I remember Milouska Meulens from when my first book Kroeshaar, Wat je moet weten en meer (Coily Hair, What you need to know and more) had just been published. We met through Kroeshaar.com, the very first hair website in the Netherlands, where you could already pay online before iDEAL even existed.
I admired her not only because she was very good at what she did, but also because she presented the NOS Jeugdjournaal (NOS Youth News) as she was, beautiful, authentic with her natural coily hair.
Milouska Meulens presenting the NOS Jeugdjournaal
At the time, I wasn't really able to create beautiful hairstyles, other than a twist-out and an afro, but I admired her hairstyles, which always looked so beautiful and, to me, perfect.
So when I saw Milouska's name Bou di Watapana!, I immediately thought: nice! A great opportunity to see her again after all these years. I didn't know the program, nor did I know that Milouska had since written books.
On Wednesday, May 28, Milouska Meulens will give a presentation of her new book In de kleur van de zon (In the color of the sun) at the OBA on Bijlmerplein. Click the link to register: In de kleur van de zon.
Bou di Watapana!
Bou di Watapana! is a program that focuses on the Caribbean diaspora in Dutch media. Under the famous Watapana tree, the national symbol of the ABC islands, moderator Gilberto Morishaw discusses with Caribbean-Dutch professionals. In this 5th episode, in addition to Milouska, Kris Berry and Wensly Francisco were present.
The episode was recorded live at Pakhuis de Zwijger. For me, it was the perfect opportunity to finally ask Milouska the question I had always wanted to ask her: Why did you choose to wear your hair naturally, at a time when almost no one dared to?
From left to right: Jamila Baaziz from Stichting WeConnect, Gilberto Morishaw, Kris Berry, Wensly Francisco, Milouska Meulens, Kjelld Masoud Kroon
Inspiration from the Curaçaoan Diaspora
Not only was Pakhuis de Zwijger even more beautiful than I remembered, but we were also welcomed with delicious pasties and a relaxed atmosphere. I was so glad I was there.
It was wonderful to see Milouska again after at least ten years! The stories from the other guests were also super inspiring. Kris Berry, who proudly wears her beautiful full curly hair, told how she quit her career to fully focus on music — and even gave a live performance with the moderator.
Kris Berry and Gilberto Morishaw
Wensly Francisco, from the boy who was laughed at for wanting to make films to the Documentary Maker he is now and who also has a Ted Talk, was absolutely more than worthwhile. If you don't know him yet, I highly recommend watching his Ted Talk.
Milouska on Coily Hair
Although I knew Milouska, I never considered the challenges that were happening behind the scenes. Her story, from the girl who always diligently followed the rules but was still called "seed eater" to the writer who found herself, seemed to touch everyone.
Fortunately, I also had the chance to ask Milouska the question I had always wanted to ask her. We all became a little quiet at the answer. Here is the clip and the transcript.
From left to right: Gilberto Morishaw, Kris Berry, Wensly Francisco, Milouska Meulens. Thanks to Kjelld for this clip.
I did straighten it, but I was 16 when I moved out, when I started living alone.
I think I was well-behaved. I was well-behaved outwardly, so at school and getting high grades and so on. But inside, I always had a rebellious streak. Like, why is God white? And how come a Hindustani
is a heathen, you know? So I always asked those questions. And one of those things was that when I was sixteen and moved out, I thought, why can't I just let my hair grow out of my head naturally as it grows? And why do I have to put a straightener in my hair when it burns my scalp? And
and it made me sick, it made me nauseous, so I just stopped doing it at some point. And I do have to say about racism, well, I've said a lot about it just now, but I do have to say that the moment I, I live in Utrecht, stopped straightening and just let my hair grow into an afro, then the criticism didn't come from white people.
Ooh, that's a tough one, there. Yes. The criticism I received for years didn't come from white people. And also when I started presenting on television, with my hair like this, or when I worked at the newspaper in Curaçao, with my hair like this. Well, my mother even cried about it sometimes. But yeah.
Yes, simply because it wasn't neat or decent or something. And what other people would think. And with the best intentions, because she really thought, no, that's not good for us, for you.
And yes, while here in the Netherlands I did receive letters from Haitian girls or also Curaçaoan girls, who all said, oh, how beautiful that you wear your hair like that. And then, can I do that? It's also true. Then I don't have to straighten it. And yes, I am very happy about that. So I did straighten my hair until I was sixteen, and then cut it all off.
Well, I had discovered that when I did behave properly as I should, I was still called Makamba Pretu. So yeah, what does it matter?
Now I'm very curious what you think of the answer and what your experiences are regarding the way you wear your hair.
Drs. Mireille Liong is an e-commerce specialist, writer and photographer dedicated to equal hair rights. If you want to stay informed, follow her on: Locs & Stuff WhatsApp Channel.
Her book 50 HAIRSTYLES for your Natural Crown you can order now.
