Finding a Job as a Black Woman

I have been battling with the thoughts in my mind of how my appearance looks to the people that conduct my interviews. Last week, a female hispanic coworker of mine was conversing with a white female coworker about an interview that the white female coworker had coming up. My hispanic coworker complimented the coworkers new haircut and said it looked very professional. I could'nt help but pay attention to the conversation. As I sat at my desk, I had a hairstyle that was an afro, and I wondered if I told them I had an interview and decided to twist my hair, would they say it looked professional? I don't know if it was my insecurites that was getting to me.

This is when I came to the conclusion that me and my coworkers live in two totally different worlds. They had conversations everyday that I can't relate to. Their standard of beauty was blue eyes, straight hair, no thighs, and big boobs. My standard of beauty is big kinky hair and thick thighs. I knew this would be their opinion, but I thought that it would be some diversity among the mindsets of indivisuals in the 'real world.' I began thinking...How can black women be true to ourselves and have successful careers if professionalism that is defined by majority contradicts human nature?

I feel like as a black women, its very hard to decide what to look like for interviews in corporate america. From your hair to your outfit, black women can seem to be different from the rest of society. As for me, I'm a natural black female with curves. I usual wear weave to interviews, straighten my hair,or updo the fro. I avoid wearing highwaisted skirts because my body can look too curvy at times.

My friend in Georgia told me to invest in a wig, while another friend here in Texas told me that I can wear my natural hair to interviews. Both friends have natural hair. The friend in Texas goes on interviews all the time and still can't find a job in this big city houston. She can be used as a resarch example that shows wearing natural hair doesnt work for interviews. Either that or it's her resume.
After lstening to my coworkers, now im wondering if im not geting any opportunities because of my looks? I did get my current opportunity with a sewin weave, but what about the others that i interviewed with wearing an fro updo. I guess I will never know.