Gabby Douglas goes glam in magazine photo shoot

Gabby Douglas visits the USA House at the Royal College of Art on Aug. 7, 2012, in London.

/ Getty

(CBS News) Gabby Douglas continues her golden run with a new photo shoot for Essence magazine.

The U.S. gymnast has already hobnobbed with first lady Michelle Obama on Jay Leno's couch, rang the New York Stock Exchange closing bell and graced cereal boxes.

Pictures: Gabby Douglas

Now the 16-year-old star goes full-on glam for the October and November issues of Essence, sporting a gold and black dress with matching high heels.

Douglas also swapped her ponytail for long wavy locks, courtesy of celebrity stylist Ted Gibson, who told Essence that doing Douglas' hair was one of the highlights of his career. "Seeing her sparkle, seeing her touch her hair, seeing her smile," he says was his favorite part of the photo shoot.

Douglas apparently liked the result:

@tedgibson Is AWESOME!!! LOVE HIM SOO MUCH!!! ??xoxo! twitter.com/gabrielledoug/...

-- Gabrielle Douglas (@gabrielledoug) August 15, 2012

During the London Games, Douglas faced criticism across social media sites over her pulled-back 'do - the result of gel, hair clips and a ponytail holder.

Earlier this month, the U.S gymnast, who won gold in the all-around competition, said, "I don't know where this is coming from. What's wrong with my hair? 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."

Douglas has more star-studded appearances coming up, including an interview on "Oprah's Next Chapter" this Sunday on OWN and an appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 6, along with the rest of the U.S. Women's Gymnastics team, also know as the Fierce Five.

See a video clip of Douglas' photo shoot here.

Tell us: What do you think about Douglas' new look?

33 Photos

Gold medal winner Gabby Douglas

[ev581]

Hey, my friends and I made a video inspired by the "Fierce Five"! Check out the video, it's very funny and inspirational. Thank you! http://******/bavZJ

[Areuserious12]

Ok I'm a black women...I have one thing to say it's been about how many days now, let's stop beating a dead horse because it can get up. Come America let it go..the hair story is stale and over with let's find something else to talk about. Gabby Douglas is fabulous hands down, hair is the defining moment for her..the fact that she won "TWO GOLD MEDALS" AND BEING THE FIRST ON ONE OF THOSE. If the media stop the mess then the old news will die and in with the new. We have more issue to worry about like how some teenagers are getting implants, facelifts, using botox, over tanning etc. just to name a few...that should be the focus on how dangerous that is... and not a ponytail...I don't care who said @areuserious12

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

So what was the "problem" with her hair that had the peanut gallery so upset? It always looked fine to me.

[Areuserious12]

I agree it's just the media fueling the fire...really a real journalist or writer would not get mentioning the same thing in every thing they write.. Gabby has moved on and cashed the checks!...#areuserious