Actress Samira Wiley is pleased to see lots of African American women embracing their natural hair.

Orange is the New Black's Samira Wiley has no regrets over chopping off her hair, as she saw it as a new beginning.

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The 28-year-old actress plays Poussey Washington in the hit Netflix series about a women's prison. Her short afro hair is as synonymous with the character as it is in real life for Samira, who chopped off her long locks when she attended prestigious performing arts college the Juilliard School, and she has never looked back.

"I've had my hair short for a really long time - it's been nine years," she told lifestyle website MIMI. "Before I cut it, I had long hair that was everything from permed to straight. I remember when I got into Juilliard - which was just crazy to me, that I would be studying at a school like that - the choice to cut all my hair off was really symbolic for me. It felt like I was making the choice to have a new beginning. It's the same really for a lot of African American girls at that age - you see a trend of them going back to their natural hair - that was definitely what I was chasing at that time. And I didn't really go back (to long hair) because it felt so good."

That doesn't mean Samira is against growing her hair in the future, and after trying on a variety of wigs for the site's accompanying photo shoot, she is excited at the prospect of switching up her look when Orange is the New Black comes to an end.

"I am looking forward to whenever the show comes to a close - whenever that is - to be able to have another one of those new beginnings," she continued. "I'm looking forward to growing my hair, and doing different things with it."

Samira credits her mother and older sister for helping her look evolve over the years as they have always inspired her to experiment. "My mom is super fabulous, and I remember her telling me at 13, 'You can start wearing make-up now,'" she recalled. "And the funny thing is, I didn't take her up on it. I don't wear it on an everyday basis, because I like my skin to breathe."

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Source:http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/fashion-beauty/samira-wiley-cutting-off-my-hair-was-really-symbolic-34216521.html

7-Year Old Girl Wins $16k For Her Comic Book About A Little Black Girl with Magic Afro Puffs/

A major problem facing African Americans is the rampant self hate among our people. Subconsciously, we are breed via the educational system, media and history to look down on our people, ourselves and especially our hair, particularly little black girls.

This is why the story of 7 year old Natalie McGriff is so inspiring and uplifting to me that I feel all of UI and the world should know about her. Not only did she suffer from this self hate and hated her hair, but she realized it with the help of her mom and took steps to do something about it to help others.

Natalie is the author of “The Adventures of Maxie Girl”, a comic book series about a little black girl that hates her nature hair. Then one day, she uses some magic shampoo on her hair and her afro puffs take on super powers that give her the ability to save Jacksonville, Florida’s public libraries from being eaten by monsters.

The story builds self confidence in little black girls while encouraging them to read as well, another area Natalie struggled in before putting together the comic book.

McGriff presented The Adventures of Moxie Girl at One Spark, the world’s largest crowdfunding festival designed to connect creators with the resources they need to bring their ideas to life. Her comic book was a win, as the young author took home a check for $16,423.69.

Angie Nixon, McGriff’s mother, helped to author the book upon realizing that her daughter suffered with self-esteem issues and hated reading. “‘She now realizes how powerful and awesome her hair is and that in order for her to write a cool book, she needs to read more books and learn different word,’” Nixon says.

McGriff is the winner of One Spark’s Education category. Over 530 projectsreportedlycompeted at One Spark and 300,000 people attended.

Source: Urbanintellectuals

Brave Girl a TWA at Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

On the runway for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, where glossy, flowing curls are the norm, one model decided to do things her way Tuesday night.

Rather than bending to VS's traditional beauty standards, 23-year-old Angolan model Maria Borges rocked the runway sans wig, weave or even extensions. While donning elaborate bras, feather-laden "wings" and lots and lots of fringe, Borges went all natural to make a personal yet powerful statement on what beauty could look like in today's world. 

Source: Michael Stewart/Getty Images

Source: Evan Agostini/AP

"I told my agent I wanted to walk in the Victoria's Secret show with my natural hair," Borges told entertainment news reporter B. Scott, who posted on Instagram. "I was nervous, but I had to do it. When they said 'yes' I didn't expect it, but I was so happy!"

Source: iammariaborges/Instagram

Fans gushed in response to Borges' look on her Instagram. "I can't be more proud of your haircut, you look STUNNING.

. Another wrote, "Thank you for taking a stand an wearing your natural hair!!!"

And Borges was more than proud to celebrate with them, showing no sense of doubt or tentativeness about her decision. Instead, she called out her "Afro hair" and used the hashtag #MBmakinghistory.

Source: iammariaborges/Instagram

Source: iammariaborges/Instagram

It was history-making in a personal way. 

Borges has walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show catwalk twice before — in 2014 and 2013 — and for both shows, she went with the typical long, flowy tresses of her peers.

Borges during the Victoria's Secret fashion shows in 2013 and 2014.

Source: Getty Images

This year, however, she was able to walk alongside celebrity supermodels like Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner and stand out for just the right reason. 

Borges' statement comes at a critical time for the country's largest lingerie retailer and its massive yearly showcase. Although Victoria's Secret has made an effort to bring on more black girls to the runway show this year, there are still startlingly few of them. Out of the 44 models walking this year, eight are black. And Borges was the only model to do so with her natural hair. 

Especially during a time when black beauty in the mainstream (and lack thereof) continues to make headlines, Borges has made a noteworthy move. In early October, Empire actress Taraji P. Henson did the same with a photo shoot for the high-end fashion magazine CR Fashion Book. 

"As women we put sooooo much emphasis on our hair!!!" Henson wrote in an Instagram caption of the photos. "As if hair defines beauty? I am always so grateful for women who are FREE AND BOLD enough to cut it ALL off." 

In the fashion and beauty industry, there's been a rise in models themselves drawing attention to the industry's overall lack of diversity, in particular its consistent overlooking of black beauty. In July, model Nykhor Paul took to her Instagram to talk about the makeup artists that still come ill-prepared to photo shoots with dark-skinned models.

"Why do I have to bring my own makeup to a professional show when all the other white girls don't have to do anything but show up wtf!" she wrote. "Stop apologizing it's insulting and disrespectful to me and my race it doesn't help, seriously! Make an effort at least!"

The fact that Borges walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show proudly with her natural hair matters — both for women who will watch the show on national television Dec. 8, looking up to the models as displays of beauty, and for the industry insiders who could use to familiarize themselves with hair and skin that isn't just white.

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is known for presenting models that are beauty and sex appeal incarnate, and Borges reminded us what that can look like in 2015. 

Source: Mic