Heather Fisher: World Cup winner on hair loss, identity & resilience

Heather Fisher, a former England and Team GB rugby player, has spoken candidly about her struggles with alopecia, an auto-immune condition that causes hair loss. The 41-year-old athlete revealed that she didn't feel comfortable in her own skin for years after her hair started falling out during her career.

The condition was triggered by a serious back injury, which Fisher suffered just over a month before the start of the 2010 Rugby World Cup. She recalled how her team-mates and coaches shaved her head off, leaving her feeling humiliated and embarrassed.

Fisher's experience is not unique to her. Many women athletes struggle with body image issues, low self-esteem, and social media scrutiny, which can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and disconnection from one's identity. However, Fisher believes that the sporting world has made significant strides in embracing diversity and inclusivity, particularly in rugby.

"I feel like I don't fit in," Fisher said, highlighting the difficulties she faced as a female athlete with an unconventional appearance. "We accept women who are muscular and understand muscles and women, but we don't understand muscles and no hair."

Fisher's journey has been marked by resilience and determination. She has since forged a career as a motivational speaker, rugby pundit, and leadership consultant, using her platform to promote self-acceptance and empowerment.

"I'd be able to do a hair flick, but it would do my head in and make me itchy, so I wouldn't change it," she said with pride. "It's made me who I am today." Fisher believes that her alopecia has taught her valuable lessons about confidence, self-acceptance, and the importance of being true to oneself.

As a role model for women athletes, Fisher is an inspiration to many. Her story serves as a reminder that everyone has their unique struggles and that it's okay to not fit into societal norms. By sharing her experiences, she aims to promote a culture of acceptance, inclusivity, and self-love within the sporting community.

can we get more info about this back injury tho? like what kinda injury was it & how did it lead 2 alopecia ? also, is shavin ur head off really that humiliating tho ? seems kinda extreme

I'm so over how social media platforms like Instagram are making body image issues worse . I mean, think about it - you're already feeling down because your hair's falling out due to alopecia, and then everyone's posting perfect selfies with their luscious locks... it's just not fair . And don't even get me started on how hard it is for female athletes like Heather Fisher to navigate the pressure of looking 'good' both on and off the field .

And can we talk about how many times I've seen influencers promoting products that claim to 'cure' alopecia or promote hair growth? Like, what even is that? It's just perpetuating more unrealistic expectations. We need to focus on accepting ourselves as we are, flaws and all .

And honestly, I wish platforms like Instagram would make it easier for people like Heather Fisher to share their stories without feeling the need to hide behind filters or edited photos. Let's promote self-acceptance over curated perfection .

I feel for her, you know? It's like, we're all human beings with our own struggles, but when it comes to social media and sports, everyone's a pro and nobody's allowed to be vulnerable . I mean, can't we just be ourselves and not worry about what others think of us? Heather Fisher is proof that even in the most high-pressure situations, you can find your inner strength and rock it . And I love how she's turned her experience into something positive, spreading self-acceptance and empowerment to others . It's a beautiful thing!

Alopecia can be really tough to deal with especially when you're in the public eye like sports but it's great that Heather Fisher is using her platform to spread a positive message about self-acceptance if she can rock a shaved head and still slay the game, we should all be able to do the same - confidence comes from within

I feel bad for all the athletes who go through this... losing themselves in the process of competing. It's like they're judged on their bodies rather than their skills. Anyway, Heather Fisher's story is pretty inspiring - she's turned her struggles into a positive force . But we gotta do better, you know? More support for mental health and body positivity in sports would be awesome .

omg u no how hard it is 2 deal w/ alopecia?? like heather fisher goin thru so much 4cared about what ppl thnk of her bald head lol but seriously shes so brave 2 talk abt it & share her story, its all about embracin ur uniqueness n not 2 worried bout what others think. rugby world cup or not, she stil rockin dat shaved head now shes a motivational speaker & inspirations 4 every female athlete out ther, we need mor ppl like her who r not afraid 2 be themselves

just read about Heather Fisher and I gotta say, her story is super relatable. I mean, who hasn't struggled with body image issues or feeling like they don't fit in? it's crazy how much pressure women athletes face, especially when it comes to their appearance.

and can we talk about the media scrutiny for a second? I mean, social media is already bad enough, but when you're in the public eye like an athlete, it's even worse . they're constantly bombarded with comments and messages that can be super hurtful.

anyway, what I love about Heather Fisher's story is that she's turned her struggles into a positive force for change. she's using her platform to promote self-acceptance and empowerment, and it's so inspiring . we need more people like her who are speaking out and being real about their struggles.

and can I just say, her hair is low-key gorgeous? I mean, she's rocking the bald look with confidence and pride, and that takes a lot of courage .

gotta love Heather Fisher for speaking up about alopecia! I mean, we've all been there, right? Struggling with body image issues and feeling like we just don't fit in. But what's amazing is that she's harnessed her struggles into a positive force by becoming an advocate for self-acceptance & empowerment . I'm so inspired by her strength & resilience!

I'm like totally fascinated by Heather Fisher's story , but I'm also kinda surprised that athletes still struggle with body image issues in 2025 . I mean, we've got social media now and it's all about self-love and acceptance, right? But seriously, it's awesome that she's using her platform to spread positivity and promote inclusivity in the sports world . And can you imagine going through alopecia without knowing what was going on with your body? That must've been super tough for her . I think we need more people like Heather Fisher sharing their stories so that others can learn from them and feel less alone .

I feel for her , I really do. It's crazy how something as simple as hair can make you feel so uncomfortable. And what's even more interesting is that she's found a way to turn it into a strength . I mean, who needs normal hair when you've got confidence and determination ? As an athlete myself (sort of), I know how hard it is to deal with the pressure to conform, but at least Fisher is using her platform to spread positivity . It's not always easy being different, but sometimes that's what makes us special .

omg this is so true like i was watching this docu on Simone Biles and it broke my heart how much pressure she's been under i mean we need more people speaking up about their struggles and mental health, it's time for the sporting world to be more inclusive and accepting . I love that Heather Fisher is using her platform to promote self-acceptance and empowerment, it's so inspiring! she's a total role model and i'm sure she'll continue to make a difference

LOL can u even imagine gettin ur shaved off by teammates tho? I feel like u should've had some option to just go with a cool undercut or somethin instead of bein humiliated . But for real tho, alopecia affects so many ppl & it's not all about looks, it's mental health too . Love that she's turnin her experience into a platform 4 self acceptance & empowerment

I'm reading this article about Heather Fisher and I gotta say, it's so sad she went through that with alopecia . As an athlete myself (well, sorta ), I can imagine how hard it must be to deal with body image issues and the pressure from teammates and coaches. But what really gets me is when they shaved her head off ... like, what even is that? You're supposed to support each other, not make someone feel worse about themselves! Anyway, I'm glad she's turned it into a positive thing by becoming a motivational speaker and using her platform for good . It's so inspiring to see people embracing their uniqueness and encouraging others to do the same