What motivates this young entrepreneur with a bright future to set up Miss Black Hair Netherlands? Who is this Software Engineer, what inspires Sherlon Gerard and why?
Can you introduce yourself for those who don't know you? What is your name, background and ethnicity?
My name is Sherlon Gerard and I was born and raised in Curacao. After my HBO Electrical Engineering at the University of the Netherlands Antilles, I decided to emigrate to the Netherlands in 2005. Here I did my academic training as a Software Architect and decided to start my own sole proprietorship after working for 3 years. As a self-employed person I provide ICT consultancy services to companies. Now I have been one of the two founders of Miss Black Hair Nederland for almost 2 years.
What was your inspiration to start Miss Black Netherlands, when and what is your goal?
Growing up in Curacao, it was normal for all the women around me to relax their hair or hide it with a weave or a wig. As I got older and more aware, I started to wonder why these women try so hard not to look like themselves? What is the reason that natural hair is rocked so little? This was also the reason why I thought Miss Black Hair Nederland should be founded. In this way I want to make a difference and make black women aware of the fact that they are beautiful in their natural state and that it is ultimately about self-acceptance and wearing yourself with pride.
What were the expectations and how did the first election go?
We certainly had positive expectations for the pageant regarding the turnout and how the audience would like it. At the beginning of the pageant we had to deal with some technical problems. That was a bit of a bummer. Once it was up and running our audience could enjoy our dazzling program that we had prepared. Based on the comments we could see that the audience was impressed by the beautiful misses and their performance on stage.
We have of course learned a lot from the first election and our aim is to come back even better.
What is the most challenging thing for you about setting up such an election?
Dealing with such a large group of women together.
And what is the best thing about organizing Miss Black Hair Netherlands?
During the period leading up to the election, I met a lot of black entrepreneurs and black-conscious artists.
What is the most important lesson you have learned from this event so far?
That it is up to us, the new generation, to take care of our own growth in awareness. No longer thinking that another race will help us to get on top. They have no interest in that. We must now search for the knowledge that is necessary for complete self-love and pass that on to the new generation.
Ultimately, the beauty pageant is not about hair but about awareness and we use hair to extend it to identity. After all, hair is more than hair and can say a lot about how you see yourself. We would like people to enter into a dialogue with each other about what hair means to inspire each other to not only be natural, but also to search for complete self-love. We are beautiful and powerful as we are. If you believe that, you will do your best to be the best version of yourself.
Sherlon and partner
Where do you see MBHN in five years?
In 5 years I want to have my own building where I, together with my team, organize full-time various educational and fun events, workshops and masterclasses, discussion and film nights for our black community. Where everything revolves around education, roots and entrepreneurship.
ABOUT FRIZZLY HAIR
Did you grow up thinking you had bad hair? Was it normal to see your mother's natural hair as a child?
I didn't grow up with the idea that I had bad hair, but it was often said that certain types of frizzy hair were "good".
Unfortunately, I never got to see my mother's natural hair. My wish is of course that she also makes the choice to wear her hair completely natural. Then my message, which I am trying to send out into the world, will have reached her too. That would be really great!
What does your hair mean to you as a man? Is it just hair or is it deeper than that? Does it define your identity?
We at Miss Black Hair NL believe: “I am my hair”. Our hair is part of our identity and is not just hair. It goes deeper than that. Our hair grows in a spiral shape upwards and that means that we are more in touch with nature. Our ancestors used their hair as an antenna to be in touch with the divine.
The hair on our head is also directly connected to our soul. For example, “unhealthy hair” is an indication that you are stressed or emotionally/physically not quite OK.
Have you ever relaxed yourself? If not why not and if so how was the experience?
I used to relax when I was younger (we call it Duke in Curacao). I also wanted to have “good hair”. The injuries I sustained the last time made sure I never did that again. My hair also became drier and more sensitive.
Have you ever done dreadlocks or cornrows yourself and why did you choose the hairstyle you have now?
I never had dreadlocks or conrows. I shave it all off now because it's easier. I don't really have to comb or brush in the morning.
Team Miss Black Hair Netherlands with the current Miss Black Hair Netherlands 2015
I hear from many men that they didn't like frizzy hair when they were younger, but that they learned to like it later. How do you think that is and was that the case with you too?
That's how I used to be, unfortunately. Because I didn't know any better. I was conditioned to think that straight long hair was beautiful. But now I've woken up. Especially the fact that frizzy hair is so versatile makes it even more impressive to me.
Did you ever feel ashamed of your curly hair when you were younger or think that guys with straighter hair had a better chance with women? What was your thought process? Can you explain it?
Unfortunately, yes. When I was younger, I was a bit insecure and my favorite children's series at the time was: "Saved by the bell". I wanted to have the physical features of "Zack Morris", the main character of that series. I thought that if I had hair like that, I would definitely be popular at school and of course wanted by the ladies. I didn't really understand then that being popular with the ladies is mainly about self-confidence and self-assurance.
It was because I was 1) insecure and 2) aware of the stigma surrounding afro hair.
If you used to be embarrassed about having frizzy hair, how did you overcome that and how long did it last?
I wasn’t really ashamed of my frizzy hair, because almost everyone around me had frizzy hair. I wanted, during my teenage years, what they call “good” hair, or less frizzy hair. When I was an adolescent, I didn’t have any trouble with it anymore. During that period, I started to accept myself more and more.
And now the Oprah question: What would you say to yourself now when you think about that child who was ashamed of having frizzy hair?
You should be proud of the fact that you have frizzy hair. A greater power than myself made the choice 33 years ago to give me frizzy hair. Then and still I am beautiful in His eyes. So be happy with your frizzy hair and wear it with pride.
Now I happen to know that you have a very beautiful sweet girlfriend who is natural and who also helps you organize the election. But how important was being frizzy, natural hair for you in choosing a partner?
That was very important to me. 1) I think frizzy hair is just beautiful and versatile. 2) I love spontaneity, spontaneously doing fun things like going to a spa or the beach. If you have frizzy hair, that is a bit more difficult to do because you have to take all kinds of things into account. That is why I want a girlfriend who is just as spontaneous as I am, who can enjoy life without limitations. 3) I am “all into” healthy living and eating. For me, self-love is also very important and I expect that in my partner too. The moment my partner is busy with heavy chemicals on her head, that would be in conflict with self-love.
ABOUT BLACKFOLLICLES.COM
BlackFollicles.com is becoming the amazon for Black Hair Care Products. It is the solution to the limited supply of Black hair products. We are doing a crowdfunding to build the marketplace so that people with kinky and curly hair all over the world really have a place where they can go to get all possible brands of suitable hair products. What do you think of http://blackFollicles.com and what gift would you choose?
She loves dashikis. So I would order dashikis for her.
What else do you hope to see?
More choices for dashikis J
LAST QUESTIONS
What can we expect from MBHN this year?
2016 the show will be more spectacular with beautiful masses. This year everything is about the natural Queens, Entertainment, Education, Roots and spectacle. Through the great messages of the masses, people are made to think and hopefully also inspired.
More information about Miss Black Hair Netherlands – The Facebook Page of https://www.facebook.com/missblackhairnederland/
About Sherlon Gerard Software Services: http://www.dazzlingstudio.com/
See a report of the first Miss Black Hair Netherlands by Doreen Sprengers of New Media Platform