Black History Month: Five sportspeople whose hair is their magic

“My hair brings so much happiness to other people and that makes me happy.”

Shaunagh Brown started playing rugby aged 25 and just two years later was competing in her first international for England. She is now a leading figure for country and her club, Harlequins, as well as acting as a highly-influential spokesperson for women’s rugby, tackling issues on women’s rights and black history.

She talked passionately to me about the long process of learning to love her afro, from her childhood when her mum would style her hair – not always a positive experience: “I used to not like my afro hair, it was a chore…not getting a comb through my hair, it was just there, it existed but that was it.”

It was people around Shaunagh that helped her see the other side of having an afro: “People would say how lovely my hair is, the curls, I always took the compliments. Cornrows changed my life, I’ve got to a point where I appreciate my hair and enjoy it.”

When speaking with Shaunagh I could feel the love and support of others that helped changed her mindset, to a point where she now uses her hair to educate: “People want to touch my hair out of curiosity and I recognise that I might be one of the only people who they’ve been close enough to for them to have that conversation with and learn.”

Shaunagh has said in the past that standing out and being the only mixed-race female in her team was unnerving. Earlier in her life she shied away from showing her South London roots in case of feeling different but in the last few years, the change Shaunagh is pushing is outstanding.

It’s great seeing her stand up for change and being forthright in merging different cultures together. Rugby might be Shaunagh’s career but her passion for others hasn’t stopped, it’s grown. Seeing natural, afro-textured hair on a rugby pitch is delightful, and I really hope young kids continue to look up to Shaunagh and take steps to play rugby, or any other sport.