Birmingbelle of the Week: Katrina Watson
Last month I wrote about the amazing time I had at the inaugural Birmingham Natural Beauties Happy Hour, an after-work meeting of women in Birmingham who’ve ditched the relaxer and are embracing their natural hair. Today I want to introduce to you Katrina Watson, the beautiful and effervescent woman behind the group we affectionately call BNB. Katrina moved to Birmingham three years ago for a job with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she works to promote the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Once in the Magic City, she fell in love, with Birmingham and with a great guy to whom she’s now happily married. Read on to learn more about Katrina and Birmingham Natural Beauties.
When and why did you go natural?
Just over three years ago. I was in a wedding and decided to wear my hair in tree braids. I loved the tree braids so much, that I kept getting them refreshed. After about a year, I was ready to switch styles. Much to my delight, my hair was completely natural. I decided to keep my hair natural, recognizing the flexibility of being able to wear my hair both curly and straight.
When and how did you get the idea to start Birmingham Natural Beauties?
When I first moved to Birmingham nearly three years ago, I had several questions about being natural in Birmingham. A friend, Earlisha Williams, introduced me to Bettina Byrd-Giles and Crystal Goodman. Both women are beautiful natural women. We connected and I appreciate the advice they provided and the friendships that quickly developed. Fast forward to a few months ago when I met a natural woman new to Birmingham who desired to meet other natural women and to get a sense of the natural community. I decided to gather the natural women for an after-work gathering. To my delight, the proposal to meet for a simple happy hour, gained steam. The small group I initially invited had increased to 30. My friend, Martha Emmett, suggested we call ourselves, “Birmingham Natural Beauties.”
What do you think this group can offer to naturalistas in Birmingham?
BNB offers a place of support and encouragement for women on their natural hair journey. It’s for women who are transitioning to natural, newly natural, or are long-term natural. It’s also a great place to receive hair advice and get social! BNB provides a wonderful way to connect with other women.
Do you think Birmingham is supportive of the natural hair lifestyle?
Nationally, natural hair styles are being supported. Look at the number of commercials and advertisements that feature women with natural hair. There are several of them. I feel that Birmingham is also increasing its receptiveness to natural hair. I’ve seen a huge increase in women who wear natural hair styles, natural hair salons, and stores that carry natural hair products.
What keeps you in Birmingham? What do you love about this city?
I love the people, beginning first and foremost with my husband. The people here have completely embraced me and welcomed me into the community. I now consider Birmingham home and I can’t imagine myself anywhere else.
What would you like to change about the city and what are you doing personally to make that change happen?
I’d like to improve the quality of education that students receive. Studies show that students involved in the arts and other extracurricular activities perform better in the classroom and on standardized tests, which makes my profession with UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center so important. With The Birmingham Change Fund, I am working with 20 other African-Americans to make a strategic impact on the school system through the power of collective philanthropy. The Birmingham Public Library, of which I’m on the board, is consistently programming for and partnering with schools, students, and youth to be a resource for and increase their exposure to tools for success. And, with my husband’s ministry, Ekklesia, we are building people who are building community. All four of these activities inevitably positively impact the education system and our students.
Birmingham Natural Beauties will meet tomorrow (June 14) at Rogue Tavern, 2312 Second Ave. North, at 5:30 p.m. If you want to join us, act fast and click here to RSVP and join the BNB mailing list.
Are you a Birmingbelle? If you would like to be featured in this column email me at javacia@soulinstereo.com
Are you a Birmingbelle? If you would like to be featured in this column email me at javacia@soulinstereo.com
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