Bal Harbour

136 BAL HARBOUR "THE HEART OF WHO WE ARE is storytelling," says Cipriana Quann, who, alongside her twin sister, TK Wonder, have captured the attention of the fashion world for their tremendous style. e two were dubbed by e New York Times as "redefining what it means to be a fashion icon." But they're also defying the status quo in favor of true statement-making. "We all know women come in all shapes and sizes and that is a beautiful thing," says Wonder. "However, you wouldn't know it because most of the time you see the opposite," which is why the sisters have put representation front-and-center to their raison d'être. is manifests in their inspiring social media posts or sitting front row at fashion shows. "We want to influence people to influence themselves, in taking action to reconstruct the future towards a continuous diverse and inclusive industry," says Cipriana. Wonder and Cipriana are well into a personal journey of self-acceptance that has aided a national movement amongst women of color to reject wrongful—and racially biased—perceptions of their natural textures. Urban Bush Babes, their online hair publication that's now a socially engaged community of hundreds of thousands, became a hub for knowledge and insight as much as tips and treatments. "When I co-founded UBB in 2011, a majority of the content was less about tutorials and the aesthetics of natural hair and more about the science and psychology of it," explains Cipriana. "e uniting core of the site is to support, encourage and highlight the multifaceted lives of women of color; I wanted to celebrate difference as the norm, 'imperfections' as perfections, beauty beyond aesthetics." Unsurprisingly, the recent legislation banning hair discrimination has been a topic of interest for the sisters. "is year, California and New York banned discrimination towards natural hair at the work place. Sounds like the title of an Onion article," writes Wonder on her blog. It's true: in New York state, the Human Rights Law now includes a clause protecting "traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles." e idea that hair is anything but natural may seem absurd, but as long as Eurocentric standards of beauty have dominated, coarse and curly strands have been demonized. As Cipriana says, "Like Prince's song 'Party Like It's 1999,' TK and I have been discussing political and social issues since 1999." e site has also been a platform for these polymathic sisters to create in the realms of fashion, art, music and all things creative. "I am a writer first and foremost who loves music, fashion, books, travel, great food," says Wonder, "and advocacy work." Essential to the sisters' platform is social change. "I love fashion and beauty but TK and I are also interested in social, political and environmental issues," says Cipriana. "I want my 'followers' to know what I care about and the changes I am trying to make on my end." But don't reduce their tresses to a mere political prop. "e only way I would view my afro as being political is if it grew a pair of lips and discussed politics," adds Wonder. Natural Matters Taking the fashion world by storm, TK Wonder and Cipriana Quann are championing inclusivity and representation. BY JULIE BAUMGARDNER PORTRAIT BY TERRY GATES

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