Feeling stifled by the demands of her new job that required her to hide her colorful pink hair, Emily Benschoter, 29, found a creative way to express herself. The Georgia woman, who works in hospitality, was given an ultimatum: cover up her hair or get a job elsewhere. She decided to obey the ultimatum… with a twist. She worked around the company’s demands and fired back!
A Colorful Dilemma
Over the summer, Emily Benschoter landed a front-of-house role in the hospitality industry. Before her start date, Benschoter informed her new boss that she had colorful pink hair, expecting it wouldn’t be a problem. Unfortunately, it was a problem. Her manager suggested she dye her hair to a natural shade, wear a wig, or find a new job.
“Dyeing my hair for a job I work at for 40 hours per week wasn’t an option,” Benschoter told Newsweek. “I am a self-expressive person and I feel very confident with pink hair, so I came up with a solution to keep the job and my hair.”
Enter the Terrible Wigs
Instead of complying fully with the ban, Benschoter decided to express her colorful personality through outrageous wigs. She documented her wig collection on social media, catching the attention and support of millions of viewers. Her TikTok video, where she humorously showcases a muted blonde wig, went viral with 921,000 views.
“The worse the wig, the better,” Benschoter said. “It is a way to open up the conversation with the customers who think it is insane that I have to cover my pink hair.”
An Expressive Statement
Benschoter’s wig clips garnered even more praise as she showcased different exaggerated styles, from dark, wavy crimped hair to a 17th-century peruke wig. The clips attracted millions of viewers, all invested in her ever-changing looks and applauding her commitment to self-expression.
While some defended the need for a professional workplace appearance, Benschoter stressed the importance of being accepted for who she is, beyond her hair color. She believes it’s dehumanizing that her hair color is seen as an obstacle to her acceptance.
We admire Emily Benschoter’s conviction and ability to creatively navigate workplace rules while staying true to herself. Please share this story and let’s see what others have to say about Benschoter’s looks in the workplace!
