Healthcare professional Koai Martin went viral on LinkedIn after sharing a headshot featuring her beautiful, healthy afro.
Martin, an administrative fellow at Vidant Health, shared the image a couple of weeks ago on her LinkedIn page. In the photo, she is wearing a burgundy shirt, black blazer and pearl earrings with a head full of healthy-looking coils. According to the caption, the photo marks a milestone for Martin.
“Today, I received my new headshot! This is the first headshot I have ever taken with my natural hair,” the North Carolina resident wrote. “I have always taken my professional pictures with straight hair because that has always been deemed the “professional” look. Over the past year or so, I have become more comfortable rocking my natural hair in a professional settings, and I could not feel any better.”
The photo received over 100,000 reactions and more than 6700 comments on LinkedIn. Martin was complimented on the example she set for other Black professionals.
“Loving the Afro, for too long we black women have been dictated too, on how to wear our hair that is deemed ‘professional,’” wrote one commenter. “Well, this is the 21st century, our hair does not determine the quality of work we do, if establishments still carry this perception, well there lost when they’re recruiting.”
“I have always been nervous about going to job interviews with my natural hair, but your headshot is amazing and encouraging for me! Natural hair is a professional hairstyle!!” wrote another commenter.
Before this photo, Martin wore box braids and other protective styles because she was taught natural Black hair wasn’t good enough.
“I was the most comfortable this way because I have always been told and taught that straight hair is ‘more professional’ or ‘more acceptable.’ So when I started my professional career, and I saw practically none of the Black women I worked with wearing any natural hairstyles, I assumed all the things I had been told were right,” she told GMA.
Martin went natural in 2019 and wanted her photos to reflect her two-year journey.
“I thought this is who I am and how I show up to work every day, so my new professional headshot should resemble that as well,” Martin.
Sharing her new headshot was also an opportunity for Martin to reset her LinkedIn experience. She did not think the photo would go viral.
“I have not had the most positive experiences when it comes to my afro in both professional and personal settings and felt that I wanted to share the joy I was feeling despite negative past experiences with LinkedIn,” Martin said. “I felt like it was just LinkedIn, so a few of my connections would see it would be it.”
