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When Melony Armstrong began her hair braiding business, she met an unexpected obstacle: A state occupational licensing requirement. In Mississippi, hair braiders had to have a cosmetology license, requiring 1,500 hours of training and $10,000 in tuition – and yet none of the training had anything to do with braiding hair. Faced with giving up her dream or fighting back, Melony filed a lawsuit in Mississippi to change the law and create more opportunity for herself and others.

Melony is founder and owner of Naturally Speaking Salon and Armstrong Academy, a natural hair care salon and training center in Tupelo, Mississippi.

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