AFRIKINKYKIDS HITTING THE RUNWAY TO EMBRACE NATURAL HAIR AND AFRICAN CULTURE
Flashing lights, Afrobeats, loads of cuteness, and authentic fashion sense. Without a doubt, ultimate slaying was the epitome of the first ever @AfrikinkyKids Fashion Show, which was the highlight of the Culture Arts Expo & Convention that took place on May 19th 2018, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Elizabeth, NJ. In collaboration with ChubiiLine, Inc., run practically by a 13 year old entrepreneur, and Queens of Africa along side Ghana’s Most Beautiful, Miss Liberia, and Miss Ghana Tourism, the perfect environment was set to inspire young girls to feel bold and confident with their Afros, bantu knots, and threaded hair strands as they glided across the red carpet. Yes, “who run the world, girls” overshadowed every aspect of the event. Beautiful models walked down with grace and spunk wearing gorgeous dresses designed by Egypt Ufele adorned with authentic hairstyles bridging the old with the new. One of the most eye-catching styles was the geometric shape hairstyle woven with nylon threads raised from the scalp leaving the audience awestricken.
Queens of Africa United and Malachi International, an NGO whose mission is to uplift and foster unity, education and empowerment in communities across Africa honored exemplary individuals for their contribution to pushing the continent forward at the event. Africans Gone Natural, Co-Founders Olivia Frempong and Cynthia Amo danced their way to the podium to receive an honorable award for promoting “Made in Africa” and for all the effort and passion to empower the daughters of the diaspora and the continent to look good, feel good, and boldly wear their natural hair in style.
It truly takes a village to raise a child. Undeniably, this was a communal event with mothers, daughters, and friends working together to style and dress the models in celebration of the African culture. It seems Afrikinkykids are just getting started to bring down the roof. This event is certainly the stepping-stone for many inspiring events to empower young girls out there to be proud of every aspect of their hair in all its diverse texture, from kinky to curly and straight as well as embrace the African culture.
Stay tuned to the AFRIKINKYKIDS movement as it will continue to empower the youth to embrace culture and the beauty of natural hair.
@AfrikinkyKids is the Kids page of @AfricansGoneNatural, a natural hair movement that was launched in 2015, to help people embrace their natural hair and skin. To learn more about AfricansGoneNatural and the AfrikinkyKids movement, please check out www.Afrikinky.com for natural products from Africa, as well as @Africansgonenatural and @Afrikinkykids on Instagram.
Article Written by Esther Adusei—an aspiring writer and Personal Finance coach