Earlier today, trendcasters at Marie Claire broke some very important style news:
Kendall Jenner takes bold braids to a new epic level: http://t.co/IMPn41xorhpic.twitter.com/Cgp7X8CfNg
— Marie Claire (@marieclaire) April 2, 2014Jenner—one of the younger members of the cabal, who's being groomed to be the next Kardashian to do whatever it is they do—had been singled out for her “bold” look. Since Marie Claire is a fairly innocuous women’s magazine, these “bold braids” might have indeed appeared “epic” to some of their readers.
However, once the tweet started circulating, Twitter reminded the magazine that five tiny cornrows are only “epic,” “bold,” or “new” if you’re young, rich, and white.
“RT @marieclaire: Kendall Jenner takes bold braids to a new epic level pic.twitter.com/cwcBjermmD” NIGGA I TOOK BOLD BRAIDS TO A NEW LEVEL IN 98
— The Kid Mero (@THEKIDMERO) April 2, 2014
New? Ever heard of black people? “@marieclaire: Kendall Jenner takes bold braids to a new epic level: pic.twitter.com/DY1Fj1Vx9I”
— JP (@thecityofjules) April 2, 2014A search for #boldbraids reveals even more responses to that myopic view on braids, history, inclusion, and cultural biases, etc.:
@marieclaire what're your thoughts on fact that blk women are reprimanded at work for wearing same #boldbraids you're applauding Kendall for
— Divinity Matovu (@divinitymatovu) April 2, 2014
If you’ve never gotten your hair braided in somebody’s kitchen, you’ve never had #boldbraids.
— TrishyFromTheBlock (@SweetFaceTrishy) April 2, 2014Then there was this perfect tweet:
Listen up @marieclaire#BoldBraidspic.twitter.com/f03Alm0Mv7
— ् (@HabibahPerez) April 2, 2014Marie Claire’s social media team eventually apologized for their wording:
We didn’t mean to offend or imply that cornrows were new. Our tweet was poorly worded.
— Marie Claire (@marieclaire) April 2, 2014
We thought her hair looked great and recognize women have been styling their hair like this for ages.
— Marie Claire (@marieclaire) April 2, 2014One would hope this might lead to the magazine diversifying their staff a bit, but it looks like other publications are just as single-minded. Did you know Jenner and her sisters have also been trying out some bold new “tribal” makeup while in Thailand?
Photo by Klint F/Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)