Regina King’s Extra-long Braids at the 2025 WIF Honors Gala

Regina King bid farewell to her straight hair at the Women in Film 2025 Honors Gala hosted by Max Mara in Los Angeles on Thursday, where she spoke on stage with Mara Brock Akil. To celebrate the night, the 54-year-old “Poetic Justice” star opted for lengthy braids, a far cry from the intricate updo she sported on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in September.

King’s braids were likely the work of hair artist Jennifer Wood, also known as Natural Hollywood online. WWD has reached out to Wood to confirm.

The “Watchmen” actress has been collaborating with Wood more recently, partnering with the abstract visionary for her “Caught Stealing” press tour looks. Wood also constructed King’s short bob in the Darren Aronofsky-directed movie. However, the on-screen star rendered her bob era no more shortly after the film wrapped.

In September, King celebrated her partnership with Wood in a short video series entitled “Regina King’s Hair Story,” in which she reflected on several of her legendary styles over the years. She started by praising Wood for the ornate hairdo she crafted for her at the Met Gala in May. King then took a look back at her aesthetic as Zina in an episode of the 1990s sitcom, “Living Single.” Here, her long braids bore a similar resemblance to those she donned at WIF Honors.

A host of female creatives across television and film descended upon The Beverly Hilton on Thursday night, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Dolores Narr Nemiro, Maude Apatow, Kaia Gerber and Jane Fonda to celebrate each other’s irrevocable influence and commitment to sharing stories that have a wider cultural impact. King was one of this year’s honorees, receiving the Crystal Award for Advocacy in Film alongside Akil and Judy Blume for their Netflix series, Forever.