Featured Image Credit: Sipa US / Alamy Stock Photo/Instagram/@simonebiles
Topics: Sport, Fashion, Olympics, Sex and Relationships, Social Media, Celebrity
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Sport, Fashion, Olympics, Sex and Relationships, Social Media, Celebrity
Simone Biles has hit back at the criticism she's faced from some social media users over the way she wore her hair on her wedding day.
The Olympic gymnast tied the knot with partner Jonathan Owens - American football safety for the Houston Texans - on Saturday (22 April) at a courthouse in Houston.
Despite the praise for her affordable wedding outfit and very last minute-attire, Biles faced criticism from some over the way she wore her hair.
Some social media users flocked to Twitter to condemn Biles - now Simone Biles Owens - for styling her hair in a high ponytail, accusing her of looking 'unkempt' because of not 'laying her edges', as per Mail Online.
While one of the most-viewed comments has since been deleted, another reads: "I was like Simone biles hair could not have been that bad then I seen the pics."
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Replying to a user who came to her defence, Biles responded to some of the criticism she's faced.
She wrote: "I think they also forget i live in HOUSTON TEXAS & I sweat those out!! soon as we stepped outside for pics
"But they can keep complaining idc idc idc."
Others were quick to flood to the platform in defence of Biles.
A user said: "Congratulations to you and your husband. Ignore the noise and enjoy your life."
"You looked beautiful! Don’t listen to any of that noise. Continue to be the amazing woman & amazing role model you are to the younger generation following in your footsteps. Congratulations, beautiful!" another commented.
A third wrote: "Simone Biles is one of THEE top gymnasts we’ve ever seen, has overcame situations of abuse and other obstacles in her childhood, has defined her own success and found love and is now happily married…And y’all worried about her hair…..?!
"And not to make it about a man, but y’all be doing all that judging of her hair, and she’s found someone who loves her, as she is. Hairstyle and all. Can you say the same for you….? Y’all put way too much emphasis on appearance for me."
Some compared the criticism Biles has faced as being of a similar nature comments fellow gymnast, Gabby Douglas, has been subject to throughout her career as well.
One user wrote: "First it was Gabby Douglas, now it's Simone Biles. I thought we were embracing our natural hair and not worried about edges. Or is it just some hair textures we're okay with?
"Our civil rights are under siege and THIS is what folks are upset over? Simone Biles edges???"
Another said: "This Simone Biles hair slander is very weird, but not new. Mind you—Gabby Douglas was a CHILD winning gold medals and people were tweeting threads and writing think pieces about her hair."
A final resolved: "They tried this sh— with Gabby Douglas and now Simone Biles. It sounds like self-hate and anti-Blackness to me. Folks think textured hair is bad, and Black women’s hair should be super straight with no kinks or curls. Simone Biles's hair is fine.
"Let Black girls live."