I ROCK MY OWN 2026

This Juneteenth, we celebrate the history and cultural significance of natural (afro-texture) hair, including bald or thinning hair. I ROCK MY OWN invites and welcomes everyone on the natural hair journey to this free portraiture event.

How can I participate?
Go to Bamboo on June 19th between 3-7pm. Makeup artists can provide touch-ups if desired.

How will I download my photo?
ArtPeers will process photos in real-time, uploading here – download yours same day.

What can I do with my photo?
Anything you want: professionally, profile picture, printed and framed… it’s you, and it’s yours.

What’ll you do with my photo?
Nothing: photos won’t be sold, watermarked, or anything else. It’ll be in a gallery here, that’s it.

Why focus on natural hair?

Juneteenth is an ideal day to reflect on the deep tradition and significance of natural hair. In addition to providing participants with portraits they can use in many ways, I ROCK MY OWN gives the wider community a chance to see its own beauty and diversity in living color.

Food, friends, music and more

Photos are fast, wait times vary. But it’s all good. See people you love, meet new friends, enjoy snacks donated by Horrocks Market and listen to music curated by Andrea “SuperDre” Wallace. We’ll also have big TVs in the Gallery listing Juneteenth GR events that Momma Jewel is hosting on the SE side, with bus route info.

Shareable promo (below)

Click the thumbnail below for a mobile-friendly promo-graphic you can share.

I ROCK MY OWN relies on word-of-mouth so please share this opportunity with everyone you know who is part of the natural-hair journey.

Impact in a participant’s words

Blogger DaLoveLEE1 wrote a blog about her experience as a participant in I ROCK MY OWN.

“We deserved to celebrate and affirm ourselves and each other. Taking pictures is a great way to do that. Nothing says you are wonderful than to get dressed up and preserve the memory of you looking regal. That’s exactly what happened at this photo shoot.”

“I enjoyed seeing different people respond in front of the camera. Their personality really comes out. Some people really own it. They have no problem showing off their swag. Others were more shy. One Sistah even said, “I’m an introvert.” She slayed, though.”

“People in the audience gave the models nods of approval and praise so everyone got through it. Some people took group pictures and there were a few family portraits as well. The photographers used a ladder to get certain angles. They had a monitor to review each shoot. They really did a great job giving directions. There was another photographer taking behind the scenes shots.”

“This was also great opportunity to network. Out in the lobby I sipped coffee and had discussions with Curl Friends about hair styles, products, self-love and the need to embrace each other to improve the community. I even connected with a fellow blogger. There were tons of people from Grand Rapids but I also met a Curl Friend from Rochester, NY who only lived here for a year. She just wanted to meet people with similar interests.”

Past and present collaborators

ArtPeers
Sidecar Studios
Natural Hair GR
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Aurrik Brand Movement
JoJo’s House of Beauty
Muse GR
DeVos Place and Convention Center
Holland Litho Printing Services
A Fearless Brother Project
Grand Rapids Downtown Market
Bamboo Grand Rapids
Green Frog Motion and Stills
The City of Grand Rapids
Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. (DGRI)
Mobile GR and Parking Services
Goodrich Quality Theatres, Inc.
Detroit Natural Hair Expo
Ultimate Natural Hair Tour
Horrock’s Market
Naturals United
Avanti Law Group, PLLC
Makeup By Angie Miller
Harmony Beauty Co.
Wege Foundation