Sunday, Kim Kardashian and Jonathan Cheban took North West and her little friend to Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York.
Whilst her mother wore a dark ensemble with natural-looking curls, the tiny five year-old looked joyous in a pink adidas tracksuit, white Yeezys and a candy necklace. Most controversially, however, the small style icon had an Ariana Grande-esque ponytail – a high, taught style with a long, straightened mane out cascading down her back.
Of course, North has natural textured, curly hair, something that her mother has publicly tried to help her embrace.
During an episode of KUWTK the Armenian-American beauty mogul got lessons on how to braid black hair and has since posted about it on Instagram.
In Interview magazine she said, ‘She’s obsessed with her curly hair, and if she finds someone who has the same hair, she runs to them and is like, “You have curly hair like me?” And we get to talk about it.’
So, fans were a little surprised to see the birthday girl’s hair straightened yesterday for her celebrations.
Many took to Twitter to voice their annoyance, which is no-doubt heightened due to Kim’s own arguably dicey history with cultural appropriation:
North West is still a baby and has straight hair. I know we all had straight hair too at that age but it’s 2018! The enlightened YouTube era! Come on KimberYe get it together
— Tiss’Challa (@NaturallyTiss) June 15, 2018
I really hate how the kardashians keep straightening that poor baby’s hair tho. North west gonna have heat damage before she’s 10- bedore I even knew what a straightener was smh
— not a regular person (@_vivrantthang_) June 14, 2018
Others have taken a different stance, exclaiming their love for the look and pointing out that Kim can choose what’s best for her child:
North West with straight hair, so cute! she looks like. Different person pic.twitter.com/UjL1skNTUe
— Cinnamon Girl(@TameeraC_) June 15, 2018
Kim has taken such good care of North’s curls over the years. The comments about North’s hair being straightened is tired. (https://manhwatop.com/) First of all, mind your own children
— KIM WEST SOURCE (@KIMWESTSOURCE_) June 15, 2018
Whilst of course North’s hair should be between her and her mother, we can’t help but think about the message this sends to little girls with gorgeous natural hair.