Natalie Hawkins, the mother of US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas, celebrates after her daughter won the artistic gymnastics women's individual all-around final at the 02 North Greenwich Arena in London on August 2, 2012 during the London 2012 Olympic Games. (EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/GettyImages)

In an interview with the blog Fashionista, Gabby Douglas’ mother lashed out at critics of her daughter’s hairstyle. The topic has inexplicably seemed, in some circles, to overshadow the 16-year-old gymnast’s historic gold medal victory in the individual all-around women’s competition. Gabby Douglas herself has mused about the so-called controversy.

“I don’t know where this is coming from. What’s wrong with my hair?” said Douglas recently. “I’m like, ‘I just made history and people are focused on my hair?’ It can be bald or short, it doesn’t matter about (my) hair.”

Her mother, Natalie Hawkins, is even more irate over the steady stream of negativity being directed at her young daughter:

“How ignorant is it of people to comment on her hair and she still has more competitions to go. Are you trying to ruin her self confidence? She has to go out there and feel good about herself, and if she feels good about herself on that floor, who are you to criticize her? What have you done to help contribute to her dream, that you felt it necessary to put it out there so that she could see it,” said Hawkins.

Still, the preoccupation with Gabby Douglas’ appearance continues — although it should be noted that the overwhelming majority of the comments being made about her are of a supportive and patriotic nature.

Perhaps, if she claims yet another gold medal today it will silence her critics once and for all.