Harnaam Kaur (@harnaamkaur) is a model, motivational speaker, Guinness World Record holder and PCOS activist - known worldwide for keeping her beard. But this conversation goes much deeper than PCOS and facial hair. Harnaam opens up about growing up South Asian with a condition nobody understood, the bullying that led to self-harm, and how suicidal thoughts eventually gave way to one of the most recognisable faces in body positivity. She talks about never having been in love at 35, what her beard may have cost her in relationships, and the question she's sitting with for the first time in 15 years about whether she's ready to let it go. Harnaam says that 2024 was the darkest time of her life — the grief, the PTSD, the night she wrote a letter ready to end it all, and the person whose text the next morning she believes saved her life. If you've ever built your whole identity around surviving something, this one will stay with you. ⚠️ This episode contains discussion of suicide, self-harm and mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out to Samaritans on 116 123 (UK, free, 24/7). 🎙️ What we cover: PCOS symptoms in women and what a diagnosis at 12 actually feels like Facial hair, hirsutism and growing up South Asian with a body nobody talked about School bullying, self-harm and the impact on her mental health and body image The moment she stopped hiding and started fighting back The ego and anger that followed — and why she's not proud of all of it Keeping the beard for her Sikh faith — and how that faith has since completely shifted Never having been in love at 35 and what her PCOS beard may have cost her Questioning the beard and her identity for the first time in 15 years South Asian family silence around abuse, honour and speaking out Grief, PTSD and mental health rock bottom in 2024 The night she called for help and nobody picked up Finding faith, reading the Bible and what pulled her back from the edge The difference between body positivity and actually accepting yourself ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro 1:41 — Harnaam introduces herself 3:08 — Being diagnosed with PCOS at 12 5:12 — When the facial hair started and the bullying began 9:43 — Her relationship with the beard now and the limbo she's in 12:37 — Keeping the beard for religion — and how her faith changed 14:13 — The beard, marriage and never having been in love 20:58 — Wanting to know what her face looks like without it 24:15 — Shivani on women in their 30s being told to change themselves 28:17 — From suicidal teenager to angry, ego-driven activist 33:12 — The words from a friend that kept her here 36:12 — Going from rock bottom to a Guinness World Record 39:40 — What made her so angry — and why she's calmer now 41:02 — South Asian families and the silence around abuse 42:38 — Sexual abuse in South Asian communities and the pressure of honour 49:52 — Has she always refused to conform? 54:39 — The performance of body positivity 56:16 — Changing publicly and people not letting you evolve 1:08:57 — The last three years — grief, PTSD and hitting rock bottom 1:13:24 — Reading the Bible as a Sikh and what faith means to her now 1:17:31 — Writing a suicide note and the night nobody picked up 1:19:37 — What got her through and the person who didn't know they saved her life 1:23:10 — Her one piece of advice for anyone struggling right now 🔔 Subscribe for more discussions on mental health, personal growth, and healing! / @shivanipaupodcast ✨ Connect with Millennial Mind ✨ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amillennialmind Shivani Pau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivani.pau Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/shivanipaupodcast Performance Planner: https://my-performance-planner.myshopify.com/ Let Me Change Your Mind 🧠 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices