BANKO import Kia Bright is a standout not only on the court but away from it.
The 23-year-old American spiker, who’s in her second season in the Premier Volleyball League, has always attracted attention because of her hairstyle.
The eye-catching 'do, she says, is called "afro burgundy," which Bright likes to keep neat and simple.
“I had straight hair for many years of my life until 2015 when I had a little self-rediscovery," she said in a post-game chat after BanKo swept Motolite on Wednesday at the Arena in San Juan. "I took time off for myself, so I started to appreciate and just love my natural curls, which I wear now.”
How she wears her hair is one of the ways Bright expresses and challenges herself.
"I like to change the color based on what's going to make me get out of my comfort zone. Honestly, I didn't like the color when I first changed it. But it has grown on me and I feel free and just able to express myself."
Bright, who has gained the admiration of Filipino volleyball fans, admitted that she's still not used to the attention she gets outside the volleyball court.
One time when she was at the grocery store, Bright noticed that everyone was staring at her, which threw him off a bit. Then she realized it's not every day that they see a person sporting a hairstyle just like hers.
“This [color] is actually a combination. I had every color in the rainbow and this is my second time to try it," she said. "I've always had one tone, not I'm going for multiple colors. This is a mix of burgundy, pink, violet, and a little fuchsia and orange. I just let it go and be free. That’s the feeling of not being confined.”
For the prolific spiker, currently the third-best scorer in the conference, her hairdo isn't something she wears purely for glam effect. Rather, through the style and color of her hair, Bright wants to encourage other people to feel confident about themselves and to not be afraid to try new things.
“I also want to encourage other people to just do what they need to be happy,” she pointed out. “I've broken out of my shell. I encourage everyone to be themselves and love themselves.”
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