Bo Derek’s iconic hairstyle has been blasted as “cultural appropriation.” However, Derek stood firm and refused to apologize for donning cornrows. In fact, the actress hit back at her critics by posting a “surprise” photo.
Bo Derek will forever be recognized for her breakthrough role as Dudley Moore’s love interest in Blake Edwards’ 1979 romantic comedy “10.” Her swimwear and cornrows instantly made her a sex icon.
Derek had no idea that years after filming the rom-com, she would be chastised for her braided hairstyle. While promoting her Reelz documentary, In My Own Words, the veteran actress broke her silence on the cornrows on August 16, 2020.
“I get in trouble for it now,” Derek told Variety about the hairstyle. “I get a lot of criticism for being a culture vulture, that I’m being insulting and even worse, hurtful to African American women that I copied their hairstyle.” She can’t get away from the critics now.
However, she claims that the reaction was very different back when she first wore her hair in cornrows. “I can’t tell you how many African American women came up to me and said things like, ‘Thank you so much. I work at a bank and my boss would never let me have that hairstyle at work but now I can.”
Bo Derek collaborated on the film alongside her filmmaker husband, John Derek. According to the actress, no other hairstyles were even considered. “It was my husband’s idea. So I had it done and went into Blake’s office and he wasn’t too sure. He wasn’t on board right away. I’m sure he had to run it by other people first,” she explained.
When Derek was asked what comes to mind when she thinks of the braids, she responded that the entire situation was a complete surprise. “Just that it was such a life-changing moment for me,” she said. “I honestly thought I was just going to go to a resort in Mexico and get paid to go to a resort in Mexico. I just wanted to have a good time. I had no idea that anything would come of it.”
This wasn’t Derek’s first time talking about the iconic look. Back in 2015, the Bolero star exclaimed, “It’s a hairdo! That’s all it is,” when asked about the effects of cultural appropriation. Derek also took to social media to respond to all of the critics after Kim Kardashian wore cornrows and mentioned the actress.
“Hey! It’s just a hairstyle that I wore in the movie ’10,’” she wrote. “@kimkardashian calls it the Bo Derek because she copied my particular pattern of braids. I copied it from Ann-Margret’s backup singer from her Vegas Nightclub Show. And we all copied Queen Nofretari. I hope Her Royal Highness is flattered.”
Bo Derek posted a “surprise” photo along with that caption showing Queen Nofretari’s remains, along with Kardashian, and Derek wearing the infamous hairstyle. Nefertari, also known as Nefertari Meritmut, was an Egyptian queen and the first of the Great Royal Wives of Ramesses the Great. She is one of the best-known Egyptian queens, among such women as Cleopatra, Nefertiti, and Hatshepsut, and one of the most prominent not known or thought to have reigned in her own right.
Derek isn’t a stranger to controversy when it comes to politics and the culture war. Back in 2000, she claimed actors are ostracised and denied work in Hollywood if they openly support the Republican Party. By 2020, Derek demurred when asked to name her favorite presidential candidate. “I don’t talk about who I vote for anymore,” she told Variety. “I supported Bush 43 and I became one of the poster girls for the Republicans. But I’m an independent. I don’t want to be pigeonholed and labeled as one thing or another.”
