"Alopecia has been a part of me for over half my life now. She made her first appearance when I was abut 5 years old and I didn't think much of it because, well, I was 5, and all I cared about was running around outside!

I didn't fully understand alopecia when I was younger and I viewed it as an illness, something that would be cured and I'd never have to think about it again. This was the case for a few years until one weekend, at 18, I lost so much hair I couldn't hide it any more. My eyebrows, eyelashes, and "crowning glory" were gone and the person I saw in the mirror wasn't someone I recognised anymore. 

I thought I needed everything to be "perfect" before I allowed myself to go hair free. The obsession with perfection was exhausting and overwhelming. If I didn't want to put on my hair, I couldn't leave the house which made me more anxious and miserable because I missed out on so many things! One summer, it was too hot and, quite frankly, too much admin to keep up with my own expectations so I sacked off my hair and embraced my hair free, carefree self.

Alopecia first entered as an unwelcome guest in my life- an unwanted squatter occupying space in my head and permeating into everyday tasks. I haven't had hair, eyebrows or eyelashes for over 10-years now. I can't remember what having my own hair growing from my head even feels like any more and i'd be lying if I said that doesn't make me feel sad sometimes. That's normal but i'm so happy it doesn't consume me everyday any more."

Molly's portrait was part of photographer Isaac Qureshi's 'True Crowns', a photography exhibition in May 2025.

You can find out more about the exhibition here, and follow Isaac's work on Instagram here.