What do you do when your body starts changing at just ten years old? Harnaam Kaur was waxing her face to avoid schoolyard bullies before she even hit her teens. Today, she’s a Guinness World Record holder and one of the most recognisable voices challenging global beauty standards.

In this episode, Claire sits down with Harnaam to unpack her journey after being diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) at just ten. She opens up about years of bullying, the toll on her mental health, and the pivotal moment that led her to stop hiding and start embracing who she is.

They also explore what it means to live with a condition that challenges traditional ideas of femininity, Harnaam’s evolution from religious motivations to personal liberation, and her reflections on the future of her advocacy. 

EPISODE RESOURCES

If this episode has raised concerns for you, the following resources are available:
Lifeline: If you are feeling overwhelmed and need someone to talk to, please call 13 11 14.


Butterfly Foundation: Support for eating disorders and body image issues. Call 1800 33 4673.


Jean Hailes for Women's Health: A leading resource for PCOS, hormones and women’s health.

And, if you want to learn more about the topics discussed in today’s show, check out these helpful links:


MOVE by Mamamia


Health Direct - Physical Activity Guidelines

GET IN TOUCH

Sign up to the Well Newsletter to receive your weekly dose of trusted health expertise without the medical jargon.

Ask a question of our experts or share your story, feedback, or dilemma - you can send it anonymously here, email here or leave us a voice note here.

Ask The Doc: Ask us a question in The Waiting Room.

Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok.

THE END BITS

Support independent women’s media by becoming a Mamamia subscriber

CREDITS

Host: Claire Murphy 

Guest: Harnaam Kaur

Senior Producers: Claire Murphy and Sally Best

Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

Video Producer: Julian Rosario

Social Producer: Elly Moore

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Information discussed in Well. is for education purposes only and is not intended to provide professional medical advice. Listeners should seek their own medical advice, specific to their circumstances, from their treating doctor or health care professional.

What do you do when your body starts changing at just ten years old? Harnaam Kaur was waxing her face to avoid schoolyard bullies before she even hit her teens. Today, she&rsquo;s a Guinness World Record holder and one of the most recognisable voices challenging global beauty standards.
In this episode, Claire sits down with Harnaam to unpack her journey after being diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) at just ten. She opens up about years of bullying, the toll on her mental health, and the pivotal moment that led her to stop hiding and start embracing who she is.
They also explore what it means to live with a condition that challenges traditional ideas of femininity, Harnaam&rsquo;s evolution from religious motivations to personal liberation, and her reflections on the future of her advocacy.&nbsp;
EPISODE RESOURCES
If this episode has raised concerns for you, the following resources are available:
<ul data-path-to-node="17">
<li><a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">Lifeline</a>: If you are feeling overwhelmed and need someone to talk to, please call 13 11 14.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://butterfly.org.au/">Bu</a><a href="https://butterfly.org.au/">tterfly Foundation</a>: Support for eating disorders and body image issues. Call 1800 33 4673.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/">Jean Hailes for Women's Health</a>: A leading resource for PCOS, hormones and women&rsquo;s health.
</li>
</ul>
And, if you want to learn more about the topics discussed in today&rsquo;s show, check out these helpful links:
<ul data-path-to-node="8">
<li>
<a href="https://move.mamamia.com.au/">MOVE by Mamamia</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/fitness-and-exercise">Health Direct - Physical Activity Guidelines</a>
</li>
</ul>
GET IN TOUCH
Sign up to the <a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/well-newsletter/">Well Newsletter</a> to receive your weekly dose of trusted health expertise without the medical jargon.
Ask a question of our experts or share your story, feedback, or dilemma - you can send it anonymously <a href="https://jlmf9165xmv.typeform.com/waiting-room?typeform-source=www.mamamia.com.au">here</a>, email here or leave us a voice note <a href="https://help.mamamia.com.au/en-US/send-a-podcast-voice-note-467960">here</a>.
Ask The Doc: Ask us a question in <a href="https://jlmf9165xmv.typeform.com/waiting-room?typeform-source=www.mamamia.com.au">The Waiting Room</a>.
Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wellbymamamia/?hl=en">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@wellbymamamia">Tiktok</a>.
THE END BITS
<a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe">Support independent women&rsquo;s media by becoming a Mamamia subscriber</a>
CREDITS
Host:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/clairemurphyyukich/?hl=en">Claire Murphy</a>&nbsp;
Guest:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/harnaamkaur/">Harnaam Kaur</a>
Senior Producers: Claire Murphy and Sally Best
Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy
Audio Producer: Scott Stronach
Video Producer: Julian Rosario
Social Producer: Elly Moore
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Information discussed in Well. is for education purposes only and is not intended to provide professional medical advice. Listeners should seek their own medical advice, specific to their circumstances, from their treating doctor or health care professional.

Well is a podcast about the taboo, the annoying, the embarrassing and the scary. We cover the concerns you’re probably considering seeing a doctor about, from insomnia to weird periods to how to prevent dementia. 

The full body health check for the Australian woman, hosted by Claire Murphy and Dr Mariam.

Well. The podcast for every woman with a body. 

Well is a podcast about the taboo, the annoying, the embarrassing and the scary.&nbsp;We cover the concerns you&rsquo;re probably considering seeing a doctor about, from insomnia to weird periods to how to prevent dementia.&nbsp;
The full body health check for the Australian woman, hosted by Claire Murphy&nbsp;and Dr Mariam.
Well. The podcast for every woman with a body.&nbsp;

Well.

The Woman With The World’s Most Famous Beard

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/3ea926be-9be7-482a-8ac3-a44f016e43d1/clips/3856fdfc-4aaa-4afe-9373-b425003492bd/transcript