Kechi writes:
Hello,
I live in London and I follow your fabulous website. I am totally addicted and check it every day! I was out shopping yesterday, walked into H&M, and came upon a lovely poster of these gorgeous models. Look at her locks! I tried to take a few photos with my phone without looking too creepy :0) It made my day and here’s hoping it’ll make yours too!
Natural hair if definitely the way to go. Even the fashion designers can’t ignore it!
CN Responds:
Drool… dream hair! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Drool… dream hair! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Although I understand about the nepotism agument and the point about preference of mixed race over black. These models' hair look more tightly coiled than curly. Thus, I am happy they are representing even though these issues remain.
I am a Londoner and I am seeing more and more naturals. However, I am seeing the dominant hair style is weaves. When I went to the hairdressers when I had a relaxer I would say 90% of the ladies were getting a weave. It is a sad state of affairs as we will have a generation of women who don't know how to deal or appreciate their hair. If they are not careful may end up like Naomi Campbell.
I saw this before, her hair is fierce. Love the picture.
nepotism is a by product of capitalism…it is what it is. fact is, they are two beautiful young women of color. coming from someone over 40yrs old, that alone is something to admire (I wish we saw such images in stores when I was younger).
Hey Kechi was that the H &M in Brent Cross Shopping centre (mall)?
I was there juat the other day! In H & M too – got two cute outfits for upcoming christmas do's.
…those are some cute young ladies, so what if their mother got them the job. Kechi was just saying it made her day to see the huge poster of the ladies! Kechi was just sharing something she thought was pretty – OK : )
i LOVE it. I'm so glad to see that they even have women of color on here..
http://collegecurlies.blogspot.com/
I think here in the US when I see black women in commercials or in ads, they have the afro textured hair that is not permed…but their curls are always defined. Whether it is from twist outs or its their natural hair, it is most likely going to be VERY defined. I would love to see more afros and blow outs on TV….
I know that they have great connections. They were signed to Storm models because of this and they work because of who their mother is. Honestly they are not the only ones in fashion to do this in London, look at Georgia jagger or any other child of a celebrity. It's normal here. Someone mentioned this campaign as though it was revolutionary, it isn't especially when you note that these girls are a product of nepotism within the industry. If you have the right parents then it's very easy to model even if you are not tall enough or don't fit the usual model standard (not that these girls don't)
I'm more excited about the Pizza Hut family because it was a cute and surprising ad and presented as an ordinary family enjoying themselves much like the abundance of white families we have on our screens and I haven't seen a black family in a TV ad for a while nevermind a natural one. but I do like the H&M campaign because it looks warm and inviting across the board. It just didn't surprise me when I saw these girls.
Those in the US do not know the situation in the UK. I'm in London too and there are not a massive abundance of naturals here. What makes you think us other brits do not take the tube, walk the streets and use public transport? I do and go to college too and I do not see a myriad of naturals, that paints an inaccurate picture to US readers.
The UK media and advertising industries seem to show mixed race people more and more. I've no problem with this at all but wish that there was balance. I guess the Pizza ad gave some balance to things but I'd like to see more of it. It's just about fair representation of our population and make up rather than putting anyone down, Lydia.
I've been watching the BBC's Torchwood – Season 3 on Netflix and have spent the entire time fixated on Cush Jumbo's beautiful locks. More and more you can see natural hairstyles on central figures in television shows and series both in the US and UK. Check out her hair – http://scifipulse.net/?p=11007
Great insight Lydia. I notice that here in the US you can sometimes find a hair mag from the UK featuring all black models and a VERY wide range of hair textures. They have some of the best and most fashion forward hair styles. FAR better and far more pages than an American pub like Essence or Black Hair. I mean some FIERCE 4ZZZZZZZ styles too, not just curly locs.
loool I live in london. SOUTH LONDON!. I take these buses and walk these streets everyday. I take the tube and i see more and more people rocking their tight kinky hair and it looks soo good. In a place where more loosely curled naturals outnumber the women who want to wear their tight curls out, it is only natural that the more loosely curled girls will get more attention. There are more of them to choose from.
to be honest. Its kinda wrong for you to state that these girls only got the Job because of their connections. Did you ever think that maybe they got it because they were the right fit for it? maybe they actually work hard for their place in the industry as opposed to just relying on their last names.
But yer. This does not have to become an argument or a disagreement. Everybody is entitled to their opinion that is the beauty of the world we live in. And since you are really convinced about this prejudice thing i will do my research. There is nothing like a conversation to get you some good knowledge.
xxx
I like the ad, they both look lovely. I was also disappointed to read the 2 anonymous comments( at 6.59am and 2.43 pm) about it being okay to have natural hair if it's a "certain" kind of curl.
Funny enough, I thought the same thing when I read through the comments on the "Do you prefer your hair defined?" post. Granted I've seen better blowouts, but most people said they prefer a shinier more defined curl look, which is fine. However, that does not happen without considerable effort for some textures and those are the textures rarely seen in the media. I think that's what these two were trying to say. I think some of us may have a slight sub-conscious bias without even knowing it.
Still, I'm glad that natural hair is now viewed in a positive way.
sorry but I understand exactly why that comment felt the need to mention the connections these models have and the fact that they're biracial. its ok to have natural hair if you're a hipster with connections but for the everyday black woman in the street it is very different.
its been pointed out many times on this very site that certain types of curls are favored over others. good for you if this means nothing to you but here in the uk the preference for biracial over black is very obvious. having a few friends in London is not the same as living here and seeing this prejudice day after day. the media over here has been showing natural hair in a positive light for a long time – but its only positive when it's a certain type of natural and on women who look a certain way. sad but so blatantly true.
beautiful girls – but lets not get angry because someone is stating the obvious
Well Said Lydia, Thank You! So What If They Are "Bi-Cultural" (There's Only One Race, I Don't Use Biracial, LOL)……That Really Was Insulting To Twist It Like That And Use Their Heritage Like It Matters……I'm A Whole Lot Of Things Does My Hair Not Count Too!!
Love it! I'll have to keep an eye out for it out here. 🙂 ~KF519
I seen that same advert in H&M in Glasgow today and I loved it! It's not often you see naturals in ad campaigns in the uk.
And Lydia was spot on with her comment 🙂
Yea I saw a similar advert in the H&M up here in Newcastle (UK), showcasing another two older looking naturals. One had a beautiful TWA going on. Def put a smile on my face.
And thank you for your reply to that previous comment Lydia.
Thanks Lydia!!! I could not have said it better myself.
lol sorry not the above comment but the one before it.
Ermmm to the above comment. I think you are missing the point. The fact is that natural hair was featured. it got nothing to do with how revolutionary it is and how those models got the job. Also Biracial or not the hair is still natural and that's what counts. The fact that they are biracial really has nothing to do with it.
And I really do disagree. Even though the UK is not as revolutionary as the USA when it comes to natural hair, I know that there is a growing community of naturals. especially in London because I have friends whom like myself have decided to transition. I do believe that is a sign of change, a few years ago we would never have thought of it; we would just have dealt with damaged relaxed hair as best we could. And also everywhere I go, i notice that there are more and more beautiful ladies rocking their hair natural. Anything that shows natural hair in a positive light in the media is a sign of change.
oh and why is the fact that a natural family on a pizza hut advert is more interesting than a natural model in H&M? they both showcase the same thing which is that Natural hair in the media is beautiful hair.
To be honest. I feel slightly insulted by your twist on the whole situation. I think you completely missed the point.
Anyway on a brighter note, I saw those pictures and I love them too 🙂
yeah, i've seen that pizza advert several times, last time being yesterday. i think in the UK there are definately loads of naturals in adverts but they do tend to be of a looser curled variety. but natural none the less (admitedly the pizza family do appear to have very tightly curled/kinky hair)
Sorry to disappoint you and lessen the importance of this story but…..
These two girls are the bi-racial daughters of a very powerful fashion agency mogul named Camilla Lowther. Their names are Kesewa and Adaoa.
They are regularly featured in Love, iD and Dazed Magazine which are hipster publications. The fashion industry doesn't have a problem with natural hair in the UK. You are probably likely to be admired more than vilified because the majority of the black population here in the UK are weaved up or relaxed and fashion likes anything that contradicts the norm.
I've seen the dark haired one in the flesh and her hair is luscious.
They have great hair but this isn't a sign of change, more the sign of how connections got them a much coveted campaign. For a model that or Topshop are like winning gold at the olympics. May not be Prada but it pays very well.
More interestingly, we recently had a pizza advert which featured an all black family with a natural mother and daughter. The daughter had cornrows and the mother wore a short twist out. That was unusual as most ad naturals over here are type 3 and bi-racial/mixed race.
This is exciting, seems like a lot of models are wearing there natural hair…Beautiful!
I saw this display this weekend at the H&M at the Santa Anita Mall in Arcadia, CA! It made my day as well.
-echoparkgalla
I can't wait for big hair like that! Then I'll probably be screaming not knowing what to do with it lol.
Bianca I checked your husband's websites & he's extremely talented. I'd love the illustration! Just let me know!
Beautiful! wonderful! magical!