Television presenter Gail Porter has spoken about rejecting a bravery award, that an unnamed magazine wanted to give her for living with baldness.

Porter now has a full head of hair, after overcoming alopecia universalis – a condition that causes total hair loss, across all parts of your body. Speaking to the Guardian, she said that becoming involved with good causes such as a children’s charity helped her to put things in perspective. When a magazine nominated her for a bravery award, on account of not trying to cover up her bald head, Porter says she thought it inappropriate. “What's so brave about being bald? I've not fought for my country or found the cure for cancer – I've just gone out without my hat on!”

Porter also revealed that her daughter was sad to see her mother’s hair return. “She loved the fact that Mummy was different and the kids would have great fun with my bald head – they'd rub it and make wishes.”

Nonetheless, her daughter is now growing accustomed to the star’s new image. “I think she likes my elfin-type thing. She's not sure if she wants me to have long hair, but I think that might be wishful thinking on my part anyway.”

“I'm just going to stick with the crop at the moment. I had it cut for the first time yesterday. It was quite exciting. It's the first time I've been to the hairdressers in six years.

People who go bald due to alopecia can see their hair return, only to lose it again shortly afterwards. So it is possible that Porter’s hair will once again fall out at some stage. But she says she is trying to “enjoy it while I can.”

While alopecia is a common cause of baldness among women, the most common type to affect men is male pattern baldness. This hereditary condition is experienced by 1 in 2 men.