There’s been a lot in the news lately regarding women and girls’ rights to wear our naturally curly hair, whether at work or in school. As long as there are rules or laws barring us from our natural hair, there is work to be done. Recently, Cierra Jackson took up the mantle in the struggle for inclusivity.
Cierra has been participating for six years in beauty pageants and recently competed in the Miss America pageant representing the District of Columbia. Although she did not win the pageant, Cierra took a stand when it was strongly suggested she change her naturally kinky curly hair for what is considered the norm by the beauty pageant industry. Cierra refused to change her hair and competed in the contest with her own naturally beautiful curls.
Cierra’s goal behind wearing her naturally curly hair was to show people that natural is beautiful, and hair is not representative of who you are as a person, or of your abilities. Cierra, who served as an intern at the White House under President Obama’s administration and wrote a children’s book, hopes her decision to wear her natural curls during the competition will show others that they can achieve their goals and find success in their lives no matter what. We couldn’t agree more!