Kim Kardashian rocks Fulani braids at the MTV Awards red carpet

Joan Kibugi

June 19, 2018 11:58 AM

Is this cultural appropriation?

The annual MTV Awards took place on 18th June and

The Reality TV star was clad in an all-white Versace co-ord set of a cropped top and figure hugging maxi skirt with a thigh-high slit paired with a sexy pair of strappy heels; she completed the look by wearing her hair in braids.

That’s right, Kim K rocked black Fulani braids which perfectly complemented the look which was a tad different red carpet look from the naked-y but fabulous looks we are used to seeing her in.

This is not the first time Kim has sported braids. In fact, it appears that braids are one of her go-to hairdos. Every time she rocks the style, she gets into trouble for “cultural appropriation”, the most memorable being the time she wore her hair in braids and credited model and actress Bo Derek popularly known for her role in the movie '10' from 1979.

You simply cannot credit a white woman for cornrows, that’s literally opening a can of worms. Mind you, the Kardashians and Jenners are frequently being accused of Cultural Appropriation. Remember that time Kylie and Kendall used photos of 2 Pac in their clothing line and the internet came for them guns blazing? So much so that they actually had to apologize and pull down the images and that whole line of clothes whatsoever? Oh plus deal with a lawsuit? Yeah…the Internet never slept on them. They're somehow obsessed with "Black" from black men to black culture. We're lit like that I guess?

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Anyway, so back to Mrs. West, I must admit that she looked stunning. The braid style complemented her facial features and it was quite a laid back yet stylish red-carpet look. I feel like more and more celebrities (of color) should go for the natural hair and black hairstyles for their red carpet looks like Lupita.

I think it’s important to mention something about cultural appropriation though. Y’all, can we just borrow from each other’s cultures and live happily ever after? If we actually think about it, we all appropriate other people’s cultures in one way or another unknowingly. In my humble and unsolicited opinion, I feel that cultural appropriation is only wrong when people take advantage to actually cash in on it, say for instance in a case such as when Louis Vuitton used the Masai Shuka for his 2012 spring/summer collection, sparking a huge debate on cultural appropriation, or when French Designer YSL was accused of stealing Senegalese budding designer, Sarah Diouf’s clutch bag design. Now that’s cultural appropriation.

ALSO READ: Diana Opoti looks stunning in this Maasai Shuka trench co

But this whole “She shouldn’t wear braids cause she’s white” talk is getting tiring…Seriously though, it’s 2018 I think it’s petty. Let’s all borrow from each other and pay homage to other cultures RESPECTFULLY.