At the turn of the New Millennium, a powerful voice emerged from Philadelphia, PA. That voice belongs to Jill Scott, the singer-songwriter, poet and actress we’ve grown to love ever since.
Alongside her iconic tunes and commanding stage presence is an indellible style that we all admire. Over the course of her decades-long career, “Jilly from Philly” has evolved into a top A-list naturalista, with more hair wins than we can count.
Her red carpet catalogue is a curly girl’s dream, with styles that include everything from a picked out afro to a slicked out pixie.
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In honor of the ESSENCE Fest performer’s birthday (April 4), we look back at her most attention-grabbing mane moments to date.
Back in 2000, Jill hit the scene in an auburn kinky fro, adorned in flowery accessories. We love the modern day Billie Holiday vibes of this look!
The following year, she slayed in braids at the Grammy Awards. Effortless beauty!
Jill has always embraced protective styling on the red carpet; twists included.
You probably forgot about the time she wore these orange and yellow faux locs on stage. Major moment!
By 2005, the singer had returned to the same style that she hit the scene with in 2000. We love seeing “Jilly from Philly” in her natural texture!
And she’s never been afraid to add volume!
We lived for this half-up, half-down style with mini cornrows.
For the 2011 BET Awards, Scott slayed the carpet in a regal short cut.
Jill knows how to serve in braids. We love how she styled these into an updo.
This pompadour-esque do was made for the red carpet.
Proving that she can work in any hairstyle, Scott looked spring fresh in these sleek tresses at the Baggage Claim premiere.
Jill looked runway ready in bangs. So chic!
This big chop moment inspired plenty of us to do the same.
Jill oozed old Hollywood glamour in this textured bob.
Even this super stylish hat couldn’t take the attention away from her fierce, cascading waves.
As you can see, the singer has never been afraid to pump up the hair volume.
Scott was a vision in this curly mohawk do.
Jill never hits the stage without a fierce hairstyle to match.
Jill hit this Black power pose in a glorious afro.
Last year, her faux locs were a hit on and off the stage.
Bow down. This kinky afro is everything!
Jill made baby’s breath the ultimate hair accessory when she sported this look last year.
In a 2015 Huffington Post article, Scott opened up about her days as a teacher and ways to prevent police assaults in school.
She knows how to slay in kinky curly locks!
