Digital creator Amaya Monae, a beauty influencer, natural hair advocate and recent Howard University graduate, cut off her hair in 2021. It began her commitment to her natural hair journey.
“I have a series called ‘Becoming Her,’ where I talk about things that you can do to become the best version of yourself,” she said, “I love my people. I love being in a room full of Black women.”
Monae was on campus last week for the Columbia’s Soul Sisters annual “Kinks and Curls” event held in collaboration with the Black Student Union. The event celebrated a vibrant display of Black hair, identity and artistry. More than 30 people attended on Thursday, March 14 in the Conaway Center at 1104 S. Wabash Ave. The evening featured an array of activities including a featured live panel, food, and hair demonstrations.
“I feel like hair is literally everything to us,” said Tasnim Hamad, a sophomore fashion merchandising student.
Hamad, who is also the Student Organization Council representative for Soul Sisters, said that this annual event is done in collaboration with BSU because they share similar values.
“We’re all friends outside of this; we all see each other a lot,” said Hamad. “We didn’t have a community, we created it, and now we’re here.”
Some of the featured panelists redefining Black hair and beauty included founder and owner of Coleman Hair Company Teresa Coleman; artist and community activist Hadiyah Folasade; and a licensed barber and loctician Mercedes Lewis.
Sophomore film and television major Me’chell Guiden said that the panelists were chosen because members of Soul Sisters found them influential.
“We looked for a lot of local Chicago hairstylists or influencers and people who were making a name for themselves in Chicago, and we reached out to them, asking them if they’d be willing to work with us and tell us a little bit of how they became successful,” said Guiden, Soul Sisters vice president.
“I think as Black and brown students, you do have a community here at Columbia and if you don’t think that you do, look to your left, look to your right and I guarantee you that there’s somebody here for you,” Guiden said.
Copy edited by Patience Hurston
Resumen en Español:
La creadora digital Amaya Monae, influencer de belleza y defensora del cabello natural, se rapó en 2021, iniciando su viaje capilar.
La semana pasada participó en “Kinks and Curls”, un evento de Columbia’s Soul Sisters y la Unión de Estudiantes Negros que celebró la identidad y creatividad del cabello negro con un panel, demostraciones y más.
“Tengo la sensación de que el cabello lo es todo para nosotras”, dijo Tasnim Hamad, organizadora del evento.
El panel incluyó a figuras influyentes como Teresa Coleman, Hadiyah Folasade y Mercedes Lewis.
Resumen en Español por Doreen Abril Albuerne Rodriguez
Texto editado por Manuel Nocera
