X Factor star Leona Lewis is best known for dominating the charts with her vocal ability, but she opened up on health discovery that meant her curly hair was under threat
Leona Lewis opened up on a secret health battle that made her change her hair.
Former X Factor winner Leona, who is celebrating her 40th birthday today (April 3), has been popping up on TV in recent years, most recently when she joined The Masked Singer as a panellist back in 2023. Her glamorous looks have also left viewers in awe of her beauty.
But while Leona was dominating the charts with her standout vocal talent, she was secretly battling a hidden illness. The condition became so prominent that the star had to make a decision on treatment to avoid losing her luscious locks.
When the Forgive Me singer burst onto the music scene in 2006, Leona’s hair was an iconic feature of the singer’s look. She admitted that she was surprised at how many performers had straight hair – which only made her stand out in the industry even further, resulting in her straightening her hair to fit in.
But in an interview published by Glamour back in 2017, Leona revealed that she had been dealing with the mystery illness for well over a year and a half. In the attacks, the Run singer was left with chronic pain and fatigue, leading her to retreat from the public eye.
After a host of tests from medical professionals, Leona was eventually diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, a condition that affects the autoimmune system. Several famous faces have also been hit with the condition – including acting icon Zoe Saldana and model Gigi Hadid.
Hashimoto’s disease stems from having an overactive or underactive thyroid, resulting in the immune system sending antibodies to attack the gland, causing inflammation and pain. Leona admitted that after being diagnosed with the condition, she had to make a series of changes to her lifestyle, including her hair.
“When I was first diagnosed, I was absolutely devastated; I felt very scared and alone until I began to research and understand how others were living with the disease,” Leona explained. “When my symptoms were the most severe, I could hear my body telling me that I needed to slow down; I also started to feel tired during performances.
“I began taking medication but also turned to Ayurveda – my mum is a master herbalist – to help heal my body naturally,” she added. “I just got to a point where I wanted to start over physically and emotionally; I started eating better and I stopped straightening my hair.”
Immediately noticing a difference, Leona would go on to change her entire routine, relying heavily on natural products for both her skin and her hair. As a result, her hair has returned to its natural curly state – something she does not want to give up any time soon.
“It was a rediscovery for me that curly hair is actually so versatile,” she beamed. “If someone said, ‘I want to blow-dry your hair straight now,’ I would be like, ‘No way!’ I’d look like an alien; it just wouldn’t be me.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
