LogFAQs > #924835145

17 y/o Kerion Washington from Fort Worth, Texas who was denied his FIRST JOB in the Summer at Six Flags because of his dreadlocks has landed a MODELING CONTRACT instead with Gigi Hadid's Modeling Agency!!

He applied to the theme park for his first ever job but learned at the interview that his hair would be a problem for the brand and it left him feeling confused and disappointed.

But when his story blew up online, he was scouted by IMG Models LA and went on to land a modeling contract with Texas based agency Jones Model Management!!

He applied for the job in Texas back in March but he was denied the job on the basis of his hair as his mother Karis, took to facebook to reveal her disappointment and said they gave him the opportunity to CUT IT if he wants the job because it's an "extreme hairstyle". She reiterated the grooming policy and it says hair just can't hang more than 2 inches below your collar and 2 inches above your head including dreads, braids but nowhere does it say it's not allowed. She felt it's discrimination against black hair for african americans whose natural hairstyles are seen as "extreme" for businesses.

But it wasn't all bad for Kerion as he was scouted for IMG Worldwide who reached out to him and connected him to an angency in Austin. They asked the agency to work with him to put together a portfolio and said they felt he had potential to become a model.

Leslie Jones, one of the directors said Kerion was a "natural" as they helped him learn to pose and how to walk and said he was so good for his first time.

Kerion was shocked on the offer as he never expected anything like this to happen and said "I just thought it would be another job offer for just a regular job for the summer but when i heard about modeling i had to take it. It was fun to experience taking pictures and walking the way i'm supposed to walk".

He was happy to be given the opportunity to have a career where he can be himself as he hopes to inspire others not to change who they are to achieve their goal.

Kerion told Dailymail "Regardless of your race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or hairstyle, you can achieve anything with hard work. That's the message i want to learn from all this"

As for Six Flags, which is one of the largest seasonal employers in the country of 30,000 people said they work on a "case by case" basis as they have a wide grooming policy including uniforms and no extreme hairstyles such as hair colour or partially shaven heads.

Since the bad publicity however, they changed their policy and male team members may now wear dreadlocks provided it's well groomed and don't extend past down the bottom of the collar.

Would you have cut your hair and taken the 6 flags job or take the modeling offer?

Kerion - Before



Kerion - After












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