Is the hairstyle of NSW Premier Kristina Keneally a political force of its own that could help others struggling with their public appeal?
It is an unquestionable hit with the public and today the #KKHairAvatarDay hashtag started trending on Twitter. Earlier this week it was reported her breezy coiffure is being specifically requested by salon patrons, with celebrity hairdresser Joh Bailey saying it was “extremely popular” with customers. “It’s fresh, it’s appropriate to her position, it’s very well-groomed - she’s obviously having it done a lot,” Bailey told the Sydney Morning Herald. “Someone said to me that [her hair] has a lot of movement in it, and that sort of says that she’s doing something.”
Kristina Keneally’s hairstyle is very much part of the NSW Premier’s personal brand which has made her the most popular political leader in the country despite the government she leads being openly loathed by voters. She’s building her leadership credentials - playing a starring role in the negotiations this week’s COAG health summit - but there can be little doubt that her telegenic qualities have given her an edge when it comes to cutting through with the electorate.
The most surprising thing about what happens when you put Keneally’s do to male politicians is that rather than making them look like cards out of a game of Guess Who some of them actually look, well, plausible. For example, it makes Kevin Rudd (above) and Tony Abbott (below) look like troubled French film directors.
Peter Garrett’s political career has been struggling lately. Perhaps he could do with some Keneally cut-through?
Deputy PM Julia Gillard looks after her hair but would something more radical suit her?
Or Barack Obama, whose approval ratings have plummeted following the divisive healthcare debate in the US.
There’s an election underway in the UK and Labour’s Gordon Brown appears to be on the nose. He’s never been the best-presented man in British politics, but…
Of course in the interests of balance we should also see if it works for Nick Clegg and David Cameron.
Tasmanian premier David Bartlett will be struggling to rebuild his credibility after going back on his promise not to do a deal with the Greens.
And Queensland Premier Anna Bligh - known for appearing regularly in a hard hat but maybe it could be replaced with the Keneally look?
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