Meet The Hairstylist Who Weaved Cynthia Erivo's 'Wicked' Braids In Just 3 Days

When Marie-Josée Mampusa-Yonda came to London as a Congolese refugee, she dreamt of carving a new path flooded with opportunities. Starting with modest beginnings, she found solace in the art of hair braiding, a cherished tradition in her community. For Marie-Josée, hair was more than aesthetics; it was a way to honour her identity, culture, and strength. Her unique perspective caught became a stepping stone to her biggest assignment -- braiding the wig for Elphaba, a celebrated character played by Cynthia Erivo in Universal Pictures' Wicked (2024).

Marie-Josée Crafts Elphaba's Standout Identity

In an interview with BBC, Marie-Josée recounted her journey from Seven Sisters Road in London to the Yellow Brick Road in Oz. Her story begins with an escape from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She sought refuge in London, despite knowing not even a word of English, and quickly learnt the language, culture, and ways of life there. 

"In Senegal, Ivory, Coast, and other French-speaking countries, braiding is our hobby when we're young. We love doing braids," Marie-Josée told the publication. Her salon, Josee's Professional Braiding Studio, is a quaint, humble nook where dozens of stylists, including her daughters, spend hours curating detailed braids and other textured hairstyles. 

Marie-Josée shared that the other stylists in London often "looked down on" her when she first started. That was until her technique caught the attention of London's vibrant creative community and landed her the opportunity to braid Elphaba's hair. She assured the Wicked team she would weave micro-braids on the wig, made by London-based Samuel James Wigs, in just three days!

"I wouldn't lie. I was trembling. I was scared. I was worried. It wasn't up to my strength. But I said, 'I can do it.'" Marie-Josée's daughters, who also work at the salon, helped her turn the daunting task into a remarkable achievement. Notably, actress Cynthia Erivo said in many interviews that she insisted on wearing braids to showcase her Black culture.

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Erivo sported three wigs in the film; Samuel James collaborated with award-winning cosmetologist and prosthetics artist, Frances Hannon to design them. The other braiders include Lorraine Dublin, Tiffanne Williams, and Brenda Ford. The wigs were curated with utmost attention to detail, from impeccably styling the edges to painting the lace green to match Elphaba's skin. 

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