I lost my hair to MS treatment – now my wigs are worn by Naomi Campbell and Serena Williams

Image source, Antonia Okonma ShittuImage caption, Antonia with model Naomi Campbell, who is one of her clients

When Antonia Okonma Shittu was told she had multiple sclerosis (MS) and would be using a wheelchair within the year, she was in denial.

The 26-year-old, who was in between acting jobs and working in a call centre, said the diagnosis was a "massive turning point" in her life.

"It does really make you think about what you want to do in life," she said.

She looked back to what she enjoyed doing as a child – styling hair – and decided to use the shock of the diagnosis to spur her on to turn her passion into a business.

Antonia, who grew up on a council estate in west London, bought two wigs and went door to door selling them from the boot of her car.

Image source, Antonia Okonma ShittuImage caption, Antonia with American actress Niecey Nash

Almost two decades later, she is now a multi-million-pound brand owner, with high-profile clients including tennis icon Serena Williams, model Naomi Campbell and actress Niecey Nash. She even won a Black British Business Award last week.

Antonia, now 44, still struggles with her health, having also received diagnoses of Graves' disease – an autoimmune condition – and heart failure, but hopes her experience running a hair empire while fitting in hospital appointments can inspire other women.

Antonia says she saw a gap in the market when she was surrounded by "terrible" wigs while working in TV and film, including in the ITV series Bad Girls two decades ago.

"Women wanted natural-looking wigs and they just weren't available. They looked like helmets!"

Antonia set up a Facebook page and began advertising on Gumtree. "I had very limited resources. I didn't have any investors behind me. I come from very humble beginnings."

Her experience dealing with MS has helped her success, she says. Antonia lost her hair when she underwent chemotherapy following a bone marrow transplant, so she knows what it is like to be "completely bald".

This made her relate more deeply to her customers, she explains, as she understands the loss of control some women feel when they lose their hair.

"I didn't feel like myself," she says, "but being able to put on a wig that looks something close to how your hair was, or the look you used to have, it's as though you can feel like yourself again."

When she sees a woman put a wig on and her "whole face lights up", it can be "very, very rewarding".

"When we feel good about ourselves…we're more confident, we can achieve more. I felt like I was changing the world, one person at a time."

Image source, Antonia Okonma ShittuImage caption, Antonia experienced hair loss after undergoing chemotherapy

While Antonia's business, A-List Lace Hair, has grown from strength to strength, with salons in London and New York, she has been dealing with the impact of her health conditions.

She struggles with fatigue due to her MS and uses a wheelchair, but says this has not stopped her success. Instead, it has simply changed the way she has run her business.

"I used to feel that being a good entrepreneur was being able to do as much as I can myself," Antonia said.

"Due to my health challenges, there are days where I literally can't feel my legs, they feel like jelly, there's days where I'm completely exhausted after sleeping, I wake up completely shattered."

This has forced her to "trust other people and gain strength in building a team".

Image source, 365 style concierge & Karanjee GabaImage caption, Antonia says she wants to remain open about her health to inspire other women in business

As a woman in business, being in a wheelchair can sometimes make Antonia feel "smaller" as people often have to look down at her at industry events.

"People are often surprised when I start speaking about my business, as though they're thinking 'how have you accomplished all of this in a wheelchair?'"

Antonia, who has three young children, says that being underestimated can be a good thing, and she wants to remain open about her health to inspire other women.

She says she used to feel "weak" because of her disability, but now feels she has gained "so much strength" from sharing her experience online.

Asked what she would say to another woman who may fear her age, disability or health could get in the way of success, she says: "I would encourage them to just start."

"You might not have control over your health, you might not know what tomorrow is going to bring, and you might not have all the resources. But start with what you do have, and let's see what could happen next."

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