To Simone Biles, With Love
Dear Simone,
I’ve been meaning to write this letter for a while, but words have always felt inadequate to capture the mix of admiration and concern I feel. 
You’ve been a beacon of inspiration, not just for me, but for my daughter and countless other young Black girls who watch you soar. Your athletic feats are nothing short of miraculous, defying gravity and expectations with every flip and twist. The entire sport had to change to make your greatness, naming new moves after you and adjusting the scorecards.
Yet, amidst your historic achievements and unparalleled grace, I find myself grappling with a familiar and painful reality — people still have the audacity to judge you based on your hair.
What scares me is this: will my daughter, a voracious reader and star student with her beautiful kinky hair and bright eyes, find that her brightness pails in comparison to perfect hair? She loves her hair and we experiment in so many ways: with braids, twists, puffs, her afro, and silk press or as she calls it “down hair.”
When we look at you we see a champion, a trailblazer, a woman who looks like us accomplishing things no one has ever done before. But I also see the other side, the whispers, and comments that focus not on your gold medals but on your hairstyles, as if your hair somehow detracts from your excellence. Wildly enough, some of these comments are coming from other Black women. It’s infuriating and heartbreaking all at once.
In a world where you should be celebrated for your incredible talent and dedication, it’s disheartening to see that some people can’t see past your natural hair. It’s a stark reminder that no matter how high you fly, some will still try to pull you down with their narrow perceptions. As a mother, it’s a fear I carry for my own daughter. I faced it myself as a Black girl with kinky hair and it still impacts me today.
Will she be seen for her abilities and character, or will she be reduced to superficial judgments based on her appearance?
You’ve navigated these waters with such poise, Simone, but I can’t help but wonder about the toll it takes. It’s a heavy burden, to be judged not only for your skills but also for how you look while executing them. This scrutiny isn’t new to Black women; it’s an all-too-familiar narrative that has followed us for generations. The way our hair grows, and the styles we choose, become topics of conversation and controversy, distracting from our achievements and who we are as individuals.
But here’s what I want to say to you – THE Simone Arianne Biles Owens – because I like to call legends by their full name: Thank you. Thank you for being unapologetically yourself. Thank you for showing my daughter that she can be strong and talented, and still be subjected to criticism, yet rise above it all. You teach her that excellence is not defined by society’s narrow standards but by one’s dedication and passion.
You give me hope that my daughter will grow up in a world where the brilliance of Black girls and women is celebrated, not scrutinized. A world where her natural beauty is appreciated in all its forms and where her achievements are the focus, not her hair or skin color.
So, to you, Simone, with all my love and admiration: Keep soaring. Keep inspiring. Keep showing the world that you are more than their judgments, more than their limited views. You are a force of nature, a work of innovation in human form, a testament to what it means to be exceptional, and a role model for my daughter and so many others.
In you, she sees possibility, strength, and undeniable beauty — inside and out.
With all my heart,
A Grateful Mom
