She is a dancer, presenter, DJ, businesswoman and over the past two decades has graced our screens with interviews from some of the biggest red carpets in the world, including the Oscars
Lalla Hirayama (34) is a style icon whose personality and infectious laugh have made her one of the most-loved media personalities. However, these days, she is stealing the hearts of the hundreds of grateful women, whose quality of life has improved through the natural supplements from her company, Life Source. Life Source is a company she founded in 2017 with her uncle Dr Russell Cooper, an Australian-based specialist physician, after going on his natural PCOS programme that changed her life. September is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) awareness month, and Lalla is no stranger to the often debilitating symptoms of this condition. PCOS is a complex hormonal condition that affects ovarian function, produces higher-than-normal amounts of male hormones, both of which prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs.
This often causes irregular menstrual cycles, can cause enlarged ovaries and small cysts. Worldwide, PCOS affects up to 21% of women, making it one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of childbearing age. Some of the most common PCOS symptoms include irregular or no periods, difficulty getting pregnant (due to irregular ovulation or failure to ovulate), excessive hair growth on the body, weight gain, thinning hair or hair loss as well as oily skin and acne. Women who suffer from PCOS are also at risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and depression.
PCOS can be an overwhelming diagnosis and even more difficult to navigate, and this was Lalla’s experience too. Looking at her on screen
or listening to her, you wouldn’t have guessed that this larger-than-life personality was dealing with a PCOS diagnosis. Just another reminder to all of us that you never know what someone else is dealing with, and to always be kind. Lalla’s journey with PCOS started almost a decade ago. At the time, she didn’t know much about it and couldn’t understand why her body wasn’t working the way it used to.
‘I was told to see a doctor, in my case an endocrinologist, and was totally freaked out by the diagnosis, prognosis and the lack of support and available knowledge on the internet,’ she says. ‘I was 27 years old and my doctor’s bedside manners didn’t seem to have come to work that day. I walked out of her room feeling ill and eventually broke down crying in public. She had told me I was pre-diabetic, my cholesterol was sky high and I was likely to have an issue with my heart. To make matters worse, I was more than likely infertile and if I had any chance of having a baby, I best start on the pill and a drug for insulin resistance, which made me feel so nauseous I could barely carry out basic day-to-day tasks.’
Lalla was told to stop eating sugar and fried foods and to exercise more. Ironically, those were the main reasons she had gone to the doctor in the first place. ‘I was struggling to do exactly that, something that used to come so naturally to me. After three months of non-stop nausea, putting on 10 kg, losing most of my hair and being called pizza face, I stopped the medication. I was only going backwards and I promised myself I’d find a natural way to get my health back.’
Her TV career might have found her at the age of 15, but before carving out a career in the entertainment industry, Lalla wanted to study medicine and pursue a career in dermatology. This is not that surprising, since she comes from a family of medical doctors. So when she finally decided to find a natural way to deal with her PCOS, she went straight to her uncle for advice. ‘There is a lot of merit to natural medicine. Most conventional medicine and treatments are based on or derived from natural substances such as plants or bacteria, even chemotherapy,’ she explains. ‘After I had no luck with my initial treatment, I tried a few other endocrinologists and specialist physicians who put me on expensive regimes of natural supplements; there was some improvement, just not enough to feel healthy.
After bouncing around, I tried my uncle’s natural treatment plan, and after a month the changes in my body, mood and energy were noticeable. Three months later, my life was back to being my own and I felt better than I had in years. I wish I had help sooner! At the time there weren’t a lot of natural PCOS supplements in South Africa or even just conversations around the disorder.’ Prior to the natural treatment plan, she had been given the conventional pharmaceutical drugs that most PCOS sufferers are given. The medication didn’t agree with her at all, even with all the hope she had for them to be the ‘cure’. ‘I think there is a place for pharmaceutical drugs and some women reap the benefits, that said, most medication comes with side effects or issues down the line, which I unfortunately experienced. When my PCOS flared and I felt out of control, I just didn’t feel like I had the natural choice I usually prefer.’
Life Source was born from true passion and an understanding of what it feels like to be ‘held hostage’ by your own body, from this disorder. It may sound like a menial issue to some, but in her experience, Lalla says it completely takes over your life. Everyday tasks become challenging, your mental health declines and your body takes significant physical strain. Having found a natural way that works for her, she made it her mission to advocate for PCOS and reach as many people around South Africa as possible. Since starting Life Source, they have noticed more companies popping up or existing brands offering natural PCOS products, which has been wonderful to see. The most rewarding thing for her is seeing the positive impact it has on women’s lives.
‘Speaking to many women who have just been diagnosed with PCOS, I see many of them worry about never conceiving and feeling as if they’ll have to starve to keep the weight from piling on. Some women also think that this is a curable disorder, which it is not. Once-off fixes don’t exist here. Muting the condition is the way to go and can be done with a little effort, knowledge and planning,’ she says.
‘Knowing I’ve played a small part in assisting women to heal is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had.’ As women, we tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves and often ignore that little voice telling us that something isn’t right. We need to give ourselves the permission to
tune in and really listen. Lalla has worn many professional hats over the years and has spent a lot of time focusing on her career, but now she wants to shift her focus to love and purpose, whatever that may look like. ‘I don’t have anything on my professional bucket list anymore. I used to, but I have come to the realisation that you may have an idea of what you want, but the universe has something even better planned. I know the universe has something great up her sleeve. I can’t wait for the adventure,’ she says with excitement.
If she wasn’t working in her current industry, Lalla thinks we would have found her working in medicine, post-production, eventing or perhaps even running a wine farm. ‘Who knows, it may still be on the cards,’ she jokes, but for now, she is content. ‘Sometimes it’s not about the accomplishment; you get to do rad things when your focus is on what’s important. My intention now is to experience as much as possible, to expand my repertoire as far as I can, and do good along the way,’ she says thoughtfully.
Words by Tarren-Lee Habelgaarn
Styling: Rojaun de Vos
Photography: Gareth Van Nelson/hmimages.co.za
Make-up: Justine Alexander/freelance
