TRELAWNY, Jamaica — Westwood High School has become the latest institution to join the growing Afro Day movement, with students proudly wearing their natural hair in a celebration of identity, culture, and self-expression.

The initiative, which was led by mathematics teacher and 2022 Miss St Ann Festival Queen, Kimberly Todd, saw girls across the Trelawny-based all-girls school embracing their natural curls, coils, and textures.

“It was my idea as a cultural ambassador being Miss St Ann Festival Queen. I’ve always wanted this for the girls from 2022. I spoke about it two years ago, and while it didn’t happen then, I was successful this year in getting it done. I really am proud of it, honestly. I think the girls must embrace who they really are,” Todd said.

She added that while the school’s uniform regulations include wearing hats, she believes students should still be given the opportunity to express themselves — “especially knowing where we’re coming from.”

Afro Day was popularised across Jamaican schools in 2023, with students from St Catherine, Excelsior, Green Island, and Meadowbrook high schools among the early participants. The movement encourages young Jamaicans to take pride in their African heritage and to challenge outdated perceptions surrounding natural hair.

With Westwood now joining the celebration, the event continues to highlight how far the nation has come in embracing black beauty and cultural authenticity.