April 4, 2022

Laetitia Ky

Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes debut author LAETITIA KY for a discussion of her book Love and Justice: A Journey of Empowerment, Activism, and Embracing Black Beauty. She will be joined in conversation by NOELLE CHUNG, co-head of the News Department at Harvard Radio Broadcasting.

Details

Laetitia Ky is a one-of-a-kind artist, activist, and creative voice based in Ivory Coast, West Africa. With the help of extensions, wool, wire, and thread, Ky sculpts her hair into unique and compelling art pieces that shine a light on, and ignite conversation around, social justice. Her bold and intimate storytelling, which she openly shares with her extensive social media audience, covers issues like:

• Sexism and internalized misogyny

• Racial oppression

• Reproductive rights and consent

• Harmful beauty standards

• Shame and its corrosive effect on mental health

• And more

Love and Justice is equal parts memoir, artwork, and feminist manifesto. Ky's striking words, combined with 135 remarkable photographs, offer empowerment and inspiration. She emerges from her exploration of justice and equality with a message of self-love, showing readers the path to loving themselves and their bodies, expressing their voices, and feeling more confident.

Through this celebration of women's empowerment, Ky extends a generous invitation to love ourselves, embrace our unique beauty, and to work toward a more just world.

About Author(s)

Laetitia Ky creates elaborate and sculpted hair art with socially conscious messages. Laetitia was recently named Elite Model Look’s first ever Digital Creator Winner at the EML 2019 World Final. Laetitia’s activism, art, and influence extends to her Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. She was recognized by Paper Magazine as one of the top “100 People Taking Over 2019” and voted one of the thirty-five influential young people in the French-speaking world.

Noelle Chung is co-head of the News Department at Harvard Radio Broadcasting WHRB 95.3 FM. She is a student at the college studying Chemical and Physical Biology with a Citation in Spanish.