Made In Chelsea Olivia Bentley reveals she suffers from hair loss condition alopecia and tries to hide bald patch with hats
MADE In Chelsea's Olivia Bentley has opened up about battling hair loss condition alopecia, revealing she's forced to cover her bald patches with hats.
The 23-year-old star, who was suspended from MIC in 2017 after she was filmed snorting a white powder, dyed her hair blonde in her teens to help disguise her receding hair line when she noticed clumps of hair falling out.
Olivia decided to go public to help women and girls affected by the "taboo".
She said: "I suffer from hair loss, from alopecia. It’s left me with feelings of insecurity over the years, so I’ve tried to hide my bald patches and receding hairline by wearing hats and hairpieces, and dyeing my naturally dark brown hair blonde."
The star added to : "Instead of retreating into my insecurity and concealing my hair loss even more, I decided to go public.
"Not enough is spoken about alopecia in women; it’s still a taboo subject we tend to hide. Now I hope that by coming forward, I will encourage other women and girls in the same situation not to feel upset or embarrassed any more."
Liv was prescribed the contraceptive pill aged 16 and soon after noticed balls of hair in the shower.
She recalled: "Every time I washed my hair in the shower, I could feel clumps of hair falling out in my hand.
"And whenever I brushed it, there would be masses of hair in the bristles. To go through that as a young girl was awful."
The reality star confided in her fellow cast members on MIC in scenes that will air in Monday's episode, and says they have been very supportive - including on and off boyfriend Digby Edgley.
She said: "They were all lovely about it. I confided in Digby quite early on in our relationship.
"He told me, ‘You could shave your head completely and I would still love you because you’re beautiful.’ He totally accepts me as I am."
Made in Chelsea continues tonight at 9pm on E4.
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