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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, entrepreneur Gary Parsons transforms his life and finds his smile again on Channel 4’s Love My Face, a powerful series celebrating resilience and inclusivity.
Gary Parsons
At just 18, Gary Parsons from Derbyshire woke up to a life-altering reality. The right side of his face was numb and immobile, a condition later diagnosed as Bell’s Palsy, which causes facial paralysis. While 70% of Bell’s Palsy cases resolve within months, Gary’s facial difference became permanent, reshaping his dreams and self-perception. The entrepreneur, now 41, struggled with the visible difference, choosing not to smile to avoid questions like, “What’s wrong with you?” This decision became a survival strategy in a world where facial expressions are central to social interaction.
Gary’s facial difference brought emotional and social hurdles, amplifying his self-consciousness and fear of judgment. Despite these challenges, he built a successful business, Talk Staff, showcasing his determination. However, the weight of his visible difference contributed to battles with severe depression and anxiety. About a year ago, Gary stepped away from Talk Staff to launch a leadership consultancy, focusing on mentoring, workshop facilitation, and advocacy for mental health and inclusivity. His podcast, Leaders in Disguise, reflects his mission to destigmatize mental health and wellbeing in leadership.
I was always entrepreneurial, building computers and designing graphics for friends, family, even my teachers, from a young age. But when I woke up at 18 with one side of my face paralysed, everything changed. It knocked my confidence and made me question how people would see me. I threw myself into work, but I never truly accepted how I looked – I just learned to hide it well.
I couldn’t cope with seeing myself in the mirror – it became a daily battle. I’d cry just looking at my reflection, so eventually I stopped looking altogether. The only way I felt I could navigate life was to stop smiling. It became my armour. But my mask would slip sometimes, and people would ask ‘What’s wrong with your smile?’ and that would set me back years. I struggled to smile for more than 20 years.
I started speaking openly about my Bell’s Palsy in 2021, and that led to amazing support from the charity Facial Palsy UK and eventually a referral to a specialist clinic. When the Love My Face team reached out, it felt like the right time to explore something I’d quietly struggled with for years – my smile. The show gave me space to reflect, and they helped me to accept myself and to also consider the possibility of ‘smile’ surgery.
– Gary Parsons
A Transformative Journey on ‘Love My Face’
Gary’s story takes center stage in Love My Face, a new four-part Channel 4 series fronted by Jono Lancaster and produced by Flabbergast TV. The show follows individuals with facial differences as they navigate personal and transformative journeys. In his episode, Gary works with experts and is offered the option of facial surgery, a decision that could redefine his relationship with his appearance. The series highlights his courage in confronting long-held insecurities and embracing his identity.
Advocating for Inclusivity
Beyond his personal journey, Gary is a passionate advocate for workplace inclusivity. Through his consultancy, he helps businesses and organizations understand and embrace facial and visible differences, fostering environments where diversity is celebrated. His work challenges societal norms and promotes empathy, aligning with his broader mission to break down stigmas around mental health and physical differences.
Through Love My Face, Gary Parsons has rediscovered his smile, both literally and figuratively. The series not only showcases his resilience but also amplifies his message of self-acceptance and inclusivity. As a leadership mentor, speaker, and consultant, Gary continues to inspire others to embrace their differences and lead with authenticity, proving that true strength lies in vulnerability and courage.
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