A ten-year-old girl, Evie Smith, has recently faced exclusion from her primary school due to her Cruella de Vil-inspired hairstyle.
This decision has sparked a debate about personal expression and school policies.
A ten-year-old girl was excluded from school due to a haircut inspired by Melanie Martinez
Evie Smith, a Year Six student at Kincraig Primary School in Blackpool, Lancashire, styled her hair to resemble her idol Melanie Martinez’s signature split-dye look.
Inspired by the Cruella de Vil character from “101 Dalmatians”, Evie dyed her mousy brown hair half blonde.
She did this in preparation for a Melanie Martinez concert she will attend later this month.
School responded to the incident
Upon returning to school for the new term, Evie was sent home.
The school authorities deemed her hairstyle distracting.
They instructed her to revert to her natural hair color before she could return.
Despite her hair being styled in a ponytail and not interfering with class activities, the school’s decision was firm.
Family responded and supported to the incident
Mother’s stand
April Smith, Evie’s mother, has chosen to keep Evie’s hairstyle unchanged until after the concert on September 21.
She is currently home-schooling her daughter and has expressed disappointment in the school’s reaction.
‘We’ve never had any complaints about Evie, all of her friends love her.
‘Being a child in this day and age, I think it’s really important for them to express themselves.
‘Evie is so quiet so it was a big thing for her to have her hair dyed.
‘I thought it was great and I’m proud of her for not being different and for not following the child.’ April noted that the school had never previously raised concerns about Evie.
She also highlighted her daughter’s positive academic performance and social behavior.
Evie’s perspective
Evie voiced her disappointment, stating that her hairstyle was not distracting and was a form of self-expression.
She added: ‘I like my hair because it means I can express myself freely.
‘I love her songs and what she means in them lyrically because she tries to turn bullying words into compliments.
‘I’m over the roof excited for it and all of the songs are my favourite.’
She explained that she admires Melanie Martinez for turning negative experiences into positive messages. This is why the hairstyle is meaningful to her.
Family dynamics
April, who suffers from fibromyalgia and arthritis, relies on Evie to help with household chores and caring for her younger sister, Trinity.
April is proud of her daughter’s decision to express herself and feels it’s important for children to have the freedom to do so.
School’s statement and Future actions
Karen Appleby, the head teacher at Kincraig Primary School, clarified that the school has a clear uniform policy that includes guidelines on hairstyles.
She emphasized that Evie has not been suspended but that parents are usually contacted to address non-compliance with the policy.
The school’s goal remains to ensure all students are learning effectively while adhering to established guidelines.
The school is committed to working with Evie’s family to resolve the situation. They aim to facilitate her return to the classroom as soon as possible.
The head teacher assured that the school’s priority is maintaining a conducive learning environment for all students.
The controversy surrounding Evie Smith’s Cruella de Vil-inspired hairstyle highlights the tension between personal expression and institutional policies.
School head teacher Karen Appleby said: ‘Kincraig Primary School, like all schools in the country, has a clear uniform policy that we expect our pupils to follow.
‘On occasion, pupils do arrive at school with hairstyles or uniform that don’t meet our policy.
‘When this happens, parents are contacted and we ask them to make the necessary alterations.
‘In regards to this case, it is important to clarify that Evie has not been suspended.
‘Our priority is to have our pupils learning in class with their friends.
‘We will continue to work with Evie’s mother to ensure this happens as soon as possible.’
While the school maintains its stance on uniform guidelines, the situation raises important questions about individuality. It also brings attention to the role of self-expression in educational settings.
As Evie prepares for her concert, her family remains steadfast in their support for her personal choice. They advocate for a balance between school rules and student identity.