Natural Hair Show Atlanta 2011

2011 WORLD'S NEXT TOP NATURAL HAIR MODEL WINNER
Folami Ankoanda-Thompson


FOLAMI was taught to love herself fiercely as a young girl. She began to study the art of braiding from her three older sisters at the age of eight. Soon, she had clients of her own and quickly began to understand the economic empowerment that comes with mastering a reliable trade. Folami continued to broaden her horizons by taking on a high-end clientele base comprised mostly of entertainers & prominent professionals in the music industry as well as extending her creativity into other mediums like singing, acting & modeling. A graduate of Howard University, with a BFA in Musical Theatre, she is blessed with a voice that is a blend of Nancy Wilson, Jill Scott, and Ella Fitzgerald. She has travelled the world performing with artist like Chic and Nile Rogers, Eric Benet, Pattie LaBelle and Janelle Monae among others, and is quickly gaining a devoted following herself. She looks forward to releasing her debut Contemporary Jazz, EP Musically Yours in the fall of 2011. Now, The East Palo Alto, CA native (Currently residing in Decatur, Ga) is proud to wear the crowning title of 2011 World's Next Top Natural Hair Model and looks forward to representing the beauty of young natural women to the world for years to come.

Fear of Individuality

Women often times feel like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders and many of us women do not know how to balance the feeling of the heavy "weight" along with us playing the role, or any role for that matter. All or nothing really isn't a fair game to play but it is understood. The mother, the wife or girlfriend, the business professional and the big or little sister all seem to interfere with the other. All but so many hats can be worn by one person and the fact of the matter is, only one hat can be worn at a time. Things get more difficult and feel heavier with unfair exchanges when we add mentor to mother or when we are not solely the wife or girlfriend but wife and "girlfriend" or even more commonly, the other woman. The business professional is over worked and under paid, painting the picture of not appearing to be too independent. Fighting to get recognition in the work place is never too exhausting because feels like part of the job description, but stepping outside of the box and working more non traditional is even more stressful so tolerance is built up in the unfair environment.

Powerful Women we all know the odds are against us but we most definitely do not have to allow our current circumstance having to do with the world play a role in our current situation having to do with us, our children, our husbands, or our jobs and careers. To be powerful is to be potent: having great influence and power is the measure of the ability to control the environment around itself, including the behavior of other entities. The term authority is often used for power, perceived as legitimate by the social structure.

Our power isn't defined by one or all of the hats we wear but better yet how we manage the role(s). Consistent practice of the part in the play will result in beautiful artwork that can be percieved in so many ways.

You Are A Powerful Woman

Rid yourself of the stereotypes. Women must be meek, sweet, accommodating and gracious. It is good to have a measure of those qualities, but when a woman is so meek she gets pushed around by others and must always agree and keep her own thoughts locked up, then there is something wrong. You must be balanced and get rid of any complexes you acquired during your lifetime.

Just do it. You lack self-confidence and are afraid to change your attitudes and your behavior. Quit dwelling on the fear and just do it. The fear will diminish in time, but you must take that first step, even if you are trembling or feel you are going to fail.

Do not be afraid to speak your mind. Remember there is no need to be rude, sarcastic or cutting. Use a firm voice, stand up straight, look the other person in the eye and make yourself be heard. As you gain respect for yourself, so will others.

Reclaim your power. You weren't born with the spirit of cowardice, timidity or fear. You entered this life with courage, love and good judgment. Make daily declarations of power out loud. Do it under your breath while you are driving, while you are working in your yard, while you are stuck in traffic, while you are at work. The change will not be automatic. You cannot erase a lifetime of living a certain way in a matter of days. Gradually, however, the powerful woman you have always been will begin to emerge.