The 2019 Miss Teen USA winner rocked her natural hair during the pageant—and here’s why it matters
Women of color wearing their natural hair in movies, television, and magazines has happily become more common in recent years, but overall, it’s still often the exception rather than the rule. Which is why Miss Teen USA 2019 rocking her natural Afro during the pageant marked a huge moment for representation.
According to People, on April 28th, Kaliegh Garris of Connecticut was crowned Miss Teen USA 2019. And so many viewers were loving her decision to embrace her natural hair during the competition.
"The night before, I finger curled every single piece of my hair in the shower, which led to a very long shower, but it was for the greater good," Garris told Refinery29. "I know what I look like with straight hair, with extensions, and with my curly hair, and I feel more confident and comfortable with my natural hair."
She added, “As I’ve gotten older, it makes me feel unique.” However, the decision wasn’t easy: Garris noted that she received pushback and criticism in the often homogenous pageant circuit.
"There were a few naysayers saying, 'You look better with straight hair,' or 'You should put in extensions and straighten your natural hair," she told the site.
Thankfully, she ignored the critics, and it paid off with a victory that brought much-needed representation to so many women and girls. Business Insider notes that it’s been 20 years since the pageant last crowned a winner with natural hair—when Ashley Coleman took home the Miss Teen USA title in 1999.
#MissTeenUSA 2019 is… CONNECTICUT! 👑
From @GrandSierra in @RenoTahoe, welcome to the sisterhood. pic.twitter.com/9w548f1Bne
— Miss USA (@MissUSA) April 29, 2019
And Twitter was here for it.
Just wanted to let y’all know our new Miss Teen USA is this BLACK NATURAL HAIRED QUEEN right here. That is all 😌 pic.twitter.com/RUnCG5AL8w
— Mariah Clayton (@mariahclayton_1) April 29, 2019
Shine black girl shine! Congratulations to Kaleigh Garris on being crowned Miss Teen USA. ✨👑 pic.twitter.com/nc74jVCaQj
— curlygirlcollective (@ILOVECGC) April 30, 2019
Think of all the beauty history missed because it confined the word for the world.
Think of all the beauty history missed because the world preferred straight over curled.Congrats #MISSTEENUSA
Kaliegh Garris 👑 pic.twitter.com/EyYkcZAjAF— Logan Browning (@LoganLaurice) May 1, 2019
MISS TEEN USA is a BLACK NATURAL HAIRED WOMAN.
this 👏🏽 is 👏🏽 so 👏🏽 important 👏🏽
this 👏🏽 is 👏🏽 so 👏🏽 important 👏🏽
this 👏🏽 is 👏🏽 so 👏🏽 important 👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/zfKzQNTGd0— Kaylee Morgan (@KayleeSMorgan) April 30, 2019
Congratulations to Kaleigh Garris of Connecticut for being crowned Miss Teen USA 2019! While wearing her natural hair👑 A crown atop a crown. pic.twitter.com/UINsqJVW5x
— The Lorraine House (@LorraineHouseNY) April 30, 2019
Aside from having gorgeous hair, Garris boasts a long list of accomplishments. Her bio on the Miss Teen USA website states that she attends two high schools (one of which is a specialized performing arts school) and is a competitive dancer. She also founded a movement called “We Are People 1st” in honor of her sister, who has multiple disabilities.
We’re happy to see this year’s Miss Teen USA title go to such a deserving candidate—and we’re even more glad that it marks a major step forward for inclusivity.
