A video featuring a 4-year-old girl named Leila Danai from Florida has gained popularity on TikTok after her mother, Mildred Munjanganja, shared a story about a classmate not liking Leila’s natural hair. In the video posted back in July, Leila confidently responds to the criticism, expressing her love for her hair that her mom made. The video has reached over 1.9 million views, with 404,600 likes and shares combined, attracting attention from TikTok users worldwide and even catching the eye of Viola Davis.
@leiladanai I love hearing about Leila’s day! Today she shared how her classmate didn’t like her hair and she replied ‘well I like it!’ – I have never been more proud! I am glad she didnt need anyone’s validation to feel complete, she knew she loved her hairstyle and that’s what mattered. She stood up for herself, she confidently and honestly communicated her point of view and she didn’t allow someone else to affect her self confidence. I am so proud of her – at 3.5years she stood up for herself and didn’t allow the ent to affect her. We will continue to have a democratic household where her opinion matters! We will continue not forcing to do things she does not want to do and allowing her to speak her mind. I will continue to listen, to guide and be an excellent example. I am so proud of Leila! Strong women, may we be them, may we know them, may we raise them! . . . . . . . . . #kidsselfconfidence #diversity #blackhair #blackkidshairstyles #toddler #momanddaughter #toddlerlife #modelface ♬ original sound – Leila Danai
The positive response has made Leila an international sensation, with people from countries such as Pakistan and Syria reaching out to express how the video has inspired them. Munjanganja and Leila frequently share heartfelt moments on their TikTok page, discussing topics like drawing boundaries, handling frustrations, and exchanging affirmations. Munjanganja explains that she records these videos for her parents in Zimbabwe, allowing them to experience their granddaughter’s daily life.
@leiladanai I spilt a bucket of Leilas ‘beads’ on the floor before we had this discussion. She cleaned it all up and we had an interesting chat about it. I think its important for us as parents to take responsibility for our mistakes and acknowledge when our little ones do something impressive. Our conversations are fun and i am happy to see they are inspiring moms and dads to reach out asking how to raise a confident little person. There is no one right way – but i do believe that open communication is one of the most important steps. . . . . . . . . . #selflove #parenting #motherhood #moms #blackmoms #confidentkids #affirmations #kidactor #kidmodel #blackgirlmagic #familygoals ♬ original sound – Leila Danai
Emphasizing the importance of embracing uniqueness, Munjanganja shares how she took Leila to a dog show to teach her about diversity and beauty. By showing her different breeds with various colors and fur types, Munjanganja conveyed the message that just like dogs, people have different textures and colors, and these differences are what make individuals beautiful.
Throughout these videos, Munjanganja aims to instill in Leila the understanding that others’ opinions don’t have to affect her, encouraging her to acknowledge contributions without letting them ruin her day.