A mum who gave birth to her son while wearing a £300 wig and a full face of make-up has said other mums feel "threatened" by her glam looks on the nursery run.
Raven Dixon-Biggs, 28, is mum to two-year-old Remington and has said she refuses to give up her glam lifestyle just because she's a mum, so she always does her hair and make-up before leaving the house to take her son to nursery.
The mum explained she loved "looking her best" when she gave birth, and she intends to keep up her glam looks as often as she can - even if some believe she should give up make-up now that she's a mum.
She said: "I've always been very glam, and I take two hours to get ready, put on my wig, and do my make-up. I didn't wake up one day and think I wanted to be a glam mum. I knew I would be that because it's how I am.
"When I went to give birth, I got completely ready. I put on full make-up and a brand-new wig. Why shouldn't I look good just because I'm about to be a mum? I looked my best while giving birth and it was the most liberating time of my life.
"When I take my son to nursery or soft-play, I make an effort - even if some mums feel threatened when another woman is wearing false lashes at 9.30 am.
"People think because I've become a mother, my entire existence on the planet should be to be a mum - but I'm still me. Why would I stop wearing makeup because I've had a child - I'll need it more."
Raven, who does agency work as an NHS bank administrator, gave birth in December 2020, and took a 22kg suitcase with her to the hospital, which was stuffed with hair straighteners, hair crimpers, several outfits, her entire make-up bag, and even high heels.
Although some may find her methods extreme, Raven insists that looking her best during labour helped her stay motivated.
The mum, from Birmingham, said: "When I was having contractions, whenever I passed the mirror to go to the toilet, I would take a glance. I would see myself and remember who the f**k I am, and it reminded me to keep pushing.
"Sometimes you just have to put your glam on and get on with it.
"The midwife did compliment me and say I looked fabulous after birth. I had my brand new River Island cardigan on, and when she came in, I was straightening my hair."
Since giving birth to her son, Raven has kept up with her glam looks and doesn't intend on changing her ways for anyone - even though she does struggle to make "mum friends" sometimes.
"Some people have got the wrong perspective on it," she added, "Unfortunately, a lot of mums feel threatened when another woman looks attractive at 9.30 am wearing false eyelashes."
Raven believes that looking her best gives her a "sense of empowerment", and says she shouldn't have to "sacrifice her identity" in order to fit in with others - especially after becoming a mum.
She said: "Looking good gave me a sense of empowerment during pregnancy and birth. In life, my glam is my armour - dressing and looking glam makes me feel empowered and like myself.
"You make so many sacrifices when you become a parent, you've already sacrificed your body you shouldn't have to sacrifice your identity too.
"That's what I do when I have no motivation for life - I remember 'put your glam on and it'll be fine'. If you look good, you will feel good."
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