Exclusive
Emmy-Nominated Hair Department Head Rukey Styles’ Work Is Often Influenced By Her Own Experiences
In the realm of television and film, where visual storytelling is paramount, the art of hairstyling plays a crucial role in bringing characters to…

In the realm of television and film, where visual storytelling is paramount, the art of hairstyling plays a crucial role in bringing characters to life. Among the celebrated artists in this field is Rukey Styles, an Emmy-nominated Hair Department Head renowned for her innovative and culturally rich contributions.
Rukey’s illustrious career spans an impressive array of projects, from the high-stakes world of Divergent to the gritty realism of Chicago Med, each showcasing her exceptional talent and unique perspective on beauty.
Her most recent work on Disney‘s Saturdays – aired from March 24 to May 12, 2023 – has garnered significant attention, not just for its vibrant portrayal of Afro-American culture but also for its heartfelt depiction of a youth-driven, diverse narrative.
As Rukey continues to shape the landscape of hairstyling in film and television, we had the opportunity to delve into her journey and creative process in an exclusive interview. She shared insights into her early life, revealing how her upbringing influenced her perspective on beauty and hairstyling.
She recounted pivotal moments and influences that led her to the entertainment industry, and detailed her approach to incorporating Afro-American culture into the vibrant, youth-driven world of Disney’s Saturdays. Additionally, she discussed the significance of her Emmy nomination for Outstanding Makeup and Hairstyling and her aspirations for the future.
1. Can you share a bit about your early life and how your upbringing or experiences shaped your perspective on beauty and hairstyling?
Rukey: I grew up in a single-family middle-class home. Because my mother knew that her strength was in teaching children to read and not doing children’s hair, she sent me to the salon regularly. I didn’t appreciate beauty and the efforts that went into it until I saw myself and how I wanted to be seen. After somewhat growing up in my hairstylist’s chair, I started doing my own hair and realized I may have a desire to make people beautiful. Me being around my sister’s boyfriend, who was a hairstylist, created more interest in hair artistry for me.
2. Many individuals find unique paths into the entertainment industry. What were some pivotal moments or influences that led you to pursue a career in hairstyling for film and television?
Rukey: Before starting in the film and TV industry, I had a business where I performed non-surgical hair restoration services. Doing this allowed me to really focus on the little details that people who are not feeling like themself because of their hair loss would pay attention to. This detailing is what influenced them looking natural or like their pre hairloss self. It is because of my wig experience knowledge that led to the opportunity to work in theater, then TV, then FILM.
Work on Disney’s Saturdays:
3. “Saturdays” is garnering attention for its unique portrayal of a diverse cast and its celebration of Afro-American style. How did you approach incorporating Afro-American culture into the hair designs for the characters in the show?
Rukey: Well, this wasn’t hard to do. I was once these characters – young African American adolescent from the southside of Chicago. I saw my childhood in them, I used to go to the skating rink on Saturdays. My mother was a real skater. Like Paris, this was also my experience. It was just a matter of breaking down the characters to see who wears what style. I wanted each girl to have her own look that was unique to her character’s personality, including certain embellishments.
4. The series follows a trio of friends creating an all-girls skate crew. How did you collaborate with the creative team to ensure that the characters’ hairstyles reflected both their individuality and the vibrant, youth-driven theme of the show?
Rukey: Everything starts with the words on the script. After taking notes from the script, I consult with the creators to make sure I see the characters as they wrote them. Then I talk to the actors to collaborate based on the character’s core styling, what my bosses want and learn the actor’s comfort level with the direction, throwing suggestions back and forth sometimes making changes and also creating alongside makeup and wardrobe.
Inspirations Behind Hair Looks:
5. In “Saturdays,” the characters’ hairstyles seem to carry a sense of nostalgia. Can you share some specific inspirations or references that influenced the hair designs, and how you balanced nostalgia with a modern, youth-oriented approach?
Rukey: You learn that there isn’t much new under the sun. Innovation in hairstyling can be combining existing, familiar, elements in new ways to create a new look.
There may be slight iterations that can make it an ode to the former style. Being innovative may mean combing 2 or more familiar components to create a new look overall.
We took the opportunity to style the 3 besties, incorporating throwback elements, such as the 1990s music video style, into the performance scenes, like the cypher scene that was reminiscent of a 1990’s music video in style of filming cinematically, wardrobe, makeup and hair. There was also an opportunity to do “Paris,” played by Danielle Jalade, in a TBoz inspired natural short style with braided sideburns and, “Ari,” played by Peyton Z Basnight, having 2 large ponytails and these and others were opportunities to pay homage to iconic styles of the past.
Emmy Nomination and Award Submissions:
6. Congratulations on your Emmy nomination for Outstanding Makeup and Hairstyling! What does this recognition mean to you, especially considering the impact of your work on “Saturdays” and other projects?
Rukey: Thank you, Arun. We learned about our nomination for the Children and Family Emmys, shortly after I wrapped “Saturdays”. It was great to feel seen as an artist. I remember explaining why I chose certain hair directions such as the father Trey, played by Bryan Clark. His hair changed over the years from a texturizer to natural locs because of the influence of his naturalista wife. I mean how many couples have we seen who were together for years start looking alike?
7. You’ve recently submitted your work on “Saturdays” for the MUAH awards. What aspects of the show’s makeup and hairstyling do you believe stand out and contribute to its potential success in this category?
Rukey: Our hair department did some crazy, fun stuff on “Saturdays”. I hope that our work and approach is noticed as being creative, informative, realistic and appropriately over the top when needed.
8. Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals in the realm of hairstyling for film and television? Are there specific projects or themes you hope to explore in the future?
Rukey: I have been blessed to work on projects that encompass a wide range of hairstyling needs, including period, glam, fantasy, character, contemporary, aging, special effects, and ethnic hairstyling. Any story can require a combination of these styles. I want to work on a project that will give space for styling that is authentic to the storyline and character growth, allowing my team. to bring out the essence of the narrative through hairstyling.
When all things are in alignment, including a great story and a dedicated team of cohesive collaborators, with me as the department head of hair, we can collectively bring out the best in my work and creativity. This effort will ultimately lead to the recognition of our hairstyling skills.
9. Finally, for emerging hairstylists inspired by your journey, do you have any advice or insights you’d like to share about breaking into the industry and thriving in a competitive field?
Rukey: Be well rounded because there’s no productions where all the actors wear the same hairstyle (If so, it’s a comedy) lol. Learn as much as you can about all hair types and textures.
Work in a salon, mess up some stuff so you can learn how to fix it. It’s about knowing what you do so well that you can do it promptly with ease but also can get the same result multiple ways if needed.
The interview was originally held in December 2023.
Exclusive
Fans Shocked as Zoe LaVerne Reveals Her Parents Are Siblings but It’s Not Incest
Social media sensation Zoe LaVerne left her fans shocked when she revealed during a live session that both of her parents are siblings. However, Zoe…

Social media sensation Zoe LaVerne left her fans shocked when she revealed during a live session that both of her parents are siblings.
However, Zoe quickly clarified that despite the familial connection, she does not consider it incestuous.
She explained, “So my mom and my dad, because like my dad and my mom Debbie, since they are siblings, it sounds incest but it’s not. It’s really confusing to talk about.”
As expected, Zoe’s live confession spread like wildfire across various online platforms, with tea pages, such as teatoktalk, sharing the video on their pages.
The moment viewers caught wind of the video, they wasted no time expressing their opinions, with one fan commenting, “girl, it’s definitely incest.”
Another exclaimed, “tf she means it’s not incest when they’re literally siblings who had children together.” LaVerne’s revelation seemed to have divided her audience, with some questioning her explanation.
However, amidst the wave of criticism, some fans stepped forward to defend LaVerne and shed more light on the situation.

Fans’ reaction after Zoe LaVerne revealed her parents are siblings. (Source: Instagram)
One supporter highlighted, “Y’all, her mom is her aunt who adopted her. She didn’t explain it very well, but let’s not be weird about this.”
Another fan chimed in, saying, “Guys, she talked about it a long time ago. Her mother died because of alcohol abuse, as I remember, and her auntie adopted her and took care of her, and Zoe calls her mom.”
The following comment read, “Her “mom” is her aunt that had to take custody of her, not her biological mother. Her wording was very weird and an explanation on her part would’ve been good…”
A look at Zoe LaVerne’s family
LaVerne’s adoptive parents’ names are Debbie Pemberton, originally her aunt, and Douglas Wright. Additionally, she has two brothers: her biological brother, Eric Pemberton, and her stepbrother, Cameron.
LaVerne cherishes her relationships with her family, taking the time to express gratitude to them, especially to her mother.

Zoe LaVerne and her mother, Debbie Pemberton. (Source: zoexlaverne/Instagram)
On January 23, 2023, she wished her mother a Happy Birthday by posting several pictures on her Instagram and calling her “best friend.”
She expressed, “happy birthday to my best friend. i love you so so much mom. it breaks my heart that you don’t know it’s your birthday but all that matter is you’re here with us. i love you.”
Similarly, on May 14, 2023, on the occasion of Mother’s Day, the social media star took to Instagram to share a lovely picture with her mother, Debbie and wrote a heartfelt message.
She wrote, “happy mother’s day to this woman right here. i love you more than words can ever explain. thank you for everything you have ever done for me. you deserve the world.”
On May 17, 2021, LaVerne wished her father a Happy Birthday by posting a picture of her and her father and expressing that she loves her very much.
Zoe LaVerne’s biological parents were drug addicts
During a live session, LaVerne opened up about her difficult past and revealed that her biological parents were drug addicts.
She expressed her frustration at the video being leaked without her consent, as she had chosen not to share this part of her story yet.
LaVerne emphasized that her mom, Debbie, who adopted her at birth, is her true mother, even though she may not be her birth mother.
Her biological mother, Melinda, and her biological father, Billy, struggled with addiction, and Melinda even considered having abortions.
However, Debbie fought for LaVerne’s custody and won, providing her with a loving home and support.
She expressed her gratitude for her adoptive parents, as they have been there for her since the beginning and have played a significant role in shaping who she is today.
LaVerne also shared the heartbreaking news that her biological mother was murdered when she was only three years old, while her father died of a drug overdose when she was around six or seven.
Despite not knowing her biological parents personally, she acknowledged that her adoptive parents, Debbie and Douglas, are her true parents, as they provided her with love, care, and stable life.
She praised Debbie for fighting to have her as her own and expressed her love and appreciation for the life she has been given.
Follow Glamour Buff on Google News!
Exclusive
Zoe LaVerne Gets Emotional Talking about Mom Whose Cancer Has Returned
Zoe LaVerne candidly spoke about the difficult and painful journey her family has been facing due to her mother, Debbie Pemberton’s health in a…

Zoe LaVerne candidly spoke about the difficult and painful journey her family has been facing due to her mother, Debbie Pemberton’s health in a series of emotional videos.
She began by apologizing for her vulnerability and assured her viewers that she didn’t want any sympathy but wanted to share her story because her mom would want her fans to know what was happening.
She said, “I don’t want sympathy. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. I genuinely just wanted to tell you guys this story because I know that a lot of you guys really loved my mom, and she would want you guys to know what’s going on.”
Her life completely fell apart when her mom’s health started deteriorating in early November 2022. Her mom’s incapacity to use a coffee maker, which at first glance seemed like a harmless joke, turned out to be the first indication of a serious stroke.
Her right half of the brain was damaged during the stroke, which made it difficult for her to remember things and communicate. She, her mother, and her family set out on a difficult path, spending Christmas and Thanksgiving in the hospital.
Moreover, in January 2023, they received another devastating news– the return of her mother’s cancer. However, this time, her mother chose not to disclose her condition.

Zoe LaVerne and her mother Debbie Pemberton. (Source: Instagram)
LaVerne expressed, “In January of 2023, we found out that my mom had cancer again. And she didn’t tell anybody in the family that she had cancer. Nobody knew. And we all really think it was because she didn’t wanna do chemo or radiation anymore.”
Part 2 revealed the heartbreaking introduction of hospice care, indicating that her mother’s condition has worsened. LaVerne, at only 22 years old, grappled with the idea of losing her mom.
She talked about periods when she felt vulnerable and strong, and how her father gave her her mother’s medal as a priceless keepsake during these difficult times.
“They made it clear that she could die anytime soon. My dad last night gave me my mom’s medal as she always wore. And it really meant a lot to me because this is a very difficult time in my life right now,” she noted.
In the final part, she reflected on her mother’s strong connection with her online community and the role her mother played in motivating her to pursue social media.
She acknowledged the support and prayers from her fans and the positive impact it has had on her mother’s condition, with her regaining some strength.
That being said, Pemberton, originally her aunt, and Douglas Wright adopted LaVerne when she was just a baby. During a live session, she insisted that despite Pemberton wasn’t her biological mother, she was her real mother.
Speaking about her biological parents, her mom, Melinda, was murdered, while her father, Billy, died of a drug overdose.
Exclusive
Zara Larsson Reacts to Accusations of Using F Slur on TikTok
Zara Larsson, a Swedish pop singer, responded to accusations that she used a homophobic F slur to insult a TikToker and said she would leave the…


Zara Larsson, a Swedish pop singer, responded to accusations that she used a homophobic F slur to insult a TikToker and said she would leave the app.
In a recent TikTok video, Larsson responded to the allegations, telling her 1.4 million followers, “I hate that I have to do this.”
She said that the photograph was manipulated and that someone had created a replica of a phony comment that seemed to portray her uttering a gay slur.
The 25-year-old, who was preparing to celebrate her birthday at the time of the video, spoke to her fans while wearing a shawl.
She confessed that she had received a ton of comments blaming her for penning the slur and said that the occurrence had “ruined TikTok” for her.
‘Ain’t My Fault’ singer started by saying, “Hey ya’ll. I’m getting ready to go out. It’s my birthday today. I hate that I have to do this, especially on my birthday. I’ve already talked about it twice in my story, but they disappeared.”
Larsson continued by saying that she refrained from using racial slurs. She claimed that she responded, “Yet here you are commenting,” to a person she didn’t know who commented, “You’re so irrelevant, your music sucks.”
Further, the singer added, “Sometimes I can’t hold my tongue, like I need to say something. He edited that comment saying I called him something else, which I didn’t do. Everyone who knows me knows I would never call someone a slur.”
She also wondered whether the post was still up, but the commenter had blocked her, and the singer had also done the same because she was “pissed.”
The artist said she used to enjoy TikTok but that “this has kind of ruined the experience for me,” adding that she would be taking a break from the social media site.

Zara Larsson. (Source: zaralarsson/Instagarm)
Finally, in an effort to defend herself, she assured her supporters one last time that she was not the kind of person who would refer to someone else as an “F-slur” in a comment.
Although the modified image is nowhere to be discovered, many of her followers felt it was fake and defended her right away.
“You’re so kind and sweet and your fans know that you never would write something like that,” a fan noted.
This is not the first time Zara Larsson has been brought into controversy
Back in 2019, when Larsson claimed James Charles slipped into her ex-boyfriend Brian Whittaker’s social media DMs many times, she found herself in the middle of yet another homophobia controversy.
She tweeted, “I’m cackling cause he hit up my boyfriend in the dms several times knowing damn well he’s straight.”
Larsson made the remarks during Charles’ well-known public argument with Tati Westbrook, who charged the YouTuber with influencing people’s sexual orientation.
She was accused of indicating that the “LGBTQ family is predatory” before clarifying that Charles had only made one attempt to hit up Whittaker.
Later, Larsson apologized to Charles and said, “I’m sorry for sending all of the hate that James received in his direction. I’m sorry for not thinking about the consequences.”
-
News6 hours ago
Who Is Bryce Hall’s Girlfriend Mikaela Lafuente? Inside Their Relationship Timeline
-
News3 days ago
James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Sparks Right-Wing Backlash Ahead of Release
-
News6 days ago
Cierra Ortega’s Family Breaks Silence After ‘Love Island’ USA Exit and Online Backlash
-
News3 days ago
Michael Madsen’s Cause of Death Confirmed – Heart Failure at 67
-
Entertainment3 days ago
‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Roars Into Box Office Success
-
News3 days ago
Lena Dunham Opens Up About ‘Merciless’ Body‑Shaming in Hollywood
-
Entertainment3 days ago
‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Rolls Out Star‑Studded Cast