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.

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.

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.

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

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].”

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

“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.

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.”

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.

“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.