Michaela Coel first came to our attention through her award-winning and unapologetically irreverent Netflix series Chewing Gum. Even as the chronically awkward yet hilarious shopgirl Tracey Gordon, the gorgeous and multitalented Anglo-Ghanaian actress and screenwriter proved herself a skilled shape-shifter, making the character of Tracey as elastic as a rubber band as she tries to find herself in a very repressive and insular world.
By contrast, Coel’s life and career are expanding by the minute, and it’s a joy to behold. Aside from appearing both in the most recent Star Wars release and in episode 1 of this season of Black Mirror, she’s co-starring in the English musical film Been So Long, due out later this year on Netflix.
Suffice to say, whether choosing a challenging new role or impressing us with her yoga skills on her highly entertaining Instagram page, Michaela Coel likes to push herself to new limits, and her hair is no exception. This chameleon loves to switch up her style, transitioning from her closely cropped natural to any number of wigs at a moment’s notice.
And for those who take notice with judgment on the brain, this past weekend, she had this to say while rocking a pink ombre-dyed bobbed wig: “Some of the righteous rally see my shaved head and start talking trash about my wig gang. I’m pro-choice, pro never be oppressed and never let your wig or ’fro box you. Let no one box you.”
When it comes to hair, we consider ourselves #TeamNeutral here at The Glow Up, so we love Coel’s message of autonomy and unconditional self-acceptance. She’ll frame her face in whatever way she chooses, thank you very much—and with those lips and cheekbones, why shouldn’t she?
Plus, brown skin always looks good in pink. [Wink.]