Simone Biles posing on the 2024 CMA Awards red carpet ignited stir

Simone Biles, the seven-time Olympic medalist, shone at the 2024 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards in Nashville on November 20. Her photos online drew mixed reactions from eagle-eyed netizens.

Before the event, Simone shared an Instagram Story with a photo of herself and a close pal. She wore a beige top, jeans, layered necklaces, and oversized glasses, completing her chic style. “okay but wait for the glow up later today [sic],” she wrote.

That evening, the 27-year-old Olympian stepped onto the red carpet in a shimmering metallic gown that highlighted her elegance and confidence.

The silver dress, featuring a knotted shoulder strap and an off-the-shoulder sleeve, hugged her athletic frame. She completed the look with stud earrings and a delicate hand chain that highlighted her wedding ring.

Simone also stepped into the spotlight as one of the evening’s presenters. She joined an impressive roster of celebrities, including Jeff Bridges, Carly Pearce, and Little Big Town, to celebrate the best in country music.

Later in the evening, Simone surprised fans by changing into a glittering silver power suit, a bold, tailored ensemble that continued the metallic theme.

Fans quickly took to social media to share their admiration for Simone’s CMA appearance. While many admired her look, some commented, “Beautiful Dress but it doesn’t fit!!” [sic] A second speculated, “She is going to be a mum!!” while one observer remarked that her metallic gown seemed unflattering.

Some netizens praised Simone’s new locks. “I like her new hairstyle, so pretty,” a fan raved, while another declared, “she is ridiculously beautiful, she can rock any hairstyle!”

Another observer focused on her hairstyle, expressing appreciation for her freedom to experiment with creative looks that reflect her personality and individuality.

An admirer also highlighted how her bob suits her post-Olympic lifestyle, allowing her to embrace styles impractical during her competitive career. A different commenter noted how stunning Simone looked, while someone else complimented both her appearance and performance.

The renowned gymnast’s new bob marked a striking transformation from the “fried” hair she dealt with during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

During the competition, Simone faced unexpected criticism from netizens about her hair, despite her focus on her journey to gold. The world-renowned gymnast didn’t hesitate to respond to her critics.

Simone posted a video to her Instagram story, sharing a light-hearted yet firm message, “don’t come for me about my hair [sic].”

Seated on a bus and dealing with soaring temperatures, Simone explained, “IT WAS DONE but bus has NO AC & it’s like 9,0000 degrees.” She added, “oh & a 45 min ride [sic].”

Simone was more direct in another post, stating, “gonna hold your hand when I say this…next time you wanna comment on a black girls hair. JUST DON’T [sic].” Her statement led to various reactions on social media.

One viewer expressed frustration, criticizing Simone’s hair for appearing less polished compared to her teammates.

Another echoed this viewpoint, albeit with a hint of concern, “Her hair looks broke off , fried, and unhealthy. I don’t think anyone is trying to be mean , if anything it’s black women giving advice . She is the best gymnast ever and she has the means to attain healthy hair . Why not look and be your best simultaneously [sic]?”

Despite the critique, some fans expressed their admiration for Simone, with one noting they still loved her and wished her success.

Many defended Simone, emphasizing the physical demands of her sport and dismissing criticism of her hair as unfair and irrelevant.

One commenter supported Simone, urging women to stop criticizing hairstyles and pointing out that frizz from humidity is a common experience.

Despite the online comments about her hair, Simone remained focused and led her team to victory in the competition. She led Team USA to a stunning win in the women’s gymnastics team final, securing a total score of 171.296.

The team’s win marks the fourth gold for the U.S., following their triumphs in 1996, 2012, and 2016. Italy claimed silver with a score of 165.494, while Brazil took bronze with 164.497, marking their first medal in this category.

Throughout the Olympics, Simone showcased simple yet striking hairstyles, often opting for a hair bun that highlighted her versatility and style. In one photo, she wore her hair in a high bun with cascading strands, secured with hairpins.

In another photo, Simone sported small braids running from the front to the back, which seamlessly blended into her high, messy bun. It appears she braided her hair before styling it into a bun.

In another picture, Simone opted for a more casual look, wearing a simple messy bun with some strands left loose for a relaxed appearance. She kept the style natural, without adding any hairpins.

Reflecting on the team’s achievement, Simone expressed her joy, saying, “It feels amazing. We love it, we’re excited…We got the job done.”

On Instagram, Simone also shared a photo of her team celebrating their win, happily holding the American flag. “lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions  [sic],” she captioned her post.

Her response and outstanding performance remind us that her athletic prowess far outweighs any superficial judgments, particularly those concerning her hair.

Simone’s hairstyles have always been a part of her public persona, and now they are featured in a Netflix documentary “Simone Biles: Rising.” The documentary delves into her journey, including a look at her hair braiding routine.

Collaborating with streaming powerhouse Netflix and Emmy-winning director Katie Walsh, the first season of Simone’s life documentary has hit TV screens. Breaking down the fourth wall, Katie has revealed the story behind certain elements featured in the project.

According to the description on Netflix, “Simone Biles: Rising” followed the young talent as she “balances her personal life, mental health journey and training ahead of a highly anticipated return to the Olympics.”

The trailer gave viewers a preview of the documentary, starting with an interview where Simone talked about the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. It then showcased clips of her incredible gymnastics skills.

Shifting the mood, the trailer transitioned to the infamous moment when Simone left the competition before transitioning to her addressing that incident and other battles she had faced.

At one point, she even revealed how she considered quitting gymnastics altogether, but her loved ones encouraged her to keep fighting.

The documentary featured two parts. The first, “Write Me Down in History,” covered the initial stages of Simone preparing for her comeback, reflecting on internal battles and the enormous pressure she faced after the Tokyo Championships. The second episode, “I Will Not Be Broken,” spotlighted Simone at the World Championships.

“But as she looks toward Paris, experiences from the past are shaping how she thinks about the future,” reads the end of the episode’s plot line. Since its release, Netflix has shared clips from the episodes on various platforms such as Facebook and YouTube.

Standout footage from the documentary scenes showed Simone’s doting mother, Nellie Biles, doing her daughter’s hair. In this clip, Simone sat at a wooden table while Nellie tended to her hair.

As Nellie explained how Simone could style her hair — presumably for an event — she used her hands to mark distinctive lines where she could braid it. Simone then said in the clip, “Well, you can just do one at the top.”

Nellie then confirmed her daughter’s request, adding, “And then the one in the back,” before grabbing a hair comb to get started. The video then showed Nellie braiding Simone’s hair.

Sitting down with the hosts of GymCastic on July 21, Katie unpacked the narrative behind that special moment. After being asked by co-host Jessica O’Beirne to talk about the hair braiding, Katie began by explaining how the filming process worked.

The documentary was greenlit four days before the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

She shared how although the production team was allowed to film with Simone, they were not allowed to film in her hotel room. This was due to strict rules and regulations from the United States of America Gymnastics (USAG) sports federation.

“So, what we worked out was, there was like a conference room area to this hotel […] and we could only film within the confines of this like, you know 5 by 9 room […] So we would kind of bring things into that space. So Nellie would come and braid Simone’s hair there,” Katie said.

Continuing, Katie disclosed, “Nellie could go to Simone’s hotel room, but we couldn’t, so they would work with us and come to that other spot.” Reactions to seeing Simone having her hair braided by her mom were heartfelt, with many noting how touched they were by the sentimental moment.

On stage, on the red carpet, and in competition, Simone Biles inspires as a resilient, stylish, and graceful icon, proving she’s unstoppable in all she does.