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Coco Gauff deleted social media for a month but felt the need to come back and post a message on TikTok earlier this week.
The tennis star’s message appeared in an eight-minute video after she said she became aware of negative comments about her appearance, including her natural hair, in a new advert for Miu Miu.
Gauff explained the behind-the-scenes process of the photo shoot and photo selection, as well as how she didn’t want her hair slicked back for the 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, August 15, 2025. (IMAGN Syndication: The Enquirer)
“There are thousands of people talking about my appearance, and not in a positive way…” Gauff began.
“I’m not going to apologize for the way my hair looks 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 beautiful just 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 for that, yours is good enough to do whatever you need it to do. I’m not going to apologize for that.”
Gauff also explained that she did minimal makeup for the photos, rather than a “full face,” to connect with fans through that minimal Miu Miu “aesthetic.”
American Coco Gauff reacts after winning a point against Australian Olivia Gadecki during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Tuesday May 27, 2025. (Thibault Camus/AP)
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“To all the young black girls who have frizzy hair like me, do what you want to do with your hair… Do what you want to do, because at the end of the day, people who hate the way you look and how you look have something deeply insecure about them. The only reason people comment on people’s appearances, especially those who present themselves in their most natural sense, has something deeply wrong with them. And they’re insecure about themselves, so they feel the need to put someone else down to show off makes me feel better.”
Likewise, Gauff also said that those who want to wear weaves, wigs, makeup and “the whole shebang” should do so if they want to.
“Do what you want to do. Minimalism is beautiful. Camp is beautiful. Both spectrums, everything in between, is beautiful.”
Gauff admitted she felt “tough” after seeing the criticism.
Coco Gauff (United States) after a miss against Naomi Osaka (JPN) (not pictured) during 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 going to lie,” she said. “I’m someone who has struggled with my appearance throughout my life as a young black girl in this world…But the diva has risen again and I feel better than ever,” she said.
“And I just want anyone who’s watching this and doesn’t feel safe in their own skin to be perfectly fine, honestly.”
The 2023 US Open champion will defend her Roland-Garros title starting May 19.
