Tara Davis-Woodhall, an Olympic gold medalist, expresses her surprise at the lack of representation of Black hairstyles in emojis. Supporting the Code My Crown campaign by Dove and RISE.365, she shares her experience of feeling unrepresented in digital spaces. The campaign seeks to persuade the Unicode Consortium to introduce new emojis that reflect Black hair textures, including afros, braids, locs, and cornrows. Research shows that 80% of Black people in the U.S. struggle to find suitable emoji representations, highlighting the significant need for diversity in digital communication.
"I was shocked - not surprised, but shocked - that we're not represented," Davis-Woodhall tells Bustle, reflecting on the lack of emojis that reflect natural Black hairstyles.
Dove, alongside RISE.365, is calling on the Unicode Consortium to introduce new emojis reflecting Black hair textures and styles: afro, braids, locs, and cornrows.
"If I had an emoji to represent each hairstyle I had, my Instagram would be even more popping," says Davis-Woodhall, emphasizing the need for representation.
"I just want to be seen for who I am," Davis-Woodhall says, reflecting on how limited emoji options fail to represent diverse hair types.
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