About Jade Linton

I am friendly, passionate and creative woman who loves to teach, write poetry and encourage everyone I meet.  I am a Solicitor and live in Warwick with my lovely husband.  

I suffered from some severe breakage and damage to my scalp from a relaxer whilst at University. My good friend (now husband) encouraged me to take a break from perming my hair for a little while. I thought he was crazy but thought I would give his suggestion a try. Within a few months I felt these soft beautiful curls start to form on my head, my scalp began to heal and I have never looked back. I had my last perm in March 2001 and have been natural ever since.   

In the early days of returning to natural, friends and family questioned my decision, some commenting that my hair was no longer “neat” and that I did not look “pretty”. Some were even concerned my natural hair could have a negative impact on my ability to work in my chosen career.  

Fast forward 18 years I am a Senior Associate in a Legal 500 Law firm and have a head of thick afro hair that stretches down my back and shrinks up to my ears when curly. My hair has been the subject of some ‘bizarre’ comments. I have been asked if my hair is real more times than I care to recall, have been told my hair must be fake because the cleaner (also a  black woman) wears a wig so my hair must be fake as well. I have been asked if I can go to salons where “normal” people get their hair done (define normal) and have even been asked if I wash my hair! Then there’s the unsolicited touching of my hair by curious colleagues and even strangers, the list goes on. In the early days such ignorance caused me great offence, but over the years I have come to learn that with every interaction, no matter how unpleasant, there is always an opportunity to educate and encourage understanding.  

The ignorance I have endured surrounding my hair is systemic of a society which lacks representation of racially minoritised groups across all industries but particularly across the corporate arena.  If there was greater representation of black people in my profession, I am almost certain these comments would never have been made because with greater representation comes greater engagement and with increased engagement comes understanding and inclusion.  It comes as no surprise that the opinions of some of my colleagues concerning my hair have been shaped by the narrow representation of black women they see in their working environment and in the media.  

“If something like Project Embrace was around when I was younger I am confident myself and many young men and women like me would not have suffered with years of insecurity trying to understand and accept their beauty, their hair and their place in society. “

It means the world not only to win Project Embrace but to be an ambassador for the great work the campaign is doing.  If something like Project Embrace was around when I was younger I am confident myself and many  young men and women like me would not have suffered with years of insecurity trying to understand and accept their beauty, their hair and their place in society. Being a winner of Project Embrace is an opportunity to be a part of something positive and life changing.  It only takes one wrong thought to shape an entire life and opinion of oneself. To think someone will see my image on a billboard or magazine and think ‘She looks like me’, ‘I am beautiful’, ‘my hair is beautiful’ and ‘I can bring my whole self to work afro included’ blows my mind.  I am blessed to have been given this opportunity and responsibility and I do not take it for granted.