As the most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast in history, the last thing Simone Biles should have to deal with is people criticizing her hair—but they did it anyway. Now, on the day of her historic win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the 27-year-old gold medalist is sending a bold message to all the trolls out there.
In a video shared to Instagram on Tuesday, July 30, Biles used a battery-powered fan to stay cool while on a sweltering bus ride.
“Don’t come for me about my hair,” she wrote in the clip’s caption. “IT WAS DONE but [the] bus has NO AC & it’s like 9,0000 degrees. Oh & a 45 min ride.”
“Gonna hold your hand when I say this 💋Next time you wanna comment on a black girls hair. JUST DON’T,” Biles added.
Previously, Biles opened up about the process she’s gone through in “finally learning to love” her hair.
“I used to worry about [my hair being considered] not professional,” she told Elle in an article published on July 17, “but I’m not embarrassed about it anymore.”
Biles explained that she wasn’t taught how to do her own hair growing up, and “always went to the professionals” instead.
“I’m finally learning to love my hair and the texture that I have and the styles that I can do,” Biles said.
Biles also shared that she’s fortunate to have a teammate who can help with her hair, calling fellow Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles the “braider on the team.”
“We can all go to her for braids,” Biles said.
