Fleur East has opened up about her singing career, and revealed she was told to ditch her natural hair in order for her to get ahead in the music industry.
Prior to her stint on The X Factor, the aspiring musician was informed that her sporting an afro would prevent her from becoming popular in the mainstream pop world and with the public.
Speaking alongside her husband Marcel Badiane-Robin, she said: “When I went into the X Factor, one thing that I really didn’t want to compromise on was my hair.
“That, to me, is a representation of me, my colour and my culture, and I believe that should be celebrated.”
Fleur was told to ditch her afro in order for her to get ahead in the pop industry (Image: PA)
Discussing her time on I’m A Celeb, Fleur recalled an incident where people would question if she would be sporting her natural hair in camp.
She continued to tell Hello! magazine: “When I went into the jungle a lot of people asked if I was going to braid my hair down, saying I couldn’t have my afro out in the jungle,” she said.
“But I wanted to have it out and wear it proudly.
“I’ve been to shows where backstage I’ve met young black and mixed race kids whose parents have said ‘Thank you so much Fleur for wearing your hair proudly and for speaking about your culture and your roots, because my child has someone to look up to.’
“And that is so important. I was in a group before X Factor and I was told to straighten my hair, that I wouldn’t be able to sell if I had my natural hair.”
Fleur, who competed in X Factor in 2014, bagged second place on the show, and signed onto Simon Cowell’s Syco label.
The singer appeared on The X Factor in 2014 and came second on the show (Image: Daily Record)
Elsewhere in the interview, Fleur heaped praise onto Mel B for not conforming to society’s beauty standards.
“In the music industry growing up there weren’t a lot of people who didn’t straighten their hair,” she said.
“That’s why I loved Mel B in the Spice Girls – she had her afro and I remember looking at her thinking how amazing it was, and it made me love my hair.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
