Mother who’s fighting for her model son, 8, to be allowed to keep his Instagram-famous long hair at secondary school accuses his top choice of ‘banning ethnic hairstyles’
- The schools Farouk James is set to apply to ban boys from having long hair
- Bonnie Miller,41, from Fulham, West London is fighting to keep her sons hair
- Says she’s noticed rules banning typically non-white styles such as braids
A mother who is fighting for her eight-year-old model son to be allowed to keep his long hair at secondary school claimed she’s noticed a ban on ‘ethnic hairstyles’.
Bonnie Miller, 41, from Fulham, West London appeared on This Morning today where she opened up about battle to keep her son Farouk James’ hair, because all her selected schools ban boys from having locks past a certain length.
She claimed that after investigating her school of choice, The Fulham Boys School, she discovered that despite legal action last year regarding their strict rules on haircuts, she had still noticed rules banning typically non-white styles.
In 2018, Rastafarian schoolboy Chikayzea Flanders won the battle to wear his hair in dreadlocks at school after a landmark legal case, in which the Church of England free school admitted to indirect discrimination.
Bonnie believed rules had changed following the previous controversy, but claimed that other mothers informed her that while some changes had been made, there were now even more rules regarding hairstyles.
Bonnie told: ‘They’ve added two further policies, which were no dreadlocks and no braids – and it was particular ethnic hairstyles.’
Bonnie Miller,41, from Fulham, West London appeared on This Morning today with her model son Farouk James, eight, to discuss the strict rules on hair in secondary schools
She told how after investigating her school of choice, The Fulham Boys School, she noticed rules banning typically non-white styles such as braids
Bonnie began investigating different schools’ rules, after planning ahead for Farouk’s applications in Year 5.
‘I was very excited and assured that Farouk is going to go to that school, we met the criteria in every way, said Bonnie.
When host Holly Willoughby , 38, asked how he felt about his hair, Farouk replied: ‘I feel like it’s lovely and if I have to chop it off I would be really sad and very angry.’
Farouk has already travelled to New York and Florence to show off his incredible mane of curls on the catwalk and has also worked for children’s brands including Guess.
Bonnie said: ‘We’ve been told over the years, that if he wants to do more work, he’d have to cut his hair.
Bonnie told how she began investigating different schools’ rules last year, after planning ahead for Farouk’s applications in Year 5
When host Holly Willoughby (pictured left) , 38, asked how he felt about his hair, the eight-year-old told how he would be ‘really sad and very angry’
‘So it it’s not something we want to do to get more modelling jobs.’
She went on to insist that her son’s hair is ‘part of his identity’ just as hers is.
The mother said: ‘His hair is a part of him, there’s been times in his life that his hair has been bigger than his limbs.
‘Just like us as women, it’s part of our identity, it’s how we feel, it’s no different.’
Bonnie previously told how she was considering declaring her model son non-binary so he can keep his famous locks, which currently fall down below his bottom, when straightened.
Bonnie previously told how she was considering declaring her model son non-binary so he can keep his famous locks, which currently fall down below his bottom, when it’s straight
She said it is discriminatory because girls can have long hair and admits she thought about claiming Farouk is gender fluid so he can keep his mane
She said it is discriminatory because girls can have long hair and admits she thought about claiming Farouk is gender fluid so he can keep his mane.
The 41-year-old has launched a petition demanding the government stops schools from prohibiting boys from growing long locks.
‘We are told we are supposed to be tolerant, and embrace diversity,’ Bonnie, of Fulham, west London, said.
‘However this policy teaches children that they cannot be different.’
She said: ‘Why are we teaching – at such a young age – that long hair means there is something wrong with these children?
‘I thought ‘I have to do something about this, children’s mental health is more important.’
Bonnie’s petition calls on the government to ban the ‘outdated practice’ of hair rules.
‘Applying for a mixed school, I may just put him down as non-binary,’ she said.
‘I have been trying to think of loopholes, and think how can I get him in.
‘The mixed schools I have been looking at have policies which clearly differentiate between boys and girls.’
Farouk has already travelled to New York and Florence to show off his incredible mane of curls on the catwalk and has also worked for children’s brands including Guess
Bonnie believes equal hair rules will also allow transgender people to be more comfortable.
At his primary school he is allowed to grow his hair as long as he wants, provided it does not cover his eyes.
Photographer Bonnie says Farouk is terrified about having to cut his beautiful locks for secondary school.
‘Parents have shown me they have had to chop their child’s hair off, and the devastation it has caused,’ she explained.
‘It’s a part of their identity.
‘You are asking someone to take away a huge part of themselves, to fit in to what is socially expected.’
She says people often call Farouk a girl, but he just brushes it off.
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