Last year we embarked on a mission to pull back the curtain on the beauty industry and revealed 15 inspiring Black executives making waves from within. And while we accomplished our task to some degree, the work is far from over. Which is why this year, for our March/April issue and this digital cover, we tapped 17 more luminaries who are also working tirelessly at top brands. It’s not enough that we know who they are, we must celebrate them and show the world that representation matters. These ladies, from CEOs to CMOs, are paving a path that will encourage those who will follow in their footsteps. As the women gathered on set at the photo shoot you could feel the power and purpose fill the room. It is that energy that will invigorate these extraordinary Black women to keep pushing professionally and continue motivating the world.
“It’s incredibly important for us to have representation at all levels. At the end of the day, I don’t know if we can always rely on people who don’t look like us to have our best interest at heart. So we need to be in those positions. I’m just thankful that I can be there to represent, because who knows us better than us?”
“I’ve been on this journey for almost 20 years, so I am so proud to see that our contributions are starting to be recognized. We need to do more than take up space. We need to be leading and driving, meaning we shouldn’t just be the consumers or the face of the brand. We should be decision makers in the C-suite, in product development, in the sourcing—literally everything.”
“It’s energizing to be a Black woman in this field. I always like to say beauty is culture and beauty is anthropology, and how you feel about yourself and your identity. The way you’re putting yourself forward in the world is so important. The changes we’ve brought to the beauty industry are just incredible.”
“You can’t even explain the energy in the room when we’re all together. It’s refreshing because seeing us sitting across the table from one another is rare. To know that we are out there and we can connect has been life-changing. Watching other women take charge of companies, become CEOs and CMOs, is inspiring. I’ve only been in beauty for five years, but I’m really thinking about how I can take the energy of this photo shoot back to Sephora, back to home, back to my network and really pay it forward.”
“I want my 7-year-old daughter to see someone who looks like her in magazines and on television
so she doesn’t feel isolated. I cast talent for our branded content, so I am able to do that for her and other young girls.”
“We need to have diversity in front of and behind the camera, because that ensures that we are developing products that work for people of
color and that we’re developing campaigns that tell their stories.”
“I left Wall Street for the beauty industry. One reason is that there wasn’t a lot of representation, and I wanted our voices to be heard through me. Being in those conference rooms is very important—it’s part of what drives me and what makes me passionate about what I do.”
“It’s a very special time because we’re getting more attention. Brands now know they have to address the needs of all their consumers. Increasingly, women of color are looking for authenticity. It’s not enough to feature us in some Instagram post. In order for brands to be successful, Black women need to be where we can influence shades and formulas and the messaging. Because if we’re not there, certain nuances often go overlooked.”
“I have to catch my breath because when I started in my career, I spent so much time as the only Black woman. I would be the one who was leading the meeting or the presentation and then someone would come up to me and say, ‘Can you make copies?’ or ‘Can you get water?’ And I’m like, ‘No. I’m actually leading this meeting.’ I didn’t understand the power of being a Black woman performing in these settings. Now it’s about, ‘How do I provide a pathway? How can I be a gateway?’ ”
“Part of why I love my job is because I can show women of color everywhere that yes, we know about being lawyers or doctors when we’re young, but we don’t know that you can also lead a brand you use every day to make yourself feel special.”
“Everyone wants a piece of Black women. The onus is on us to force those uncomfortable moments to make sure that we’re not being exploited and looked at as the next dollar; to make sure we’re really being understood, celebrated and respected.”
“I came into beauty because it was dynamic and fun. It is such a personal category that women relate to. But now I’m a mother of two girls, so it means even more. It’s a responsibility. It means everything to me to be able to voice my opinion through my lens for others who look just like me. Because I have a voice, my kids will also have a voice in how they shape and envision beauty.”
“It’s really great to be able to bring my whole self to work, not just the professional side of marketing beauty for 20 years. I bring the personal knowledge of being a Black woman to the development of products and the purpose of the brands.”
“It’s beautiful to know I will be an example for my daughter, who’s 6 months old. She’ll be able to pick up a magazine or go online and see beauty represented in a way that reflects who she is. And she’ll know that I had a part in that, I contributed to that, I helped to set those trends.”
“As a Black woman, I had to discover how to embrace my beauty and appreciate the uniqueness of it and the uniqueness of beauty for all women. In my role I’m excited that I can help other women embrace their authentic beauty too.”
“At the end of the day, we’re training a cultural movement, and it’s all about recognizing,
acknowledging and appreciating everyone’s differences. So often, African-American women have been the overlooked consumer, and that stops now.”
“Often, when we’re speaking to African-American women, we think the only difference is their skin: brown versus the general market. But there are so many nuances. And it’s important for me that we bring that through, not only in the products we create but also in the marketing we do.”