JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Deshea Dilmore owns Salon 51, and she's been in Ridgeland for 12 years. When she changes the salon's name to the Gaelleria, she wants to incorporate a logo depicting the silhouette of a woman on her outdoor sign. It's a logo that she has used on business cards and other materials for years.
But the city denied the logo, because it could be offensive.
Dilmore was first denied by two venues in city government.
"So I appealed that and went to the Board of Aldermen about that," she says. "They were nice, a couple of them liked my logo, and a couple said they didn't think businesses would move in beside me with that logo. Mary Hawkins and the City of Madison approved the logo," Dilmore says. The shop was located in Madison for years.
The logo is not a nude, says the artist who designed it. Gena Stringer is also a Salon 51 hair stylist.
"It was my daughter when she was in high school. I sketched it and drew it, thought it would represent a spa type of logo," Stringer says.
Dilmore, who offers hair services and some spa services at her salon, says her clientele has been supporting her.
"It's just a silhouette. No detail. Just art. It doesn't offend me by any means," says customer Jody Harper.
But the City of Ridgeland worries someone might be offended.
"I was the one that seconded the motion to deny," says Ward 4 Alderman Brian Ramsey.
He says the vote was 5 to 1 to reject a sign with the sketch.
"It was somewhat suggestive, and we felt the best course of action would be to deny their application for that artwork," Alderman Ramsey says.
City code prohibits signs "that contain words or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character, which could offend public morals".
Although Dilmore feels strongly about the logo, she doesn't plan to push the issue any further.
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