LaTisha Chong, Hairstylist To Serena Willams & Tracee Ellis Ross, Has Passed Away

Celebrity hairstylist LaTisha Chong, who has styled such stars as Serena Williams and Tracee Ellis Ross, passed at the age of 32. According to reports, Chong died of metastatic breast cancer.

The Trinidad and Tobago native was a rising star, named one of the Top 50 New Wave Creatives by the British Fashion Council in 2020. Her work, which often featured striking shapes, architectural cuts, and avante grade accessories, had been featured in several publications, including Ross’ Harper’s Bazaar September 2021 cover and Telfar Clemens‘ TIME February 2021 appearances. She also styled Ross’ hair for the 2021 Met Gala and worked on campaigns for Ross’ Pattern Beauty hair brand.

While Chong passed away on July 19, 2022, the news went viral after a recent WWD article.

“LaTisha had a real love of natural, textured hair and that is what brought our work together,” Ross told WWD via email. “I am so grateful for the contribution she made to my own hair story and the hair story I’m telling through Pattern. Sending all the love to her son, family, friends & loved ones.”

With bittersweet irony, her final project was Williams’ appearance on Vogue September 2022 cover announcing her retirement “farewell” to tennis. “She was excited about this cover, not because it was Vogue, but because of the figure of greatness that will be gracing its cover: Serena Williams,” wrote her sister on Instagram after Chong’s passing.

“Latisha strategized for weeks about the execution, and the overall look and feel for Serena’s cover, because ultimately she did not want to disappoint our community. I can’t tell you how many times she would sit there disheartened by the lack of knowledge on the manipulation and maintenance of black hair,” she continued. “It can be soft, it can be feminine, it’s deserving of care and love, and to think otherwise is just ignorant and lazy.”