Embedded Files
The Crowns Exhibit aims to celebrate the diversity that exists within our BAME population. Staff and students discuss the significance of their hair, hairstyle or head-covering to their identity, and share their experiences within the academic and professional space. Their stories along with their photographs are featured below.
Karisha Kimone George:
Karisha Kimone George:
"I now understand how my hair reflects who I am. The wearing of my hair natural has made me more comfortable in the irks, and given me an awareness of what it means to be a Caribbean person living in another country, trying to figure out the whole Britishness of life, but also making whoopsies and being okay with that. "
"I know my curls reflect the slave history of my family - the whiteness that contributed to my hair being curly and all of that. But I love my curls, and if it was any thicker or any more coarse, I think I would have a much more difficult time, but I also want to just ignore and be outside of all of those politics and cultural aspects of it, and just love my hair as it is."
Trish Chinzara:
Trish Chinzara:
"For people from different cultures with different hair, hairstyles or head-coverings, their hair is a way for people to other them
Everything is made for you as a white woman - styling tools, products, treatments available"
Nur Khairunnisa Hassan:
Nur Khairunnisa Hassan:
"The hijab is my identity that I will bring everywhere I go. I feel like when I have my hijab on people know my boundaries, like in social setting, for example. Since I'm wearing the hijab everywhere, this means that I always bring that impression to people everywhere I go."
"Wearing the hijab is like my freedom of speech."
Avtar Matharu:
Avtar Matharu:
"I’ve been able to maintain my faith, especially wearing my turban, and culture with confidence and without compromise ."
"I’ve been able to maintain my faith, especially wearing my turban, and culture with confidence and without compromise ."
"People think I wear my turban 24 hours a day. That's a huge misconception. I don't go to sleep wearing my turban. I don't shower wearing my turban. I don't play sports wearing my turban."
"We don't need to change our identity or our culture to please others. We shouldn't have to compromise our identity to please others."
Claireth Cantillo:
Claireth Cantillo:
"My afro tells the world that I embrace my true self, and it empowers me to bring my full, authentic presence into every aspect of my life."
"My afro tells the world that I embrace my true self, and it empowers me to bring my full, authentic presence into every aspect of my life."
Jade Richards:
''My hair varies in texture and style depending on my mood, health and the time of year. It's curly/kinky. I don't use curl charts as there are different textures throughout my hair. I love it's versatility.
Sometimes I add braids or cornrow or twist it. I have worn my hair natural (unrelaxed) since I was 17. I experiment with different hairstyles. The various curl patterns, textures and choices of style reflect my mixed European and African Heritage.
As a biracial person, I don't know many people who share my background. As a child it was interesting to me that my hair was 'long' in Zimbabwe and 'short' in the UK. I feel more able to be creative with my hair in spaces with more Black people.''
Jie Fe:
My hair is naturally straight, and the symbolic importance of this hair type is substantial.
Simplicity: Uncomplicated and pure, straight hair requires minimal styling and maintenance to achieve a sleek appearance.
Elegance: Its inherent ability to be effortlessly styled to exude sophistication makes it particularly well-suited for formal occasions and professional settings.
Modernity: Straight hair is frequently heralded in contemporary fashion as a representation of a modern and chic aesthetic.
Cultural Preferences: Within numerous East Asian cultures, straight hair is favored for its tidy and orderly semblance, aligning with cultural values centered on harmony, discipline, and respectability.
Versatility: Recognized for its adaptability, straight hair accommodates a wide spectrum of hairstyles, ranging from free-flowing to sleek bobs, thereby facilitating its suitability across diverse social and professional milieus.
Beauty Standards: In many East Asian cultures, straight hair is often considered the ideal texture, leading to a high demand for hair treatments like straightening and rebonding. This is especially true for people with naturally wavy or curly hair. Media representation further reinforces this standard, with many celebrities and models sporting straight hair."
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