Fleur East told she ‘wouldn’t sell records’ with her natural hair
Singer says her hair is a representation of her culture and 'should be celebrated'
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Your support makes all the difference.Fleur East has said she was told she wouldn’t be able to sell records if she wore her hair naturally.
In a new interview with Hello! magazine, the singer, who came second in the 2014 series of X Factor, said it was important for her to wear her afro “proudly”.
However, she added that prior to starring on the ITV show she was told by record companies to change the way she styled her hair.
“When I went into the X Factor, one thing that I really didn’t want to compromise on was my hair,” East said.
“That, to me, is a representation of me, my colour and my culture, and I believe that should be celebrated.
“I was in a group before X Factor and I was told to straighten my hair, that I wouldn’t be able to sell if I had my natural hair.”
The 32-year-old added that she has since been praised by people for not changing her hair and speaking so openly about her roots.
“I’ve been to shows where backstage I’ve met young black and mixed race kids whose parents have said ‘Thank you so much Fleur for wearing your hair proudly and for speaking about your culture and your roots, because my child has someone to look up to,” she explained.
Talking about her time on I’m On A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, East added: “When I went into the jungle a lot of people asked if I was going to braid my hair down, saying I couldn’t have my afro out in the jungle.
“But I wanted to have it out and wear it proudly.”
East credited other black female singers who have embraced their natural hair as important role models, including Spice Girl Mel B.
“In the music industry growing up there weren’t a lot of people who didn’t straighten their hair,” she said.
The singer, whose father was white and whose mother is from Ghana, also opened up about recently attending a Black Lives Matter protest, which was prompted by the death of George Floyd.
“The atmosphere was amazing,” she said. “I could have cried. Everyone was there. All races, all ages. It’s such a beautiful thing to see that.”
Floyd was killed by police offer Derek Chauvin on Monday 25 May. Chauvin originally faced charges of third degree murder and manslaughter but this was upgraded to second degree murder and manslaughter after weeks of protests.
A funeral was held for Floyd in Houston on Tuesday, before he was buried next to his mother.
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