A young Black professional is going viral after calling out corporate workplace dress codes that she says are outdated, elitist, and exclusionary—all because of a pair of sneakers.
In a TikTok video posted by creator @jonaeieshia, the woman shared her frustration after her employer told her that the sneakers she wore to work were “too casual” and not professional enough for a corporate setting.
Visibly irritated, she filmed herself at Walmart replacing her shoes, describing the moment as her breaking point with outdated corporate standards.
“Something about a job telling me what’s too casual pisses me off,” she said. “This is 2025, and I just feel like everyone needs to evolve.”
Wearing an outfit she clearly felt confident in, she explained that her sneakers—a stylish pair believed to be Adidas Sambas—were deemed inappropriate, leading her to purchase a pair of inexpensive flats on the fly. Despite complying in the moment, she expressed the deeper issue behind her frustration.
“Why am I having to wear lemon pepper steppers when I can wear cute sea slippers?” she joked.
Miss Two Degrees Speaks Out
In a follow-up video, Jonae doubled down on her stance, stressing her academic qualifications and lived experience as a first-generation, young, Black woman in corporate America.
“You are looking at Miss Two Degrees,” she declared proudly. “I’ve never experienced anything else but corporate. I know what it’s like to be the youngest, the newest, and the Blackest person in the room. That’s never going to change who I am.”
Her message struck a chord for many viewers who praised her for boldly addressing how appearance-based workplace standards often ignore deeper issues of professionalism and bias.
“I’m loud, I’m Black, and I’m educated, and I’m still in those rooms,” she said. “Y’all feel the need to play dress-up to be taken seriously? That sounds like a personal problem.”
Corporate Dress Codes Under Fire
The TikTok ignited a larger conversation in the comments about what “professionalism” really looks like in 2025.
While some criticized her choice of footwear, “Sneakers are never OK for corporate jobs,” one user wrote, others came to her defense.
“I see high-end real estate agents wear designer sneakers, and men in corporate America wear Nike-Cole Haan collabs. Clean, modest sneakers should be allowed,” one commenter argued.
Another commenter noted that many corporate IT, creative, and startup environments already embrace sneakers as part of business casual, urging HR departments to “shift into 2025”.
Still, some pushback took a harsher tone. One critical comment read, “Your parents failed you sis,” prompting further backlash for its perceived disrespect and generational tone policing.
A Generational Shift
@jonaeieshia’s video highlights an ongoing generational divide in the workplace around identity, self-expression, and corporate conformity. Her stance echoes broader calls from Gen Z and millennial workers who want inclusivity not just in hiring, but in workplace culture, from hairstyles and language to clothing and footwear.
The video has garnered hundreds of thousands of views, with users debating whether outdated corporate standards still belong in an era where diversity and authenticity are increasingly valued.
For @jonaeieshia, it’s not just about shoes. It’s about respect.
