TV star reveals ‘secret’ struggle she hid for more than a decade

An actress and model has revealed how she kept a secret hidden in plain sight for the last decade while building her career.

An actress and model has revealed how she kept a secret hidden in plain sight for the last decade while building her career.

Georgia Meacham, from the UK, revealed that for the last 10 years she has worn two hearing aids but kept the devices out of public view.

She was born moderately deaf and has worn hearing aids since she was just 17 months old, revealing her quiet struggle in honour of Deaf Awareness Week.

Georgia Meacham hid a secret in plain sight for 10 years. Picture: Instagram/@georgiameacham

“For the past decade, I’ve kept these amazing devices hidden, yet without them, I would struggle immensely,” she shared in an Instagram post.

“I’ve coped so well with all life’s challenges which I guess has made it somewhat harder to speak about.

“Holding onto this ‘secret’ has been mentally draining. I’d keep my hair down in public, lip-read instead of asking others to repeat, avoid sitting at the front of rooms, not requesting subtitles, and never asking friends to sit in quieter areas of restaurants.”

She has worn hearing aids since she was a toddler. Picture: Instagram/@georgiameacham

She said until now she had never opened up about her hearing loss but she was on a new journey of self acceptance.

“I instantly feel a huge weight off my shoulders for finally talking about such a huge part of who I am. And what I finally see as a beautiful part of me,” she said.

Ms Meacham recently appeared on Good Morning Britain to talk about her self acceptance journey alongside Tasha Ghouri, who was Love Island’s first deaf contestant in 2022.

“Keep doing what you’re doing because it’s fabulous,” Ms Ghouri told her.

“It’s so nice to see that you are now embracing you. It’s beautiful. You’re smashing it.”

She said revealing her deafness was a huge weight off her shoulders. Picture: Instagram/@georgiameacham

In turn, Ms Meacham thanked Ms Ghouri for “doing so much” when it came to putting her deafness in the public eye and allowing her to feel comfortable to do the same.

Since opening up, Ms Meacham has included the fact she is deaf in her social media. Even posting images of herself wearing her hearing aids with the caption “pretty girls wear hearing aids”.

Ms Meacham began her modelling career when she was 18 for brands such as Stella McCartney and appeared in films such as Bridget Jones’ Baby.