Social media is full of influencers. Influencers span a wide range of verticals, including health and fitness, fashion, lifestyle, food, and more. One influencer made this list thanks to his unique hairstyle. Benny Harlem stands out from the crowd thanks to his extravagant afro. He became an instant sensation. on Instagram , when photos of his hairstyle caused a sensation on the internet.
Benny has been growing and maintaining his stunning hair for over 15 years. Today, his crown measures over 21 inches. In 2018, Guinness Book of Records recognized Benny Harlem's "high-top" hairstyle with a smooth transition as the tallest in the world. At the time, Benny's hair was an astonishing 20.5 inches tall. This recognition catapulted Benny to new heights of fame, and his number of followers on Instagram exceeded 500,000.
Benny and his daughter Jaxyn inspire millions with their matching hairstyles and acceptance of themselves for who they are.
Of course, one of the main features of Benny Harlem's photos, besides his hairstyle, is his daughter Jaxin. The father and daughter have long been captivating the internet with their coordinated natural hairstyles. From pairing traditional African clothing to a theme inspired by the Black Panther movement, they inspire confidence in their social media followers. Benny tries to pass on his love of natural hairstyles to his daughter. He wants Jaxin to understand and embrace the importance of self-love. Benny maintains that it's crucial for his daughter to always feel protected and fearless.
Benny uses her natural hair to spark discussions about biased gender and racial stereotypes.
Beyond teaching his daughter the strength to be herself and to be determined, Benny has also taken on the mission of helping young Black men overcome their cynical pasts. To help them heal and grow, Benny's natural hair movement aims to restore Black men's confidence and dignity in their roots, something they've lost through years of hardship, fear, anxiety, and self-hatred. Benny is also working with HBO on a documentary that will explore the history of Black hair and its role in boosting self-confidence in men and women.
In late 2018, Benny briefly found himself embroiled in a scandal involving his products. Some of his followers, who had purchased Benny's hair care kits, claimed he had deceived them. They claimed his products lacked the natural ingredients Benny himself claimed. Benny allegedly charged $399 per kit, claiming he had traveled to Africa to gather all the necessary ingredients.
Although these allegations were never proven, they caused significant damage to his influencer career. Benny has since reduced the frequency of his social media posts.
(Sources: 1, 2, 3)