CRESTLINE—Rhianna Clark made quite the “splash” when she cut off her hair to donate to charity.

Clark, whose long red locks resemble Princess Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” movie, had 16 inches chopped off to donate to Wigs for Kids. But the stylist was none other than Jodi Benson, who voiced the fictional character in the animated Disney film.

“I was very excited, not only because I was getting my hair cut by her but also being able to give it to someone in need,” said Clark, a longtime fan of the movie’s main character.”
“I was just so jaw dropped. It was an incredible experience, and for a great cause.”

The haircutting took place Dec. 3 at the GalaxyCon in Columbus, a weekend convention for singers, actors, and others in the entertainment industry. When Benson started snipping, it even caught the attention of John Barrowman – the star of Doctor Who – who stopped in his tracks and began videotaping.

“She pulled me behind the curtain because it was very tightly packed in there,” said Clark, whose guest, Joy Etter-Link, also captured plenty of the action. “Cutting it was quite a process because my hair is very thick. I was expecting it to be way shorter though so I’m happy that it’s not.”

Clark, 24, the daughter of Chuck and Lisa Clark, had always thought about donating her shoulder-length hair but didn’t come up with a plan until high school. She was enrolled in the cosmetology program at Pioneer Career & Technology Center but was sporting a super short style her senior year.

It took four years – from 2018 to 2022 – to finally grow it out. Meanwhile, she started researching charitable organizations in need of human hair and discovered Wigs for Kids, an Ohio nonprofit that helps children and teens suffering from hair loss due to chemotherapy or other medical conditions.

At first, she hoped to go to Walt Disney World and get her hair cut at the barbershop in the resort’s Magic Kingdom – the perfect place for “The Little Mermaid” lookalike, who often dressed the part for Halloween. But those plans were derailed, in part, due to COVID.

In October, however, Clark found out that Benson was appearing at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, so she reached out to the actress and singer via Instagram and told her story.
“I asked if she would do me the honor of cutting it. I didn’t actually think she would respond but she messaged me a day later.”

Clark not only got her ponytail cut by the star, but she also became the star of a promotional video by the Comic Con. And she got to meet and greet other celebrity guests that day, including actor and filmmaker Vincent D’Onofrio, Jodie Whittaker of Doctor Who fame, and, of course, Barrowman.

But more importantly, she gave a priceless gift. A gift fit for a princess.

“It felt amazing,” Clark said. “I would definitely consider down the road doing it again. Being able to share it with someone who needs it and just being able to send it here in Ohio. If I can convince anyone to donate their hair, I will.”