A viral TikTok video featuring a mother curling her daughter’s naturally straight hair has captured the internet’s attention, but it’s not the technique that has everyone talking—it’s the touching reason behind it.
Michelle Nhu, a 35-year-old Filipino woman from Florida, shared the heartwarming moment on Instagram (@nhutella_), where it garnered 8.7 million views and over half a million likes. In the video, Nhu curls her daughter Kennedy’s straight hair to help her feel more included in her curly-haired world. Kennedy, 11, is the only one in the family with natural curls, while Nhu’s other daughters, Jayla, 8, and Leia, a toddler, have straight hair like their mother.
Nhu explained that Kennedy, who is of mixed heritage—half Asian, a quarter Black, and a quarter Jewish—sometimes wishes her hair was straight like her sisters’. Nhu said, “We always hype up her curls and remind her how beautiful and unique they are.”
In an emotional moment shared in the video, Kennedy tears up as her mom says, “We are triplets now, we all look alike,” before they embrace. Nhu recalled the moment to Newsweek, saying, “She absolutely lit up! She had happy tears, smiled and said, ‘Hey! We match!’ I could tell it made her feel so special—like I was part of her little curly world.”
The video has sparked a wave of emotional responses, with more than 12,000 comments. Many users expressed their gratitude, with one commenting, “As a curly-haired girl who grew up being asked ‘why is your hair so poofy/frizzy?’ I’m actually sobbing.” Another user wrote, “You’re being such a great example for them.” A third commenter added, “This means so much to her. Just look at her face. Core memory locked in.”
As the U.S. continues to grow more diverse, it’s becoming increasingly common for children to have multiple ethnic backgrounds, and Kennedy’s mixed heritage reflects this change. Nhu’s thoughtful gesture is a reminder of the importance of embracing one’s unique features and the impact it can have on self-esteem.
