University of Bath student, Nell Dougherty, is set to take alopecia awareness to the Miss Great Britain finals. Joanna Lewis spoke with Nell to learn more about her journey and how she is challenging traditional beauty standards. Nell is pictured wearing items from Wylde Jewellers’ Leaf Collection. The pave-set white gold earrings and pendant both feature patented Wylde Flower Diamonds® which have 81 facets (24 more than a round brilliant cut), giving the stones extra sparkle, and affording the visibility of a beautiful flower shape at the bottom of the stone when viewed from above. Photograph by Carly Cooke.
When Nell steps onto the Miss Great Britain stage, she hopes to represent the thousands of people across the UK living with alopecia. While beauty queens traditionally showcase long flowing locks, Nell has chosen to empower others to embrace their differences by ditching her wig for the pageant, challenging outdated beauty standards and shining a spotlight on the condition.
Nell’s journey with alopecia began at the age of around 11, when she started to lose patches of hair. When she was 18 and about to sit her A-levels, she lost almost all her hair in a matter of weeks. Now aged 21, she has spent the last three years almost completely bald.
“The experience has certainly challenged my ideas of identity and confidence, but has ultimately led me to the point I am at now, where I refuse to let my changing appearance define me or my self-esteem,” Nell says.
Walking out in front of an audience without a wig will definitely spark some butterflies, but I’m excited nevertheless to use the stage as an opportunity to grow in confidence and shine a light on alopecia.
“Having experienced hair loss throughout my life and noticed a significant lack of representation in the media, I wanted to challenge beauty standards, share my story, and empower others with visible differences.”
The modern languages student will compete alongside 40 candidates at the pageant, which is being held at the Athena in Leicester. Now celebrating its 80th anniversary, Miss Great Britain is the longest-running and one of the most prestigious pageants in the UK.
Nell says that she is preparing by staying active, practicing stage presence, and working on her public speaking. It’s the first time Nell has entered a pageant, noting that she is experiencing a mix of nerves and excitement.
“Walking out in front of an audience without a wig will definitely spark some butterflies, but I’m excited nevertheless to use the stage as an opportunity to grow in confidence and shine a light on alopecia.”
Custom headpiece
Supporting her in her efforts is Wylde Jewellers in Bath. The jewellery designer and goldsmith is sponsoring Nell, loaning items of jewellery for her to wear on the night of the pageant, as well as making a striking custom silver headpiece with cubic zirconia stones.
“Wylde has been exceptionally generous and supportive of me in my journey to the finals, and I’m so excited to be able to showcase their stunning hand-made pieces on the stage,” Nell says.
At the centre of the custom headpiece will be a blue lab-grown diamond from Heart In Diamond, a company that Wylde Jewellers has worked with for around 15 years, and is now their official UK designer for bespoke jewellery.
As a firm nod to Nell and her journey with alopecia, the diamond is being grown from organic carbon sourced from Nell and her family’s hair, including her mum, dad, sister, and even the family’s pet dog. For Nell, the diamond will be a deeply personal symbol, transforming something tied to loss into a piece of beauty and strength that she can wear with pride on stage.
“What makes these diamonds so special is the way they hold a person’s most precious memories in a form that will last forever, a single, sparkling symbol of love, connection, and remembrance,” explains Carly Cooke, brand manager at Wylde Jewellers. “Whether it’s a tribute to a loved one or a celebration of a once-in-a-lifetime moment, each diamond is entirely unique to the person it’s created for.”
The Little Princess Trust
Throughout her journey of hair loss, Nell has been supported by the Little Princess Trust, a charity that has provided thousands of wigs to children and young people, free of charge.
“The Little Princess Trust has provided me with invaluable support throughout my journey with alopecia, giving me three beautiful human-hair wigs that helped me rebuild my confidence and sense of identity,” she explains.
Alongside the pageant, Nell is arranging a sponsored chop on 20 September, to further highlight the efforts of the charity, in addition to Cancer Research UK.
“Through my appearance in the pageant, I hope to spotlight alopecia, normalise the condition and challenge our beauty standards. Ultimately, I would just like to be the representation I have looked for and promote awareness for hair loss.”
She adds: “As Bath is a city rich with history, beauty, and community spirit, representing it means carrying that pride with me on stage, showcasing not just its stunning architecture, energy and culture, but also the kindness and support of the people who’ve encouraged me throughout my journey. It’s such a privilege to represent such a special place, which I have grown to adore so much throughout my studies here.”
And, if Nell wins?
“All I could hope to do would be to continue to advocate for alopecia awareness and champion the beauty of those with physical differences on a national level, representing our nation with authenticity and pride.”
Visit justgiving.com/page/nell-dougherty-1