![Section of the Oregon Trail Blue Mountain Crossing Segment — of the pioneer [[:en:Oregon Trail| Oregon Trail ]] in [[:en:Wyoming| Wyoming ]]. Protected within a Bureau of Land Management area in Wyoming . Oregon National Historic Trail — National historic trails can take us back, returning us literally and symbolically to a point of departure in geography and time. Who among us has not wondered what it was like for America's pioneers to lie on the open ground of the western high plains on a starlit night and to hear wolves howl in the distance? To walk in the footsteps of these men and women today is to glimpse their experience and to feel their purpose and courage. National historic trails help us recreate this unique chapter in American history when, starting more than 170 years ago, some 500,000 emigrants made their way overland to the far western edge of the continent. Their determination resulted in 12 new states joining the Republic between 1840 and 1890, all west of the Mississippi River . Congress designates national historic trails “to protect historic landscapes and inform our curiosity about the past.” Visitors to the Oregon National Historic Trail have more than 350 miles to explore on Wyoming public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management . One pristine stretch extends a full 35 miles entirely on BLM lands—farther than most emigrant parties could walk in a single day. Thanks to the foresight and dedication of preservation-minded citizens and volunteers, the Oregon, Mormon Pioneer , California , and Pony Express routes are all managed as national historic trails. BLM-managed sections are part of the National Conservation Lands .](/assets/images/2026-07-28T22-44-29-623Z-oregon-lawsuit-over-social-media-allegations-of-hair-accessory-design-theft-adva-wikimedia-1280.webp)
Plaintiff Kursten Owen, an Oregon resident and owner of Elegance & Geekery, LLC, has filed a defamation lawsuit against defendants Kiandria Demone Boyce and Breana Askew over social media allegations accusing Owen of hair accessory design theft. Owen's business, which sells accessories including hair accessories and reported gross receipts of $190,310 in 2024, has operated for eight years.
Defendant Breana Askew, doing business as Breromi, and defendant Kiandria Demone Boyce, a civil rights activist with a large social media following, both reside in Georgia. Owen alleges that Boyce has a history of leveraging her online following to orchestrate mass public complaints to third-party sites such as GiveSendGo and Square to compel actions by those companies.
The lawsuit claims that the defendants conspired to spread defamatory statements heard by an audience exceeding 14 million individuals. These statements actively tagged and directed people toward Owen, including displaying Owen's full name, image, and location in Boyce's case.
On July 15, 2025, Boyce contacted Askew via social media to request Owen's business account information, which Askew provided. On the same day, Boyce made comments about Owen's business.
The federal court denied a motion challenging the factual sufficiency of the claims, allowing the case to proceed with leave to refile after discovery. The court also ruled that the case can remain in Oregon federal court, finding that the defendants purposefully directed their actions at Oregon, establishing jurisdiction.
This case highlights the complex intersection of social media influence, business reputation, and legal accountability across state lines.
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