THE MIKARA REID IDENTITY: FASHIONABLE & UNAPOLOGETICALLY BALD (OP-ED)
FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, you may see me as a black woman that’s well put together with a unique aesthetic. But from the inside out, its been a rocky road of emotions to now having a recognizable and memorable identity.
Along my self-discovery journey as well as my fashion business journey, I adopted a lot of the ways the fashion industry has programmed us all, keeping up with the trends (or as I call it Follow the Fashion & the Get-fly-Scheme). We’re constantly in and out of clothes that don’t resonate with our core-being and individuality. As humans, our diversity is the spice of our existence — don’t you agree?
Over 12 years ago, I decided to go a different route regarding my hairstyle and cut the shit all off. I don’t feel like hair defines me as a woman — the sway in my hips, the strut in my walks and my creative appearance all screams ‘woman’. So this ‘one’ thing that society has pushed, shouldn’t allow others to be the determinant of what is and what isn’t a woman.
When I come across the older generation it’s like they’re stuck to the notion of — women should have long hair because ‘they are women’ and there’s no if, and’s or but about it .As long as I carried the functionality of a woman, to me what difference did it make to have hair or no hair. But unfortunately we have been programmed, the straighter the better, the longer the softer of a woman she is. My nails are done, the heels are click-clatting and the outfits are outfitting but for some reason, my unique personal appearance rubs people the wrong or uncomfortable way.
