Natural hair in broadcast media and why visual representation is so important

Having the freedom to explore new hairstyles is a huge part of a black womans creative self expression. However, when working in TV and Broadcast Media, creating content promoted to millions of viewers from both inside and outside of your own community, the question of how you want to be perceived and understood is one that will have to be asked.

During this interview I will unpack the experience of popular black British female TV Presenter, Scarlette Douglas, who much like many of us, wants to try new looks and hairstyles, showcasing the beauty of her natural hair one day and the variety of braids, bantu knots or extensions the next, whilst still protecting the health of her hair AND progressing and flourishing in her career.

We discuss the power of visibility and representation in the media for younger generations of talented people of colour that are looking for faces that are reminiscent of their own, and dig into what we feel needs to change in the landscape of TV to perpetuate an ongoing positive narrative for the black community who may themselves strive to one day also see themselves in the media.