MIRELDA
“Somebody said to me recently, ‘That hair is like fiery, just like you.’’
More than just change, this style was about celebration. July 1st marks Keti Koti (“the chains are cut,”), a national day remembering the end of slavery in Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean. It’s a day that’s both reflective and joyful, honoring freedom and resilience.
"I wanted to do it before [Keti Koti] then, but TNN is always so booked and busy. So I wasn't able to do it before the first of July, but I still wanted the hairdo to celebrate Keti Koti. I feel like it can be the whole month's celebration."
For Mirelda Presierie, hair is pure self-expression. And over the years it’s helped her embrace every part of herself.
Her braided-mowhak style started where many great ideas do…on Instagram: "I was wearing box braids for a while and I just got bored of it. I saw this picture and I was like 'Who can I trust this hairstyle to?'"
If previous salon experiences have taught her one thing, for a style this special she needs the right person. For Mirelda, only one name came to mind: Sadry Maduro. “I’ve known her for a while. She’s just so creative with hair.”
By owning her natural coils and curls, she had to be ok being herself.
"It was a really personal journey for me. Coming into the end of your 30's, you're trying to fit in all the time. Now I was looking for my own identity."
In embracing her natural hair, Mirelda connected to herself. And her power:
"It's really like owning your own self, owning your confidence."
Whether it's the wisdom of age or simply the relief of finally letting her hair do its thing, Mirelda is happy she arrived here, comfortable in her own skin. And it’s clear she isn’t dimming her light for anyone.
It’s all about embracing natural style
Mirelda's been embracing her natural texture for over a decade. It started in 2014 when YouTube opened up a whole new world of possibilities when it came to natural hair care.
"I started seeing these videos and I was like…I want to wear my own hair. And be able to feel good and go outside with it, instead of always having these weaves and European hairstyles."
"Sadry told me to find something to put in it, like a bead. I had this shell, which was perfect."
That cowrie shell is more than just decoration. In African culture, these shells once served as currency and symbolised wealth, fertility, and spiritual protection. Today they celebrate heritage, femininity, and resilience making it the perfect accent for this Keti Koti inspired style.
“I think maybe two times I went to somebody else, but they don't know how to manage my natural hair."
The wrong hands see a challenge to be tamed. The right hands see texture to be celebrated—and that makes all the difference.
The meaning is in the details
To say Mirelda's style is detailed would be an understatement. The more you look at it, the more you see the precision, care, and time (10+ hours!) that went into creating this masterpiece.
"We started out by doing cornrows from the sides to make the mohawk effect. On top, single box braids. Then she rolled all my braids separately and we secured it with thread."
But the finishing touch actually came from Mirelda herself.
This story is part of Natural Identity, a portrait series uplifting Black voices and hair journeys in and around Amsterdam.
She describes herself as "feminine with an edge". Soft in some ways, but there’s no mistaking the fire underneath.
“Somebody said to me recently, ‘That hair is like fiery, just like you.’’
Her response? "Fiery? Very much so."
Feminine, but with a little edge
After years of shaping her own identity and embracing her natural texture, this journey has given her something powerful: the freedom to be exactly who she wants to be.
When asked if her hair has its own personality, Mirelda laughs: "Absolutely. I can wear so many styles and take on so many personalities… I just love it. I can wet it to make it short, and then the next day I can blow it out into a completely different style. I like being able to show all the different sides of me."
Images by Jennifer Grube
Writing by Caitlin McCarthy
Hair Style by Sadryone from TNN
