Despite the likes of Rihanna and Beyonce at the forefront of black-owned beauty businesses, a large majority of individuals and operating black-owned beauty businesses are struggling for greater representation, opportunities, and education.
Aware of this, US-based entrepreneur, Maude Okrah, created Black Beauty Roster (BBR).
Coined as both a platform and organisation, BBR is a diversity and inclusion company that connects the TV, film, fashion, commercial and beauty industries with diverse beauty professionals for on and off-set needs.
BBR also assists the wider community in that the organisation and business model has been built to educate the broader creative industry as a whole.
"We believe beauty professionals should be able to work with all textures and complexions and are working to foster an industry that fully embraces inclusivity", says the BBR team.
"We believe access to opportunities, education and increasing advocacy will be the catalyst for change."
Striving to continually create change and a new beauty standard, this week saw the BBR partner with New York Fashion Week for an exclusive peek into all the backstage beauty at this year's event.
On Friday 8 September, BBR went live on social media with Emmy-nominated makeup artist Merrrell Hollis, and on Saturday 9 September, the team went live on Instagram with celebrity hair stylist – and founder of Textured Style Award – Monae Everett.
"I'm grateful to Black Beauty Roster for their strides in diversity and inclusion in the beauty industry as well as choosing to have me represent them on the New York Fashion Week platform", stylist Monae Everett said.
With New York Fashion Week striving to progressively champion inclusivity, this collaboration with BBR has seen the infamous fashion event gain newfound respect from several hair, makeup and beauty artists of colour.
In the midst of New York Fashion Week, the diversity and inclusion platform also held its first Black Excellence Luncheon.
Designed to bring together a series of leaders in the beauty, fashion and media industry, the event discussed the issue of inclusivity in the beauty sphere and how participating panelists built and maintained successful careers within the beauty industry.
Panellists and event moderators included makeup artist Sheika Daley, hairstylist Larry Sims as well beauty heavyweights Danessa Myricks and Dapper Dan.
"We support the needs of men, women and non-binary to create a more inclusive industry for all" says the BBR team.
With the need for diverse talent higher than ever, Okah and the broader BBR team encourage makeup, hair and beauty creatives to join the directory of incredible talent, and further make themselves known to the industry's top leaders and brands.
Hiring diverse talent has never been so easy, and this week at New York Fashion Week the BBR team proved that.
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