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Coco Gauff deleted social media for a month, but felt the need to return and post a message on TikTok earlier this week.
The tennis star’s message came in an eight-minute video after she said she became aware of negative comments about her appearance, including her natural hair, in a new ad for Miu Miu.
Gauff explained behind the scenes of the photo shoot and the photo selection process, as well as how she didn’t want her hair slicked back for photos because it’s “not good for my hair.”
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Coco Gauff returns a shot during the Cincinnati Open quarterfinal match between Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (IMAGN Syndication: The Enquirer)
“There are thousands of people talking about how I look, and not in a positive way…” Gauff began.
“I don’t want to apologize for the way my hair looked because there are other girls who had the exact same hair as me and I just wanted them to feel represented that your hair is literally fine the way it is. My hair was good enough for a high-fashion brand like Miu Miu to promote one of their latest launches. So if my 4C hair is good enough, it’s good enough for you to do it, then you don’t have to do what you have to do to apologize for it.”
Gauff also explained that she did minimal makeup for the photos, rather than a “full face,” to connect with fans through the “minimum” Miu Miu “aesthetic.”
Coco Gauff of the United States reacts after winning a point against Australia’s Olivia Gadecki during their first round of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Thibault Camus/AP)
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“To all the young black girls out there who have kinky hair like me, do what you want with your hair… Do what you want because at the end of the day people who hate the way you look and hate the way you look have something deeply insecure about themselves. The only reason people comment on people’s looks, especially people who present themselves in their most natural sense, has something deep down that they need themselves and they feel so deeply insecure. to put someone else down for to make himself feel better.”
Similarly, Gauff also expressed that those who want to wear weaves, wigs, makeup and “the whole shebang” should if they want to.
“Do what you want. Minimal is beautiful. Camp is beautiful. Both spectrums, everything in between, is beautiful.”
Gauff admitted she felt “rough” after seeing the criticism.
Coco Gauff (USA) after a miss to Naomi Osaka (JPN) (not pictured) on day nine of the 2025 US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2025. (Robert Deutsch/Imagn Images)
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“Y’all knocked down a diva, I’m not gonna lie,” she said. “I’m someone who has struggled with my appearance throughout my life, just as a young black girl in this world… But the diva rose up and I’m better than ever,” she said.
“And I just want any person that’s watching this that’s feeling insecure about themselves, you’re totally fine, honestly.”
The 2023 US Open champion will defend his French Open title from May 19.
