Sofia Chioma Okuogume, a 27-year-old social media influencer, has gained a following of nearly 100,000 people on TikTok by sharing advice and content related to afro-textured hair care. Okuogume, who grew up in Kuopio, says her journey toward embracing her natural hair required years of personal growth and learning.
During her youth, Okuogume struggled with her hair, noting a lack of representation and accessible information regarding the care of afro hair. She began straightening her hair in the second grade, a practice she continued until high school. Her perspective shifted after seeing images of other women of African descent on social media, which led her to realize she could embrace her natural hair rather than hide it.
Okuogume began creating content on TikTok in May 2023 as part of an internship for her master’s degree. Although she initially doubted that videos about afro hair would appeal to a broad audience, her content quickly gained popularity, with some videos reaching hundreds of thousands of views. She reports receiving positive feedback from a diverse audience, including individuals with different hair types who find her content engaging.
Okuogume emphasizes that her work is particularly meaningful to young people of African descent and parents of children with afro hair, who use her videos as a resource. She intends to continue creating content that explores the history and cultural significance of afro hair, including the traditions associated with braiding.
Article source: www.iltalehti.fi | Image credit: www.iltalehti.fi