Gabby Douglas Hires Celebrity Hairstylist Ted Gibson Following Hair Criticism (PHOTO)
U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas recently hired hairstylist to the stars Ted Gibson following criticisms about her Olympics hairdo.
Although the 16-year-old gold medalist insisted that she has been unfazed by the shallow rebuke and talk about her locks, she has reportedly booked several appointments with the New York-based hair stylist. Gibson has allegedly worked with various celebrities including actresses Angelina Jolie, Anne Hathaway and Ashley Greene.
Douglas, whose nickname is Flying Squirrel, made history during the London 2012 Olympic Games after becoming the first ever African-American female and the third straight American to take home the solo all-around title for gymnastics.
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Despite making history and just days prior winning gold with the U.S. "Fierce Five" team, some critics could not help but focus on her slicked back hair bun, which Douglas' fans- including Gibson himself- failed to understand.
"I couldn't believe it and still can't. You have this young girl doing amazing things, and the conversation becomes about her hair? It was ridiculous and shameful. I believe all that talk had to take a toll on her ... you've worked so hard for something and then people tear you apart for little or nothing," Gibson told The Daily Beast.
With regards to what kind of hairstyle he plans on giving Douglas, Gibson explained that it is all about making his clients feel good about themselves.
"I hope to create something that makes her feel good about herself as well," he said. "That's so important and a big part of what I do for all the women I work with."
Natalie Hawkins, Douglas' mother, spoke out following the criticism and explained that professional hair care is limited in their home town of Des Moines, Iowa.
"We had to work really hard to find a stylist to come and do her hair ... It's really been African-American women that have come out and attacked her. They don't know about gymnastics. She has to keep her hair in a ponytail 28-30 hours a week," Hawkins told Fashionista.com.
Despite the chaos surrounding her hair, Douglas has been busy doing media interviews and accepting endorsement deals. She recently landed on the cover of Cornflakes boxes around the nation, and reports suggest that she could earn up to $10 million in deals as a result of her historic win.
