'Why I'm wearing a ball gown every day for a year'

A woman has challenged herself to spend every day of 2025 in a ball gown to raise awareness of how "exhausting and difficult" life can be for people with autism who hide their characteristics by "masking".

Jennifer Gane, from Gateshead, was recently diagnosed with the condition and said she spent her life "trying to fit in" and "never really understanding" why she felt out of place.

She said she had got some "very funny looks" while wearing her gowns and that people had congratulated her thinking she was getting married.

The 48-year-old is raising money for The Toby Henderson Trust, which supports people affected by autism in the north-east of England.

Autistic "masking" is when people hide parts of themselves or suppress certain behaviours, interests or ways of being that would be natural to them in order to fit in with neurotypical society.

"I go to the shops, to church, to college in York, basically, this is my outfit whether I'm working from home or out of the house," she said.

Mrs Gane, who has 18 gowns, said she felt "anxious and nervous" when she started the challenge in January.

But she said the feeling "eased off" and she was making life easier for herself by wearing shorter dresses when running.

"Negotiating shopping and manoeuvring a trolley while also not treading on my skirts needs extra effort," she said.

CEO and founder of the Toby Henderson Trust, Lesley Henderson, said Ms Gane's challenge was "so good in so many ways".

"Shining a light on how difficult it [masking] is, it's amazing."

Ms Henderson, who founded the charity 23 years ago, said the funds raised would be used to extend and diversify services across the region.

She said she was hoping to bring back the trust's Ms M.A.T.E.S social group for women who often found it "difficult to leave the house".

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