‘I Won’t Apologize’: Coco Gauff Claps Back At Trolls After Miu Miu Shoot

Last Updated:April 11, 2026, 2:08 PM IST

Gauff hit back at criticism over her natural hair after a Miu Miu shoot, and delivered a powerful message of self-acceptance and representation.

Coco Gauff addressed all the hate and spite she received after her photoshoot with Miu Miu (AFP)

Coco Gauff is no stranger to scrutiny. But this time, the spotlight had nothing to do with her tennis.

The 2023 Grand Slam champion found herself at the centre of an online storm after featuring in a campaign for luxury brand Miu Miu.

What Sparked the Debate?

Promoting the Vivant leather bag, Gauff posed on her home tennis court in a red polo and navy skirt, her hair tied in a natural bun.

What should have been a routine fashion shoot quickly spiraled into a heated conversation about how women — especially young Black girls — are judged for embracing natural hairstyles.

Gauff initially brushed it off with a blunt social media post.

But as the criticism intensified, she chose to address it head-on.

Gauff Speaks Out

In an emotional TikTok video, Gauff opened up about the impact of the comments.

“I deleted TikTok and Twitter for a month, to come back on Twitter and see thousands of people talking about the way that I look like, and not in a positive way,” she said.

“There’s nothing really to address, but I just wanted to come on here and talk about it.”

She clarified that the shoot was low-key, involving just her and a small team, and that the styling — including her hair — was entirely her choice, with no objections from the brand.

“I’m not going to apologize for the way that my hair looked,” she added. “There are other girls who have the exact same hair as me, and I just want them to see and feel represented…”

With the noise behind her, Gauff now turns her focus back to tennis — where she’ll look to defend her title at the French Open starting May 19.

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