Sophie Kasaei is embracing her Persian heritage as she launches her own line of hair extensions after learning to love her natural look during lockdown.
Like many of us, Geordie Shore star Sophie found life in the coronavirus pandemic tough, with work opportunities disappearing in an instant, being separated from her friends and unable to travel for business or pleasure.
But the 32-year-old also took the opportunity to hit the reset button and, with a lack of projects to work on and parties to attend, massively scaled back on the glam.
As a result the South Shields born celeb found herself truly comfortable in her own skin, for the first time since shooting to fame on Geordie Shore in the summer of 2011.
And it was the reaction to a photo Sophie posted on Instagram, with her hair in curls, that kicked started her ambitions to launch a hair extension brand purely focused on curly hair, rather than the poker straight locks people have long regarded as the look to strive for.
The result is Mane London, which was launched this week and, speaking to ChronicleLive, Sophie admitted that the line was a dream project for her, while also helping her to embrace the hair she'd previously been embarrassed by.
"I really stripped things back during lockdown," she explained.
"I ditched the extensions and the fake eyelashes and started having my hair in curls for the first time since I was a kid.
"I used to be embarrassed of them back then, because of what other kids at school would say but now I'm embracing them.
"I couldn't believe the reaction the picture of me with my curls got on Insta - it was crazy!"
Sophie, who is half-Persian, has previously opened up about her battle with traction alopecia., after years of dying her hair and using extensions at the height of her TV fame.
Looking back to the early days of being in the Geordie Shore house, Sophie said: "We were all ruining our hair, all of us girls.
"We were in that house for weeks on end and couldn't get a blow dry, so we'd be straightening our hair every day as that was the look we wanted at that time - the faker the better!
"But now I want it all to be about natural beauty - shows like Euphoria have characters with curls and the Kardashians are doing it too."
Announcing the launch in an Instagram post, Sophie wrote: "It’s took me a long time to finally love the hair i was born with and embrace a beautiful part of me that I have sadly hidden for so long. Society made me believe blonde hair/ Straight / blue eyes was what I should look like when In reality I was hiding who I was.
"It's took me a lot of years and confidence to embrace my natural hair and be proud of my heritage and roots."
Mane London clip-in hair extensions can be delivered straight to your doorstep and are available to order online from the Mane London website, where you can also find more information and accompanying products.
Focusing in on the line, Sophie added: "After a year in the making, I’m so excited that Mane London is now launching and really proud of the range of extensions and products.
"I’ve put so much time and work into perfecting this line of extensions so that everyone can feel glamorous without damaging their hair, and creating products alongside them so that they can look after their extensions which are long-lasting when cared for correctly.
"“I really hope to inspire so many to embrace their natural hair and their unique self. Being different is really special and I wish I’d realised that sooner.
"I can't wait to see everyone with their curly locks!"
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