
According to the NHS, PCOS is very common and affects about 1 in every 10 women in the UK.
A lot of the symptoms are debilitating for the women experiencing them.
As well as weight gain, excess facial or body hair and heavy periods, common symptoms sufferers face include developing polycystic ovaries (fluid-filled sacs surrounding the eggs) and even infertility.
Although around 12–21% of women of reproductive age globally are affected by PCOS, it is thought that an estimated 70% of women who have the condition are left undiagnosed.
![](https://london24news.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/LOGO2.png)
(Image: @torrisunshine)
Despite having seen a number of endocrinologists and gynaecologists, Torri felt that she was quick to be diagnosed in comparison to some women who wait years for theirs.
“They [medical professionals] were pretty quick to diagnose me given my symptoms but were pretty stumped because my testosterone always came back normal,” she revealed.
“I’ve seen three different endocrinologist and numerous gynaecologist – my most recent endocrinologist who I love was the only one who really listened to me and ran a full testosterone panel.
“And although my testosterone comes back normal there is also a thing called ‘free range testosterone’ and a hormone called sex-binding globulin (SBG).
“My free range testosterone was high and my SBG was low which is textbook PCOS.”
Since being diagnosed in her teens, Torri at first struggled with the reality of having PCOS – which currently can only be treated, not cured.
![](https://london24news.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/LOGO2.png)
(Image: @torrisunshine)
Battling with the symptoms of PCOS hasn’t always been as manageable for the content creator – and she admitted she let the excess facial hair “destroy” her life in the past.
Torri candidly expressed: “It [facial hair] used to destroy me and run my life but now I have come around the other side through a lot of self acceptance and self work.
“It no longer defines me or runs my life.
“I view it as just something I have to deal with that is annoying because I know there are so many amazing beautiful and wonderful things about me and this is just one tiny thing!”
Torri has now built up a huge following on TikTok where she openly shares her day-to-day life with PCOS – as well as her envy-worthy travel vlogs with her husband Matt.
She believes seeing a female with facial hair when she was 15 would have made a massive difference to how she saw herself when she was younger.
![](https://london24news.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/LOGO2.png)
(Image: @torrisunshine)
Many others have been inspired to speak about their life with PCOS and learn to accept their facial hair thanks to Torri’s videos.
“There was a time when seeing someone like me on social media with female facial hair would have made a world of a difference,” she said.
“I speak about it so openly for my 15 year old self who cried at her reflection in the morning and for all the other women who suffer in silence.
“I feel seen and it’s healing because there is so much shame around female facial hair we are all in this together and we all understand this silent struggle.
“Talking about this openly feels like the most important thing I’ve ever done.”
You can follow Torri on Instagram here and TikTok here.
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