I shaved my head right before I came here—I kind of pulled a fugitive “shave my head, move to a new country.” I experienced a lot of traumatic situations as a child, and I feel as like I’m on a journey, not even healing, but just living for myself. My hair felt like it had been touched by people. I’m just like, don’t fuck with it—’cause hair takes a long time to grow, so you will have hair on your head that’s been there for years and years. I didn’t want any part of my hair to be around any these people that I won’t see anymore. I love myself with short hair more than I ever thought. As a little girl I always wanted short hair. People consider women with short hair to be masculine, which I don’t really agree with, but I was in this very Christian heteronormative way where I felt like I had to have long pretty hair and be a pretty girl, but I was really super gay and super boyish. I never got the chance. I was never allowed to cut my hair. So now I can do whatever the fuck I want, and I love it. I’m very happy with it.
Interview by Annabelle, Caroline, and Eric