Clare Bowen cuts off hair to challenge beauty standards

NASHVILLE, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Clare Bowen recently cut her hair short to challenge society's beauty standards.

The 31-year-old Australian actress revealed her new look and explained her decision Wednesday on Facebook. Bowen was recently reminded of when she lost her hair as a young girl after being diagnosed with end stage nephroblastoma.

"I was really inspired when I heard a story about a little girl who said she couldn't be a princess because she didn't have long hair," she shared. "I wanted her, and others like her to know that's not what makes a princess ... [or] what makes you beautiful either."

"You are who you are in your bones," she said. "It is where your true beautiful self lives ... If [this] makes even one person think twice about judging another, then in some small way, the world is better. Self-esteem takes a lot longer to grow back than hair."

Bowen connects with her young fans, some of whom are struggling with serious illnesses, on social media. She opened up about one such fan in a recent interview, saying, "It can be this really wonderful thing where you find each other and you inspire each other."

Clare Bowen recently cut her hair to challenge beauty standards. Photo by Joseph Llanes on Clare Bowen/Facebook

Bowen is best known for playing Scarlett O'Connor on ABC musical drama Nashville, which airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET. The series premiered in 2012, and stars Hayden Panettiere and Connie Britton as competing country stars.