Imagine being kicked off your cheer team because of the way you were born. For an 11-year-old girl in Texas, that was a reality when she was booted from a cheerleading team due to her curly locks, according to the girl’s mother. The team proclaims that straightened hair is mandated in order for curly-haired Makayla Fallaw to compete with Woodlands Elite Cheer in competitions.

Her mother Jenny Fallaw told a local television station, “Just a few weeks ago is the first time I had heard about a special hairstyle. I felt like I might make my daughter feel like her hair is not good enough because she’s not like other girls.”

Fallaw told the station that she met with Woodlands Elite Cheer officials, saying “It would destroy her hair, so I wanted to explain to them my reasoning.”

The All-Star Director for Woodlands Elite Cheer, Kevin Tonner offered his comments.  He said that Makayla’s curly locks were okay for practices. “When you come into the sport, you understand there is make up to it. There’s hair to it. We were trying to find a compromise and a happy medium. And she [Jenny Fallaw] wasn’t willing to have a compromise. She was very defensive.”

He continued explaining to the station that it was not about the hair. The leaders of the team did not want negativity associated with the team. The director all added that not all girls are required to straighten their hair, but the Fallaws have decided to go elsewhere.

Makayla’s locks should not prevent her from competing in a sport that she love. What do you think about this?

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