⁠'Behind every woman living with PCOS, lies stories of strength, struggles'

Onyeka Michael Ugwu, licensed medical aesthetician and visionary founder of Hello Perfect, has said that behind every woman living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), accounting for ovulation problems, lies a story of strength, silent struggles, and the fight to be seen.

Ugwu, a senior laser technician, explained that with the Purple Dinner which she founded, she wanted to create a safe space for women to connect, be heard, and be celebrated. “This wasn’t just another event,” said Ugwu, “It was a reminder that beauty goes far beyond appearance. It’s about courage, confidence, and the ability to stand tall even in the face of life’s hardest battles”, she noted.

Ugwu made these comments during the inaugural Purple Dinner: Dare to Bloom held recently at Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos, hosted by Hello Perfect, one of Nigeria’s leading aesthetics and skincare clinic.

The evening brought together women living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), advocates, healthcare experts, and beauty professionals to honor resilience, foster awareness, and spark conversations around one of the most overlooked conditions affecting women globally.

At the forefront of this initiative was Onyeka Michael Ugwu, who has over a decade of experience, redefining aesthetics in Nigeria. Ugwu has consistently advocated beauty that goes beyond the surface. The Purple Dinner is her latest step in positioning medical aesthetics as a platform for empowerment, healing and advocacy.

The evening featured conversation circles where women openly shared their experiences with PCOS. Adding depth to the evening were powerful guest speakers: Seyi Amao, women’s health advocate and founder of PCOS Conquerors; Akinyemi Olaleye, MD of Semeda Clinics; Nini C. Iyizoba, Founder of FERTYL AFRICA and Reviv Health & Wellness Centre and Kauthar Opeyemi Lawal, maternal & reproductive health advocate, CEO of LOK Natal Care, and producer of Beyond the Symptoms.

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A highlight of the evening was the “Dare to Bloom” Tree Paint Session, a symbolic activity where guests painted blooming buds on a tree, representing growth despite challenges. Just as a tree stands resilient through changing seasons, women with PCOS embody strength and the courage to bloom despite obstacles.

In addition to the dinner, Hello Perfect announced a new partnership with Semeda Clinics to extend tangible support to the PCOS community. Together, they are giving free PCOS screening test to a member of the Hello Perfect community.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome affects 1 in 5 women worldwide, often manifesting in both visible symptoms such as skin conditions and excessive hair growth, and invisible battles of self-esteem, fertility, and overall wellness.

By hosting the Purple Dinner, Hello Perfect hopes to break the silence, raise awareness, and empower women living with PCOS to embrace their journeys with resilience.

With world-class clinics in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, Hello Perfect continues to set the standard for medical aesthetics and women’s confidence across Nigeria — redefining beauty through a blend of science, care, and advocacythat transforms lives.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.