Drs. Mireille Liong: IT Professional, E-commerce Strategist, Author, and Advocate for Equal Hair Rights
Drs. Mireille Liong is a versatile visionary, social entrepreneur, and cultural bearer who uniquely combines her academic background in information technology with a profound social mission. As an e-commerce strategist, acclaimed author, photographer, and international speaker, she dedicates her life and career to breaking down societal stigmas surrounding natural hair and empowering people worldwide to embrace their authentic selves. Her latest lecture series, Unshackled: Breaking the Chains of Hair Loss, marks a vital next chapter in her ongoing fight for external and internal liberation.
From IT to Cultural Revolution
Mireille's journey began in the academic and technical world. After earning her Master's degree in Information Technology (IT), she built a solid foundation as an IT professional and e-commerce strategist. Where many see technology and culture as two separate worlds, Mireille recognized the power of the digital landscape to accelerate social change. With her keen insight into digital marketing, SEO optimization, and e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Klaviyo, she managed to build a platform that organically grew into a global movement.
Her venture, What Naturals Love (WNL), didn't just start as a brand, but as a response to a deeply rooted societal problem: the lack of acceptance, knowledge, and representation of natural kinky and curly hair. Driven by a personal and collective need, Mireille transformed her technical expertise into a thriving e-commerce business and a safe haven for a community yearning for recognition and high-quality care.
A Pioneer with International Impact
Mireille's work as a curator and visual documentarian has a long and respected history. Amsterdam is certainly not a starting point; her very first groundbreaking exhibition took place in 2008 at the renowned Casa Frela Gallery in New York. This early milestone set the tone for an international career in which she captures the pure, unadulterated beauty of her community with her camera. Her visual documentaries and exhibitions have since been praised worldwide for their ability to shift the narrative around traditional beauty ideals.
As an author, Mireille has three books to her name that document the history, care, and political significance of natural hair. Her work exposes how deeply the roots of hair discrimination and systemic regulations are intertwined with our modern society.
A Nomadic Life in Service of the Mission
Mireille's work and life are not limited by national borders. After operating for years from the dynamic melting pot of New York, she made the strategic and inspiring move in 2025 to relocate to Kigali, Rwanda. This move to the African continent offered her a renewed perspective on the creative economy, digital trade, and the universal connection to cultural heritage. In Kigali, she works closely with local artisans to integrate unique, heritage-inspired fashion and custom designs into her platform.
Her passion for connection was evident, among other things, during her organization of a memorable cultural dialogue and networking dinner on International Women's Day in March 2026, where identity and the power of women took center stage. Whether she's speaking at technology and entrepreneurship galas like Africa Week in Norrsken Kigali, or walking through the streets of a new city for inspiration: Mireille embodies a nomadic, boundless lifestyle entirely dedicated to growth, art, and activism.
Purpose-Driven Product Innovation
As an entrepreneur, Mireille constantly listens to the needs of her community. For example, she recently responded to the strong, ongoing market demand by successfully reintroducing the highly requested Organic Loc Bombs—a product beloved for its deep cleansing action.
In addition, her innovative hair serum is making waves, receiving rave reviews from users. This serum is specially designed as a convenient roller, allowing for effortless application between braids and locs. It nourishes, hydrates, and cares for the scalp in a targeted way, which is essential to effectively prevent hair breakage and support natural hair growth. With these tangible solutions, Mireille proves that hair care and self-care go hand in hand.
The 'Unshackled' Future
While continuing to expand her product line, she is simultaneously broadening her focus to an equally important, but often overlooked topic: the emotional and psychological impact of hair loss.
With her upcoming lecture and exhibition series Ontketend: Het verbreken van de ketenen van haarverlies (internationally launched as Unshackled: Breaking the Chains of Hair Loss), Mireille addresses the deep vulnerability and social taboo surrounding hair loss. Her mission is clear: to transform a seemingly cosmetic problem into a collective journey of mental liberation and the reclaiming of one's identity.
The new cultural exhibition and lecture series in Amsterdam in June 2026 marks a powerful next station in this journey. This event, which combines fashion, lectures, and in-depth dialogues, is the stepping stone to an even larger, global ambition. Mireille travels the world to break the chains of restrictive beauty standards, so that everyone—regardless of the status or texture of their hair—can live in complete freedom and with their heads held high.
When she's not on stage, rolling out an e-commerce strategy, or writing her next project, Mireille finds her balance and creative energy in her daily walks and on the dance floor, where she loses herself in the rhythms of Salsa and Kizomba. Drs. Mireille Liong continues to build, heal, and unshackle—one story, one follicle, and one community at a time.