Victoria’s Secret Model Accused of Cultural Appropriation for Coachella Braids

Here we go again: Another model is being accused of cultural appropriation.

Victoria’s Secret model Shanina Shaik is being attacked for her Coachella-ready braids. Shaik, who is from Australia but is of Lithuanian, Pakistani, and Saudi Arabian heritage, posted a photo on Instagram showing her new, long braids, with the caption, “Looking right for the festival by @queenb_braids_.”

Her full head of individual braids look like box braids, which start from “boxes” created at the scalp. But some of her fans aren’t happy.

Several of Shaik’s 894,000 Instagram followers were not pleased with her for wearing a look that is common in African cultures, since she is not African. “Tired of seeing this s***. No,” one follower wrote. “No,” wrote another. “Those braids don’t belong to your culture, stop.” Another chimed in: “You look beautiful, but this is cultural appropriation.”

However, some pointed out that her Middle Eastern background contradicts the cultural appropriation accusations. “She is of middle eastern ancestry and they wore braids, too; also she tagged the woman who did it. Why are only women fighting over this stuff while blk men fight over job security and safety? This is catty,” commented one follower. However, another commenter challenged that statement: “I am Middle Eastern, too, and our braids don’t look like these at all.”

Others jumped to Shaik’s defense. “@shaninamshaik You look amazing,” one admirer wrote. “There is nothing wrong about you getting braids. It’s the style you want and everyone these days is getting braids done. People need to relax. Let us all embrace each other cultures, styles, etc. I am black and some day would love to color my hair blonde. Will that be an insult to the white people? No it would not because they don’t care. So why should we care if other people decide to get braids.”

“Lol people arguing over what someone else can do with their hair,” another commenter wrote. “Honestly…..it’s 2017…get over it. Belongs to no one, no one owns this.” Others just stated the facts: She looked great. “Love the braids,” wrote one. “They look awesome on you.”

While simply a popular music festival, Coachella seems to inadvertently come with a side of cultural appropriation. In 2016, Free People revealed a Coachella collection that was not received well. The brand’s festival-ready campaign included feathered headdresses and hair clips, medicine bags, and rain sticks featured almost exclusively on white, blond models. Free People was accused of inappropriately using Native American culture.

Vanessa Hudgens was called disrespectful for wearing a massive Native American headdress to Coachella three years ago. And in 2014, bindis were all the rage at Coachella, with celebs like Selena Gomez, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and Hudgens adopting the look, which many deemed inappropriate.

What’s next? Paris Hilton wearing a tallis?

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