VOGUE, natural hair, and serving the nation as a Black Woman

As a young girl, one of the things I always dreamed of was being a Supermodel which included goals such as walking for Victoria Secret and being featured in Vogue Magazine. Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell were my role models and daily I practiced my fierce model walk. Now at the age of 27 I have adjusted my goals and now I aspire to be a role model and a mentor to women and am a servant to my nation as a Captain in the United States Army. I am still a fan and supporter of the modeling industry and do some modeling on the side as well.

When I was presented with the opportunity to be featured in a VOGUE article I was overcome with joy. Vogue is the best of the best within the fashion industry but has now branched out into the online world where they cover intriguing stories that highlight different areas that focus on the average woman and what she endures and has accomplished.

June 2017 I was a part of a VOGUE article/project that highlights African American Servicewomen natural hair and our journeys in the service. Recently each respective branch with in the miitary (Army, Navy, Marines, Airforce, and Coast Guard) made adjustments to its hair regulations. Within my respective branch, the Army, locs were authorized. This is an important change because for years many organization both military and civilian considered the wearing of locs to be deemed unprofessional. This was done because at times those outside of the African American community did not understand dreadlocks/locs and only reference certain looks when referring to locs. Throughout the years the military has led the way in positive organizational change to include the desegregation of the Armed Forces in 1948 which was done while the nation was still adhering to Jim Crow Laws. The military led the way and showed that all service members were equal even though on American soil outside of the service all citizens were not treated equally. Once again the military (specifically the army) is leading from the front by making locs an accepted regulated hair style. Hopefully, other organizations throughout America will choose to understand the Black Culture and become more accepting of hairstyles that are worn in the Black community. There is so much room for growth and development in all areas of life and it’s great to see the military take charge and set the example for other organizations to follow.

The photo shoot took place in Washington, D.C at Kimpton Hotel Monaco on 17-18 June 2017. It was so refreshing and enlighting to spend the day with phenomenal service women. I also had the additional bonus of shooting with one of my West Point Sisters Jayna Reichert and one of my Best Friends who’s a graduate of the United States Naval Academy Arabia Littlejohn. Miss USA 2016 Deshauna Barber was also a part of the story but me and her shot on different days. They had to split the beauty queens up.

I had a blast shooting with Arabia she has a personality that literally lights up a room. I met her in 2009 at West Point during the Army Navy Track meet where we both were competing for our respective academies. As you can see we have a history together and it has been such a pleasure to grow and learn with her on the track and throughout our life thus far.

Overall the experience was great and it really made me appreciate who I am as a black woman along with the power and strength behind this beautiful crown that I wear proudly on my head.

Top row, from left: Captain Desiree Andrus, U.S. Army; Second Lieutenant Alexis Simmons, U.S. Army; Major Camille Morgan, U.S. Army Reserve; Staff Sergeant Brittany Bell, U.S. Air Force. Bottom four, from left: Master Sergeant TaSheva Pouncey, U.S. Army; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ernestine Epps, DE Army National Guard; Major Nicole Bohannon, U.S. Marine Corps; Captain Shalela Dowdy, U.S. Army.[/caption]

from Vogue “Lieutenant Junior Grade Arabia Littlejohn, U.S. Navy Littlejohn had natural hair that fell past the shoulder-length limit for candidates when she enrolled at the Naval Academy in Maryland. She used a traditional African hair technique to avoid cutting her curls and had her hair braided into a circular beehive-like crown that stood within the three-inch regulation above her head. “Considering how long it takes for black hair to grow, I was willing to do whatever it took to save my locks,” says Littlejohn, who regularly alternates between straight-ironed hair and natural braids these days. Such resourcefulness has put her in good stead for naval life: She often finds herself in far-flung destinations—Morocco, Spain, Colombia, Greece, and Israel are among the countries to which she’s been deployed—as one of the only female officers aboard a ship of hundreds of servicemen. “I know that as a woman of color, I have to lead from the front and be a model for other black junior officers,” she says. “It’s a responsibility that’s on my shoulders, but I’m grateful for it.”

from Vogue “Major Tennille Woods Scott, U.S. Army Woods Scott has adapted her beauty regime under some pretty adverse conditions during her 12 years of military service. “In Iraq, I would relax my own hair every eight weeks, which was quite dangerous,” says Woods Scott, who served in the region in 2007 and 2008. “In the hour or so that it took, I was nervous, thinking, What if a rocket or mortar comes in?” When she eventually decided to ditch her chemical straightening kits, she inspired members of her family to do the same, including her younger sister, who was recently commissioned to the Army. Her mother, also a veteran, passed away 14 years ago, before the current natural hair movement began gathering speed, though Woods Scott believes she would have been encouraged by the recent changes in regulations. “It’s refreshing to see women up and down the ranks embracing their natural hair,” she says. “I think my mom would be pleasantly surprised.”

from Vogue “Captain Deshauna Barber, U.S. Army Barber is regularly swarmed by servicewomen asking for autographs and pictures the moment she steps foot onto a base. A former full-time IT analyst with the Department of Commerce, she’s the only Miss USA to have been crowned while in the Army Reserve. Barber made history for a second time in May when she took the stage for her final walk as Miss USA with her natural curls. “There are so many women in pageants who won’t wear their natural hair for fear of not winning,” she says. “This got people talking.” Barber now works as a motivational speaker and is encouraged to see that the dialogue has opened up in the military, too. “Hair is a complicated thing for women of color,” says Barber, who still remembers struggling with the discomfort of wearing wigs under her helmet. “The new regulations show they did the research; there’s an understanding and appreciation of just how diverse our backgrounds are.”

from Vogue “Lieutenant Colonel Jayna Reichert, U.S. Army Reichert started her career in the Army 17 years ago at West Point, arguably one of the most prestigious military academies in the world. “There wasn’t much in the way of social media or even Internet back then, so I spent my free time playing with my hair, doing updos in the mirror,” says Reichert. After chemical burns from a relaxer treatment at West Point’s on-site beauty salon left her with irreversible hair and scalp damage, Reichert stopped processing her natural curls for good. These days, she wears her hair in a signature soft bun, loosely twisting the sides to avoid the breakage that happens when repeatedly pulling back curls. “As a woman in the military, your hair is really your only opportunity for self-expression,” she says. “Regardless of who says what, it will always be tied to your femininity.”

Photographed by Mayan Toledano
Vogue write up by Chioma Nnadi

Remember To Always Be

Fierce and Fabulous

xoxo Lela Victoria

5 Replies to “VOGUE, natural hair, and serving the nation as a Black Woman”

Arabia Littlejohn says: Reply
August 25, 2017 at 2:15 am

Fabulously written. I enjoy reading all of your blog posts, as they are well thought out and genuine. Blessed to be a part of your journey.
1. Lela Victoria says: Reply
  September 1, 2017 at 9:15 pm
  
  Awee thanks sis I needed to read that sometimes it feels like I’m writing and not many people are reading but I know there are people out there who are appreciate it and I’m thankful for that
2. Lela Victoria says: Reply
  September 1, 2017 at 9:15 pm
  
  Awee thanks sis I needed to read that sometimes it feels like I’m writing and not many people are reading but I know there are people out there who are appreciate it and I’m thankful for that
Charmin Rickards says: Reply
July 29, 2020 at 12:16 pm

Great article . This is great progress as I remember when I joined the Navy, I got braids as a protective style for my hair back in the early 90’s. The first night in Orlando FL I remember being told that I had to have them out by the morning. I quickly befriend my new found friends of Company K029 to help me as I want to get it down fast so that I too could get a few hours of sleep. After serving over 22 years, of having to assimilate to standard that didn’t allow my naturally me, I thank you for this article that demonstrate a military moving toward inclusivity.
1. Lela Victoria says: Reply
  September 4, 2020 at 6:27 pm
  
  I hate that you had to endure not being able to embrace who you were as a Black Woman and serve at the same time. Change has definitely come about in the military for African American women I hope it continues as well.