Simone Biles, the most accomplished gymnast in history, has been making headlines with her outstanding performances at the Olympics. However, instead of celebrating her achievements, some people chose to focus on her hair. Biles didn’t hold back in responding to these criticisms.
Gymnasts often style their hair in a way that keeps it away from their faces, allowing them to concentrate on their routines. Yet, despite Biles’ incredible talent and success, social media was filled with cruel comments about her hair. Some called it messy or unkempt.
In response, Biles took to social media to address the critics. She shared a photo of herself with her hair pulled back into a ponytail, accompanied by a caption that shut down the negative comments. Biles confidently wrote, “Don’t come for me about my hair. It was done, but the bus has no AC, and it’s like 9,000 degrees. Oh, and a 45-minute ride.” In the following image, she is shown fanning her face due to the heat, while adding, “Next time you wanna comment on a Black girl’s hair, JUST DON’T.”
Biles has been open about her hair journey and the expectations placed on her as a gymnast. In an interview with Elle, she credited social media with providing inspiration for Black women to take better care of their hair and beauty routines. She expressed that she used to worry about how her hair would be perceived in terms of professionalism, but now she’s no longer embarrassed by it.
Unsurprisingly, many loyal fans came to Biles’ defense after the criticism she received. One fan wrote, “Imagine being the kind of person who watches Simone Biles perform moves that no one else can do, twirl in the air multiple times and land on her two feet… only to comment on her hair! Imagine having that mentality?” Another commented, “Simone Biles is out here making history, and people are worried about her hair. We really are cooked as a society.”
Simone Biles is not only an extraordinary athlete but also a role model for her resilience and ability to stand up against unnecessary criticism. Her message is clear: focus on her incredible athletic abilities, not her hair.
