Coco Gauff celebrates Black History Month with hairstyle tribute to Williams sisters
In celebration of Black History Month, tennis superstar Coco Gauff is sporting a new hairstyle that pays tribute to the legendary Williams sisters.
The world No.3 and reigning WTA Finals champion debuted the fresh look on Monday in a post on her personal Instagram.
Gauff partnered with haircare brand Carol’s Daughter to design a style that features beaded cornrows in an homage to the early career looks of Serena and Venus Williams.
Sports News Blitz writer Shameeka Voyiya reports on the story.
Gauff inspired by tennis icons
The Williams sisters famously made headlines in the early 2000s with their now-iconic beaded hairstyles on the tennis court.
Before that, however, Serena and Venus had been much criticised for wearing braids from the moment they joined the professional tennis circuit as teenagers in the mid-1990s.
Nearly three decades later, Gauff – in collaboration with Carol’s Daughter – has shared a short clip in which she showcases a new look inspired by and paying tribute to those early Williams braids.
“I remember obviously watching Venus and Serena when I was young. This look is kind of a homage to them,” Gauff explained in the clip.
“They’ve always changed their hair. They had the beads, they had the braids, they had the curls, they had straight, they had everything.”
The 20-year-old further referenced her own journey as a black athlete in the current era.
“When I became more aware of what I wanted to do with my hair, I was inspired by and took note of what they were doing with theirs,” she said.
Celebrating natural hair
Gauff is a long-term collaborator with Carol’s Daughter, having been an avid user of their products in her personal capacity before anything official was rubber-stamped.
According to Carol’s Daughter, Gauff’s confidence in embracing the natural texture of her hair was a key attraction for the brand.
“What drew us to Coco is that she doesn’t just serve with her tennis skills; she also serves with her hairstyles!” says a blurb on their website.
“Like more people in her generation, Coco confidently embraces her natural texture, whether her hair is in a protective style or worn down to show off her curls.
“Her enthusiasm for sporting natural hair, which challenges traditional beauty standards, inspires others to take pride in their curls and coils. With her poise, strength and unique style, Coco Gauff is a true role model.”
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