KSAT Anchor Japhanie Gray Shows Natural Locs

The morning anchor stopped wearing a wig on air after nearly six years, sharing her hair journey in a Facebook post.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Beauty

KSAT Anchor Japhanie Gray Shows Natural Locs

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KSAT morning anchor Japhanie Gray stopped wearing a wig on air and began showing her natural locs on camera. She announced the change in a Facebook post on a Wednesday, sharing her hair journey and the criticism women in TV news face.

Why it matters

Gray's decision spotlights how appearance standards can weigh on women in broadcast news, where judgment about hair, weight, makeup and speech is common. For viewers in San Antonio, it adds to a wider conversation about professional norms for Black women's hair.

The 2023 CROWN Workplace Research Study found Black women's hair is more than twice as likely to be seen as unprofessional than hair of women who are not Black. Nearly half of Black women reported feeling pressured to change curly hair to straight for job interviews and headshots.

The players

Japhanie Gray

Japhanie Gray is a morning anchor at KSAT in San Antonio who has spoken publicly about the pressures facing women in television news.

KSAT

KSAT is the San Antonio television station where Gray works as a morning anchor.

The details

Gray said she had worn a wig on air for nearly six years and was not ready to stop until recently. She credited advocates who have raised awareness about beauty standards for women with making the change easier, and said she and other TV journalists face harsh judgment about their hair, weight, makeup and speech.

Nearly six years of on-air wig wearing ended with the November 5, 2026 announcement.
2023: CROWN Workplace Research Study on Black women's hair published.

Industry Dynamics

Gray's decision follows the pattern documented in the 2023 CROWN Workplace Research Study, which found Black women's hair is far more likely to be judged unprofessional. It marks a visible departure from the pressure many Black women feel to straighten hair for interviews and on-camera work.

For viewers and professionals, Gray's change shows that on-air appearance norms are being questioned in local news. Readers navigating interviews or headshots may find the CROWN study's findings useful context on workplace hair expectations.

The takeaway

Appearance expectations in broadcast news are increasingly open to discussion, and personal choices about hair can carry professional weight. Anyone facing similar pressure can look to the CROWN research as a reference point for workplace hair bias.