Bernie Nolan, the 49 year old best known for fronting 80s pop group The Nolans, stepped in front of the cameras with a bald head this week.

The singer is halfway through chemotherapy treatment, to beat an aggressive form of breast cancer. When her hair began to fall out in clumps due to treatment, she decided to shave all of her hair. Now she has gone public with her baldness by attending the TV Choice awards with no wig or other form of hair loss replacement.

Nolan explained: "I've spent the past few weeks saying I'm happy with no hair, so I felt it was important to come here and show I meant it."

She added: "After 10 minutes, no one notices about the hair."

Bernie's sisters Linda and Anne have both recovered from breast cancer in the last decade.

She joins other celebrities such as Gail Porter and the US beauty queen Miss Delaware who have expressed pride in their baldness, and who have not attempted to hide their hair loss. Gail Porter recently rejected a bravery award which a magazine tried to bestow on her for facing baldness with pride. Porter told reporters: "What's brave about going bald?" She said there are far worse things that people experience. Gail confessed that her daughter had actually enjoyed her hair loss.

Hair loss affects confidence

Breast Cancer Care, a UK charity, says on its website that hair "may be very much part of your self-image and losing it may affect your confidence and self-esteem." The charity advises: "You may find it easier to deal with if you’re prepared for the possibility that you could lose your hair."

Once cancer treatment is completed, women's hair generally returns.