When my parents decided to name me Amber Rose I’m sure they didn’t have the model in mind. In fact, when I asked my parents in middle school where my name came from for a project, the verdict was they liked it. A heated battle had ensued over my middle name as my mother liked Lynn, and my father (bless his heart) stated that wasn’t any good, as Amber Lynn was a porn star. Amber Rose was the deciding factor and flash forward to being an early teen, I saw Amber Rose the model in passing on MTV with then-boyfriend Wiz Khalifa and fell in love.
I made a vow from the moment I saw her that I needed to know more. I was incredibly curious about who she was, what she did, and how did she make looking bald so fabulous? She was the first bald woman I had seen and she rocked every inch of it. I knew at some point I would try the look for myself now, and I did later in college while loving everything about the experience.
As I got older and started to follow her on social media I learned even more. Amber Rose was more than a model, she was an entrepreneur, an activist, and a vocal member of the sex worker community. She began hosting Slutwalks to raise awareness of sexual assault, wrote a book about how to be a bad bitch, and continued to be a role model for women everywhere.
While it wasn’t intended for my parents to name me after her, I’m glad they did. It felt like destiny to see her for the split second MTV passed on my television. We shared a name and it had to mean something. Turns out, it did, and she has influenced my life in a positive way that makes me thankful. I will always look up to Amber Rose and continue to support her.