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A photo of this dad doing his girl's hair went viral. Now he has something to say.

Doyin Richards will be excited when this video becomes irrelevant.

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What Dads Do

Doyin Richards regularly does his two daughters' hair.

Three years ago, Doyin thought it would be fun to take a picture of him doing his oldest daughter's hair and send it to his wife. So he set up a timer and took a photo.

He also shared it on Facebook.


And then it went viral:

Doyin was surprised by the reaction to it. He was taken aback by how many people thought it was amazing that a dad would take the time to learn how to brush and style a girl's hair.

To anyone who is a parent of daughters, doing their hair is not necessarily an impressive feat, Doyin says. It's just part of doing your job as a parent.

Ever since that photo went viral though, he's been on a mission to normalize the idea of involved fathers.

As much as he loves celebrating dads who are involved in the day-to-day parenting of their kids, he hopes that eventually a day will come when the sight of a dad doing his daughter's hair isn't so shocking that it needs to be celebrated and applauded.

"We should celebrate these men. We have to normalize fatherhood," he explains. "My mission is for people to see my viral picture and be like, 'It's not a big deal.'"

Dads aren't babysitters. They are parents. It shouldn't be weird to see them doing the things that parents do.

Watch Doyin doing his daughters' hair in this video from Upworthy's original series "What Dads Do" here:

All images provided by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

Collins after being selected by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

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A changemaker is anyone who takes creative action to solve an ongoing problem—be it in one’s own community or throughout the world.

And when it comes to creating positive change, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective can hold just as much power as years of experience. That’s why, every year, Prudential Emerging Visionaries celebrates young people for their innovative solutions to financial and societal challenges in their communities.

This national program awards 25 young leaders (ages 14-18) up to $15,000 to devote to their passion projects. Additionally, winners receive a trip to Prudential’s headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, where they receive coaching, skills development, and networking opportunities with mentors to help take their innovative solutions to the next level.

For 18-year-old Sydnie Collins, one of the 2023 winners, this meant being able to take her podcast, “Perfect Timing,” to the next level.

Since 2020, the Maryland-based teen has provided a safe platform that promotes youth positivity by giving young people the space to celebrate their achievements and combat mental health stigmas. The idea came during the height of Covid-19, when Collins recalled social media “becoming a dark space flooded with news,” which greatly affected her own anxiety and depression.

Knowing that she couldn’t be the only one feeling this way, “Perfect Timing” seemed like a valuable way to give back to her community. Over the course of 109 episodes, Collins has interviewed a wide range of guests—from other young influencers to celebrities, from innovators to nonprofit leaders—all to remind Gen Z that “their dreams are tangible.”

That mission statement has since evolved beyond creating inspiring content and has expanded to hosting events and speaking publicly at summits and workshops. One of Collins’ favorite moments so far has been raising $7,000 to take 200 underserved girls to see “The Little Mermaid” on its opening weekend, to “let them know they are enough” and that there’s an “older sister” in their corner.

Of course, as with most new projects, funding for “Perfect Timing” has come entirely out of Collins’ pocket. Thankfully, the funding she earned from being selected as a Prudential Emerging Visionary is going toward upgraded recording equipment, the support of expert producers, and skill-building classes to help her become a better host and public speaker. She’ll even be able to lease an office space that allows for a live audience.

Plus, after meeting with the 24 other Prudential Emerging Visionaries and her Prudential employee coach, who is helping her develop specific action steps to connect with her target audience, Collins has more confidence in a “grander path” for her work.

“I learned that my network could extend to multiple spaces beyond my realm of podcasting and journalism when industry leaders are willing to share their expertise, time, and financial support,” she told Upworthy. “It only takes one person to change, and two people to expand that change.”

Prudential Emerging Visionaries is currently seeking applicants for 2024. Winners may receive up to $15,000 in awards and an all-expenses-paid trip to Prudential’s headquarters with a parent or guardian, as well as ongoing coaching and skills development to grow their projects.

If you or someone you know between the ages of 14 -18 not only displays a bold vision for the future but is taking action to bring that vision to life, click here to learn more. Applications are due by Nov. 2, 2023.
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