First-ever contestant with dreadlocks makes Miss World top 5

According to BET, the contestant, who made it to the top 5 in this year's Miss World pageant, is deeply rooted in her afro-centric nature. Locks are a rare sight in beauty contests. Over the years, the fashion and beauty industry have categorised natural hair as the ‘other’ hair type - almost calling it 'unnatural'. 

Miss Universe 2007, Zahra Redwood, is yet another natural hair beauty to note. According to Mic, Redwood has spoken out about the fact that people don’t do enough to understand things they know little about, choosing to box people into stereotypes instead. Redwood was the first Rastafarian to be crowned Miss Universe in 2007.

For pageants to come, we hope this inspires more and more natural-haired women to present their natural selves, because being able to accept and love your natural, healthy hair should surely be the real crown.

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