Laetitia Ky is a young Ivorian artist and activist, born in 1996 in Abidjan. She followed a classical education in her hometown and obtained a literary baccalaureate at the age of 16 (2012). After graduating, she was admitted to the Félix Houphouët-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute, where she pursued studies in commerce and administration in a three-year program. However, after completing her degree and internship, she realized that corporate life, with its codes and monotony, did not suit her. In 2015, she decided to leave this path and dedicate herself fully to her passions: art and fashion. Deeply in love with African culture, her personal research led her to discover an Africa rich in aesthetics, inspiring and original, especially in terms of hairstyling traditions. The expressive and unconventional hairstyles of pre-colonial African women immediately resonated with her and marked a turning point. With a natural talent for hairdressing, this discovery became an endless source of inspiration.

She soon realized that hair could go beyond aesthetics, becoming a powerful means of expression and a marker of identity. Hairstyling became her primary artistic voice. Through hair sculptures created on her own braids, which she then photographs, she conveys messages of self-love, gender equality, acceptance of differences, and tolerance. While each sculpture carries a specific message, her overall work promotes Black beauty, female empowerment, and encourages women to embrace themselves freely and confidently. Her activism for women’s rights addresses a wide range of issues, including bodily autonomy, reproductive health, the fight against violence, the breaking of taboos surrounding women’s bodies, self-esteem, and a critique of systems that disadvantage women. Her popularity grew steadily before experiencing a major breakthrough when one of her photo series went viral. The series, featuring hair sculpted into the shape of hands, was widely shared across global media and magazines. Today, she has more than 6.5 million followers across her social media platforms.

She has also explored cinema, making her debut in 2019 in “Night of the Kings” by Philippe Lacôte, where she played “the Queen.” In 2021, she appeared in “Disco Boy” by Giacomo Abbruzzese, playing Manuella / Udoka. The film received the Silver Bear award at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. Beyond hair, fashion, and film, she also uses painting as another medium to support her activism, allowing her to create more detailed and expressive imagery. She is the author of the book “Love and Justice,” a work centered on empowerment, activism, and the celebration of Black beauty, where she shares her personal journey and the origins of her work. In 2023, she was included in Forbes’ “30 Under 30 Africa”, recognizing her as one of the most influential young figures on the continent.