From MS Diagnosis to Wig Empire: Antonia Okonma Shittu's Inspirational Journey
A British entrepreneur shares how a life-altering diagnosis fueled her passion for hair and empowered women, leading to a multi-million-pound business with celebrity clients.
Antonia Okonma Shittu's life took a dramatic turn at age 26 when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition that led her to expect to use a wheelchair within a year. This diagnosis served as a significant catalyst, prompting her to re-evaluate her life and pursue a childhood passion for styling hair.
Starting with just two wigs and selling them from the trunk of her car, Shittu, who grew up in west London, has since built a multi-million-pound wig business, A-List Lace Hair, with salons in London and New York. Her client list includes high-profile figures such as tennis star Serena Williams, model Naomi Campbell, and actress Niecey Nash. She was recently recognized with a Black British Business Award.
The Genesis of a Business
Shittu identified a gap in the market for natural-looking wigs, noting the often "terrible" and unnatural styles she encountered in the TV and film industry, including during her time working on the ITV series Bad Girls two decades ago. She described these early wigs as looking like "helmets."
With limited resources and no external investors, Shittu launched her business by advertising on Facebook and Gumtree. Her personal experience with MS, which led to hair loss after a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy, gave her a profound understanding of what it means to be completely bald and the emotional impact of hair loss. This empathy allows her to connect deeply with her customers.
"I didn't feel like myself," she recalled, "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." The sight of a woman's face lighting up after putting on a wig, she said, is incredibly rewarding, fostering confidence and enabling women to achieve more.
Navigating Health Challenges and Business Growth
Despite the success of her business, Shittu continues to manage her health, having also been diagnosed with Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition, and heart failure. She uses a wheelchair due to MS-related fatigue and weakness, but this has reshaped rather than halted her entrepreneurial endeavors.
"I used to feel that being a good entrepreneur was being able to do as much as I can myself," Shittu stated. "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 necessitated her to build a strong team and rely on others.
Shittu noted that being underestimated as a businesswoman in a wheelchair can sometimes work to her advantage, particularly at industry events where she has to navigate being looked down upon. She hopes her openness about her health journey will inspire other women.
"I would encourage them to just start," she advised women who may feel their circumstances could impede their success. "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."