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Dave Hogan / NBC News
Gabby Douglas and her mom, Natalie Hawkins, on TODAY after Team USA's gold-medal win.
Just before the scoreboard showed that Gabby Douglas had won the gold in individual gymnastics last week, her mom Natalie Hawkins had only one reaction: relief. It was relief that came after ten years of training, after her daughter said she dreamt of being an Olympian, and after she let her daughter move away from home at 14 to chase her dreams.
The relief didn't last long, as Hawkins soon found herself defending her daughter's hair, which had been swiftly criticized for being both “unkempt” and “embarrassing” very soon after Douglas made Olympic history.
In an interview with gymnastics gold medalist Dominique Dawes, Hawkins said when she first saw the comments she was confused. "Because I was looking at the pictures and I was like, 'I'm missing it,' because I don't see what they're talking about. I mean, she doesn't have fly-aways all sticking out, it's not like it's all over her head. It's pulled back into a ponytail."
Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
Gabby Douglas has been deflecting online commentary about her hair.
Hawkins went on to describe the specific way gymnasts must tie their hair back so that it doesn't interfere with their tumbling.
As her daughter competed, Hawkins thought of Douglas sharing a place in the history books alongside Dawes, who was the first African-American woman to win an individual Olympic medal in gymnastics. Hawkins told Dawes that when she imagined Gabby winning the gold she thought of her sharing "that amazing feat with people like the likes of you, and so that was exciting for me to know, that she would be counted on a level and in a category with you and all the other gymnastic greats."
She was not considering her daughter's ponytail.
According to Dawes, it shouldn't be a consideration. "As an athlete you are not focused on your appearance or you're not going to make those achievements," she said.
The attention over Douglas's hair gained ground once it hit Twitter. One user tweeted, “I love Gabby Douglas, but I'm mad at whoever keeps letting her wear that half wig and that silky ponytail on the back of some nappy hair.” Another suggested she did not belong on camera.
If Douglas has been fazed she hasn’t shown it, continuing to wear her hair the same way throughout the games. Fans have encouraged her along the way, many coming to her defense. TODAY's Al Roker tweeted Tuesday, "Anybody who has a problem w/Gabby Douglas' hair needs to sit down and be quiet. Enjoy and focus on the accomplishments."
When Hawkins spoke about the hair controversy to Fashionista.com, she said that she herself was once guilty of prioritizing her daughter's hair before her training, and had to be reminded that it had nothing to do with her career. “It was actually her coach who told me that,” she said. “I was trying to get her into a hair appointment and I wanted to move her training schedule around and he said to me, ‘She’s beautiful. You don’t need to change her hair. We need to focus on training.’"
Douglas lives and trains in Des Moines, Iowa, with a host family, Hawkins reminded Fashionista.com. "She lives with a white host family and they don’t know anything about taking care of her hair," she said. "And there’s no black salons in their area — not one. We had to work really hard to find a stylist to come and do her hair... It’s really been African-American women that have come out and attacked her. They don’t know about gymnastics. She has to keep her hair in a ponytail 28-30 hours a week."
Hair, especially among African-American women, has long been a cause of contentious discussion. As TODAY.com reported last week, media queen Oprah recently went au naturel for the cover of her magazine's September issue, which hits the stands today. The cover has sparked everything from widespread support to accusations that she isn’t wearing her real hair.
Douglas herself has summed up the controversy, echoing her mom’s statements in an interview with the Associated Press. "'I just made history and people are focused on my hair? It can be bald or short; it doesn't matter about (my) hair,'" she said.
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TODAY Moms: Sweet photo of white dad doing black daughter's hair goes viral
Leave a Comment:
Gabby and her mother must realize that there are a lot of unintelligent people out there. The comments are so stupid that one has to laugh. Gabby is a wonderful, talented young lady and an inspiration to all girls!
PLEASE, lets not talk about this stupid "hair thing" anymore. The more we give power to the ignorant people who brought it up in the first place, the more it takes the focus away from Gabby and her gold medal triumph. We all know the stupid people who brought up her hair are just jealous. They couldn't find anything else to pick on so they chose that. They're all losers and pathetic. Gabby is a wonderful example to all girls. She's smart, beautiful, talented and a winner! Go Gabby go! We love you!!!!!
OMG-her hair looks great and even if it didn't WHO CARES? She is a star - acknowledge that instead of focusing on something so shallow. And for those naysayers - get a life - she did and look what she's done with it!
Black against black who would of thunk. Gabby you go girl you were terrific and I didn't even notice your hair other than it was long and put back and up. Please give us a break what is wrong with people these days. Content of character not the color of skin.
Who exactly is saying this. Ignorant people that's for sure. Gabby and her family should be so proud and not pay any attention to those ill-mannered people. I think you looked perfect from head to toe ~!
I used to be a dance teacher for years and I still wear my hair like hers!
Pretty typical that black women will attack Gabby's hair. How absolutely stupid!! Guess they all need to remember that Oprah was the one who got the grease out of their hair!
High insecure heels,
Stilettos
Digging into their self esteem
Walking on their self respect
Stomping down in the dirt their dignity
In order to have long weaves
Long nails
Long eyelashes
Closed
to their self hatred
Ignore your achilles’ heels
Stand on your toes
Golden girl gabby
Your hair is more beautiful than your swing
Your smile is more adorable than your floor exercise
Your dismount cannot be discounted by those who criticize your hair
You are not your hair
And if you were
You would be even more beautiful
If that’s possible
Are you kidding me?! Some people aren't happy unless they're criticizing someone or something. I hope that Gabby remembers the scripture: "The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge but the mouth of the fool gushes folly." Proverbs 15:2 (NIV) 'Nuff said!
Are you kidding me?!! What idiocy! Gabby would do well to remember the scripture that says: "The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge but the mouth of the fool gushes folly." Proverbs 15:2 (NIV) 'Nuff said!
Some of us are still in slavery, Gabby! So don't you pay us any mind. You are a beautiful young physically fit Songhai Princess. Your beauty shines through every time you attack one more of your complicated gymnastic events. I know pretty much who those are that attack you on the basis of some nonsense; HAIR. They are the ones so vain and preoccupied with their own hair, that their behinds have become so soft and wide that they'd probably break their neck trying to just climb up on the balance beam. You are my inspiration and this brother loves you just the way you are, my young beautiful athletic sister. Continue to shine young princess!!!
I can honestly say I did not notice her hair, and I did not think about it. I see a young lady who achieved an amazing feat and is now in an elite group of Olympians. End of story (at least it should be).
What kind of low down, soulless, self-hating, delusional, waste of human life do you have to be to find anything wrong with Gabby Douglas. What's really going on here is quite obvious --- sad trolls past their prime and with no hope of making anything of their lives can't deny their true nature in the reflected brilliance of Gabby's star. Please go back in your troll holes. Beyonce, hot. Rihanna, hot. Hotness fades. True beauty like La Gioconda, like Gabby, is timeless.
gI swear to God...Do people not have anything else to worry about???? To Gabby's mom-I hope I never have to make the choice you made to let your daughter fnnollow her passion and leave home. Pure Hearbreak. Gabby-you are beautiful, inside and out. Thank you for what you have sacrificed to make history for the USA.
I personally think he hair looks terrible. Dominique Daws looked put together and beautiful. I like Gabby. She was one of the gymnasts I wanted to watch in the Olympics, however her hair does look like crap. She should put it in a neat bun. I dont think her hair looks fake, just messy.
to all you HATERS out there just think about it now she'll make enough money to keep her hair coiffed after this is over and her grill will def be fixed so dont hate on the best....HOW YOU LIKE HER NOW!
I remember years ago when venus williams was coming up in tennis competitions and she was referred to as looking like "medusa" by the media. its these outlets that need to check who they hire to cover these stories. it didn't stop her from her game it just made her more competitive and she def earned much RESPECT later in her career. so keep on going gabby let your haters be your motivators!
Are men treated this way when their hair is not the 'norm'? Not that I can think of--why are women so overly judged by something as wholly inconsequential as hair...?
OK Where do I start?
First of all I would like to say shame on ALL of the IDIOTIC BLACK WOMEN who have an issue with Gabby’s hair! That’s the problem with some of our people today worrying about the wrong things, hair, nails, shoes, and bla bla bla.. What about EXELLENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT? It’s NOT Gabby’s responsibility to represent Black hair, Black women, or anything else. The ONLY thing this talented 16 – year old girl is responsible for is EXCELLENCE! And she represents plenty of it!! She has set a standard of excellence and has set an example for our youth you idiots only wish you could and NEVER will!! She’s the BEST role model we ever had for Black teenage girls!! If we were to put as much emphasis on excellence rather than something as trivial as hair, we might be better off, and set better examples for our children! And oh yes, I’m a proud BLACK FATHER of two outstanding teenage girls 16 & 18 who both have high aspirations and will be attending medical school. The 16 year old has a 96.7 grade point average and finished #11 at the NY State 100 meter track finals in 2012. The 18 year old is about to embark upon her sophomore year of college. Do I say anything to them about their hair? HELL NO!!
GET YOUR PRIORITIES TOGETHER FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN, OR SHUT UP!!
i cant believe this, what people are saying ,,, Gabby Douglas great show,,, what a performance... and congratulations,,, the shallow people who make these comments have not achieved anything in their own lives... only way they know how is by being critical about others.... all we want to know is when is your next medal...
I have to say that I take issue with the way that the media is making it seem like all Black women cared about was Gabby's hair. They took a few ignorant comments posted by a few ignorant bafoons on Twitter and blew this entirely out of proportion, as usual. I have visited a number of black blogs and websites since Gabby's wins and have seen nothing but reverence, support, love and respect for Gabrielle coming from literally hundreds of Black women from all over this country. These are Black women who are extremely proud of Gabby's history making achievements. So for people to be focusing so hard on the negativity of a very small few yet overlook all of the support Gabby is getting from her community is, quite frankly, offensive to me. At least be fair in giving her supporters the same amount of coverage you give this BS. Otherwise, I can't help but just see this for exactly what it is: Just another excuse to bash Black women.
I am a hairstylist, and the LAST thing I look at at the OLYMPICS is how someone wears their hair. I bet any of these people who are criticizing her are probably the most uneducated losers and really need to stop watching the Olympics if they're worried about what these people look like. It's not a fashion show, morons!
I have to say that I take issue with the way that the media is making it seem like all black women cared about was Gabby's hair. They took a few ignorant comments written by a few ignorant people on Twitter and blew this thing way out of proportion.
I have frequented many black blogs and websites over the course of Gabby's Olympic appearances and have seen nothing but reverence, support, love and respect for Gabby from literally thousands of black women from all over this country. These are black women who are extremely proud of Gabby's history making achievements. For people to be focusing so hard on the negativity of a very small few yet overlook all of the support Gabby is getting from her community, and particularly from black women, is very hurtful to me because we are SO proud of this girl.
I understand the need for the media to over sensationalize things and harp on them ad nauseam. It sells papers and increases hits on websites. But when it gets to the point where you have a woman and her child believing that black women are somehow the big bad guys in this, it's starts to become borderline offensive and downright racist.
If you are going to run this hair thing into the ground, the least you can do is be fair about this. Give some coverage to Gabby's supports. They FAR outweigh the haters.I assure you. Otherwise, I can't help but see this thing for exactly what it is: Just another excuse to bash black women.