AN alopecia campaigner from Manningtree appeared at London Fashion Week to raise awareness and inspire others with the condition to live freely.
Laura Mathias, 31, attended the show to link up with 29 other models from diverse backgrounds.
She was diagnosed with alopecia aged 12 and ditched her wig last year after the issue was raised at the Oscars.
Laura said: “The whole day was amazing and even though it was London Fashion Week I still felt like the designer Victoria Jenkins created a space for us.
“I was aware of a lot of the models and followed their journeys through social media.
"I definitely consider myself a campaigner, not a model but it was great to have an opportunity to meet people through taking part in the Unhidden catwalk.
"Fellow model, Adrian Carter, told me he became a wheelchair user and had his arm amputated after a motorbike accident as a teenager.
"My campaigning work with Changing Faces UK may never have brought me into contact with Adrian, but saying yes to this opportunity, which was completely out of my comfort zone, has brought even more awesome people into my life."
As someone with a visible difference like alopecia, Laura spoke about her mixed feelings approaching the catwalk.
Laura added: “All day I felt confident and happy in my social space but the catwalk was terrifying to be honest.
“The event was lively but about 10 minutes before the catwalk it got really quiet and that’s when the moment hit me.
“I’ve spent so much of my life not wanting people looking at me but the catwalk is the total opposite.”
Laura stopped wearing wigs after Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s alopecia at last year’s Oscars.
When reflecting on the incident, she has noticed some changes but would still like more to be done.
Laura said: “I’ve noticed more people are aware alopecia means hair loss but at the same time people can diminish my experience because it’s an aesthetic condition.
“I think we just need to create a better understanding around conditions of visible difference and just how impactful they can be.”
Laura is a campaigner for charities Changing Faces and Alopecia UK, follow her by visiting instagram.com/relightalopecia/.
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