Known on social media as ‘Amberlicious’, Amber Moultrie has shared bits of her life, her hair journey and love life on various social media platforms. This young woman is striving for an education, advocating for coloured identity, being an aspiring entrepreneur, and proving that coloured women can do it all.
Amber Moultrie (22) never thought that she would “blow up” on social media.
This social media influencer who creates content about her natural hair, life, and her long-term relationship with her boyfriend Shakur Peters, stole the hearts of many young followers with her unapologetic authenticity.“Many people say I talk too much, but I can’t help it. It comes naturally. I never felt the need to change for anyone,” says Amber.
Amber identifies with the term coloured. “Whether it is gham coloured, wild coloured, ratchet coloured… Whatever people want to say, I don’t care,” she says.
Yet, growing up, Amber had one insecurity: Her relaxed hair. It had an impact on her self-confidence, as she compared herself with girls “who had sleek hair”.
“Just before the [national] lockdown, I decided to shave off all my hair to regrow my hair naturally. And I love it,” she says.
After shaving off her hair, she started developing her own natural product that she “tested” on her own hair. “The results were great. I loved the natural curl that started developing from my root,” she says.
Dear coloured, do not be the box in the middle of black and white, set your own standard.
After three months, she started seeing results and posted about it via her social media platforms. Her followers wanted to know about the products that she used on her hair.
“Many people asked in the comments [on social media] what I started using, because they loved the growth in my hair,” says Amber.
Following all the queries she had had about the product, she decided to start producing it on a larger scale. An official launch date for the product, which she has since called “The One”, is yet to be set.
Amber is not rushing the production as she first wants to ensure the quality of the product. She also believes it is equally important to take care of your mental health, especially during Covid-19. Therefore, she will first take a break after exams before focusing on the product.
Amber believes that being authentically yourself should be embraced more often. “The more I embraced the things I saw as my flaws, the more beautiful it became.”
“What society has to say is not important. I would be an advocate for natural hair as far as I can.”
Amber’s wish is that every woman would accept themselves as is: “Their body, their hair and skin colour.”
Being rooted
Amber says that her parents had instilled in her a strong foundation to build her confidence and self-esteem. Their words and positivity shaped who she is today, she says.
“My parents gave me the confidence to do what I love and not just because I have to do it. I don’t have to be the smartest. It is not forced on me,” she explains. Rather, they taught her to embrace her strengths and weaknesses.
Having never had the pressure “to be the best”, has given her room to explore and when making mistakes, see that as a learning curve and not a punishment.
I am tired of the stereotypical nature of how coloured people are portrayed such as gangsters or the fact that coloured people cannot excel, we can, and never put yourself in the box in the middle but the box on top, where you can give yourself a better life.
“It was important to for me to transfer what has been instilled in me from my mother to my children,” says Lynn Moultrie, Amber’s mother. Today, the two are best friends.
“I definitely have my mother’s personality. She is vibrant, confident and has self-respect,” says Amber. But she also looks up to her mother for the morals and values that she upholds.
Amber Moultrie believes that her family has played a big role in shaping who she is today and will forever be grateful for the love, care and support of her mother Lynn Moultrie, father, Byron Moultrie and elder brother Ayron Moultrie. PHOTO: Supplied/Amber Moultrie.
Set your own standards
“I never want the attention to be taken off the real ‘Amber’ — the one who is ambitious and goal-driven. I think people look past that sometimes, because I am the life of the party. But, deep down, I am a very serious person,” says the social media star, who is still getting used to people asking her for a selfie.
“Everything that has happened in my life was a learning curve… for self-development and, importantly, self-reflection. I’m not perfect and I’m not going to be perfect. I will never beat up myself for making mistakes, especially when I can learn from it,” she says.
Amber Moultrie believes that affirming yourself with positive words makes a difference in the way you see and value yourself. GRAPHIC: Octavia Avesca Spandiel.