A bride from Newcastle who has lived with alopecia since childhood has shared the profoundly moving reason she decided to walk down the aisle without her wig, describing it as the moment she felt 'the most beautiful' in her life.
A Life with Alopecia Universalis
Dani G, 27, from Newcastle upon Tyne, was diagnosed with alopecia universalis at just two years old after her mother, Julie, 57, noticed patches of her hair falling out. By the time she was a teenager, she had lost all hair on her scalp and body, leading her to wear wigs throughout most of her life.
Fast forward to May 2025, and Dani surprised the 20 guests at her intimate wedding in Crete, Greece, by choosing to say 'I do' while embracing her natural, wig-free look. The decision, she reveals, was deeply influenced by her husband, Jack Willis, 32.
The Love Story That Began Wig-Free
The couple's romance began in 2018 at their local gym, where Dani, then a competitive swimmer, was not wearing a wig. "I suppose it's kind of that invisible string theory," Dani reflected. "I was at the gym and met him without a wig and without a stitch of makeup on." They dated for five years before Jack proposed during a holiday in Santa Pola, Spain, in May 2023.
The subject of going wigless for their wedding was something Jack had mentioned even before they were engaged. When planning began, Dani asked for his opinion. Jack's response was simple and powerful: he said he would love to marry her as he first saw and fell in love with her.
"He never pressured me. Obviously, the decision was down to me on the wedding day," Dani explained. "I wanted to feel my most confident self... On the day I felt super confident, it's one of the most beautiful times I've ever felt."
A Day of Multiple Looks and Overwelling Support
Undecided until the wedding day itself, Dani even posted a 'wig series' on social media to help choose. In the end, she walked down the aisle with her father, Lance, 58, without a wig. For other parts of the celebration, she embraced different styles, changing into a blonde up-do for dinner and speeches, and later into a second dress with a long brunette wig for the evening party.
Now six months into married life, Dani says the support she received after sharing her wedding journey online has been overwhelming. "Reading comments from people going through hair loss... most people were saying it gave them hope or encouragement," she said.
Husband Jack added: "As soon as I saw Danielle from the get-go, I was pretty sure Danielle was my person... I know she's such a confident woman and know she just oozes positivity. I love my wife a lot and she's my best friend really."
Dani, now a full-time content creator who began sharing makeup tutorials online in 2017, credits her parents for raising her to feel confident with or without a wig. Her story stands as a powerful testament to self-acceptance and love that sees beyond appearance.
