Is this The Black Beauty Club Q1 Recap?
Welcome to The Recap!
Can you believe how fast 2024 is zooming by? How is Q1 already in the rearview mirror? Every moment has been bursting with energy and excitement—2024 is that girl!
PARIS & LONDON
We just celebrated Black Women during Women’s History Month across the continent. The Black diaspora is global, and fostering and serving our international community is essential for The Black Beauty Club. We returned to London and debuted in Paris at Soho House Paris, which was the creme de la creme of an experience.
Paris, the City of Enlightenment, welcomed us with open arms. No holds barred, we dived headfirst into the challenging tapestry of Black identities in France, acknowledging the obstacles while embracing the boundless spirit of our community. As we celebrated Black Women, Black America was the north star of influence for many of the Parisians in attendance, think Rihanna, Solange Knowles, and Lupita. But, we had to take a moment to bow down to the queens of modern French beauty like Aya Nakamura, Fatou N’Diaye, and Rokhaya Diallo. Absolute icons!
As we reflected on influential Black Women in beauty, Kiana Tiese ignited a thought-provoking discussion with her tribute to Alek Wek, whose perpetual beauty paved the way for a new generation of trailblazing model-type print that gave us Grace Bol, Ataui Deng, Adut Akech, and Ajak Deng.
I did not expect hair expert Winnie Awa to spark a fiery debate on how the natural hair movement had influenced other women of color to embrace their curly hair and curl patterns. Across diverse cultures worldwide, more women are ditching flat irons, keratin treatments, and straight hair.
The energy in London was electric, the conversation was piping, and let's say the London gang knows how to bring the heat!
Is this why all curly hair products are not working for 4C girls?
Are these products working better for these new untapped audiences?
When you make products centering on Black women - are you solving for others unknowingly?
These were the questions that came up, and I agreed with all of them, but mostly, I agreed that products created by Black people are not just for Black people.
Thank you to our excellent hosts in Paris, Yacine Diallo, Karine' Chunrine,’ and Kiana Tiese, and our hosts in London, Dija Ayodele, Noelly Michoux, and Winnie Awa, who led an incredibly nuanced conversation while holding a safe space for all opinions.
BLACK FUTURES
Let’s travel back to February. The Black Beauty Club and NARS celebrated Beauty & Black Futures with an intimate dinner by Michelin-starred Chef Charlie Mitchell at Clover Hill.
Against the backdrop of shifting beauty standards, Black creators have emerged as pioneers, reshaping narratives and inspiring a new era of self-expression. Black creators have compelled brands to recognize the influence of the Black dollar and created an economic system where brands must invest in talent, marketing, and partnerships to tap the Black beauty audience.
The dinner launches our creator community program, led by Mimi Sillah, Head of Creator Community at The Black Beauty Club. We are super excited to embark on a journey to foster interconnectedness and more fun (no perception) amongst Black creators worldwide.
As Amina Cocoa stated, the dinner felt like a For You Page with everyone's favorites because we inspire each other daily, from Achieng Agutu’s infectious energy and Gigi Renee’s hair art to Eni Popoola’s party decor and more. We just want to have fun!
The Black Beauty Club is nothing if not about celebrating joy in Black beauty, especially when uncovering ‘Hot Topics and Unpopular Opinions’ with our favorite spicy beauties, Carolyn Gray, Kayla Greaves, and Uniekue. The conversation was spicy and vital; we gained awareness of ‘Inside the DEI Battle in Dermatology. ' From peak Instagram hair stylist customer relations to spilling the tea on men and wigs (yes, you heard that right!), the club kept it real and unapologetically fabulous.
QUARTER TWO
April is going to be fun! Maybe you will join The Black Beauty Club for The Black Beauty Club presents Black Skin: Celebrating beauty culture & heritage in modern times. We will be “In conversation with Ubah Hassan, Dr. Chaneve Jeaniton, Marjon Carlos & Dija Ayodele.” Mark your calendars for April 25th.
For those in London, don’t miss the 4.5.6 clubhouse, a beauty pop-up for Women of Color, hosted by brand founders Noelly Michoux, Dr. Carlos A. Charles, and Imen Jerbi Ph.D. Join us at Noho Studios from April 12th to April 14th for an immersive experience celebrating diversity and inclusivity. Click here to RSVP.
Shout out to The Black Beauty Club Team for their unwavering dedication and passion: Asmeret Berhe-Lumax, Andrew Staple, Utibe Mbagwu & Mimi Sillah.
Cheers!