8-year-old black girl barred from taking school picture over red hair extension wows social media with glam photoshoot

An eight-year-old Michigan girl who wasn’t allowed to get her school photo taken because of red hair extensions is now the toast of many with her empowering and dashing photoshoot.

Marian Scott was barred from taking a photo on school picture day. She was told her red hair extensions were a violation of the school dress code and that she couldn’t participate in school photos, according to her father, Doug Scott.

As would any teen, the experience left her heart bruised. “Marian felt she wasn’t acceptable,” Mr Scott said.

However, the tables have turned and little Scott has regained her confidence following a deluxe photo shoot with studio backdrops and wardrobe changes courtesy of professional photographer Jermaine Horton, of Naperville, who reportedly drove nine hours round-trip to Michigan so Scott could be photographed.

Photographer Horton was moved upon hearing how the eight-year-old third-grader felt by the snub from Paragon Charter Academy in Jacksonville, Michigan, and he offered to take some special photos of her.

Joy Entertainment & Event Management and Mieka Joi, CEO of Rich Girl Candy, donated new wardrobe to her and Scott kept her extensions in for the shoot.

Horton shared the results of the shoot on his Instagram page, and says he was astonished by the positive feedback.

Delighted about her first modelling experience, Scott said: “It was fun, you got to pose and change clothes and got to be yourself.”

“Thank you,” Scott told Horton and those who supported her. “I appreciate it and I love the support.”

The third-grader last month had her hair braided wrapped into a bun by her mom LaToya Howard for the big day. She left home in excitement with her black and red extensions but came home feeling crushed.

Howard took to Facebook, to hit out at the school for sending their daughter back to her class and failing to communicate with her and her fiancé, Doug Scott, first.

“I see other kids with colored hair but since she’s BLACK it’s a problem. Oh yea race has everything to do with this.”

“Hair colour must be of natural tones. Headbands must be solid white, navy, hunter green, or black. Students must be in school uniform for fall pictures and any re-takes. Students not in school uniform will not be allowed to have their pictures taken. We take great care to ensure our families are well-informed about this policy, and also work closely with students and their parents if there’s a concern,” a written statement quoting the school handbook read.

“We understand the importance of good communication in helping strengthen the partnership we have with our families and will continue to make this a priority to create a school environment where everyone is valued and has their voice heard,” the statement added.

Following the development, little Scott’s dad and her mom, LaToya Howard, have moved her to a different school.

This is a perfect example of the heightened level of stigmatization, and segregation that black children suffer at school.