A who’s who list of some of the most powerful Black female executives, entrepreneurs, and influencers in the beauty industry recently gathered to celebrate the official launch of 25 Black Women in Beauty.
Created by beauty industry executives Cara Sabin and Ella T. Gorgla, 25 Black Women in Beauty’s mission is to celebrate, elevate, and promote Black women in the beauty industry through constructive, intentional collaboration and networking, while inspiring one another toward collective greatness.
“We all know that women of color represent a huge financial opportunity for the beauty industry,” said Sabin. “Ultimately, to truly connect with her, it’s imperative [that] our influence as executives, innovators, and creators is further amplified. Representation matters and it needs to be visible.”
Guests included Sarah Curtis-Henry, SVP & general manager of Fresh; Sharon Chuter, founder of Uoma Beauty; Kahlana Barfield Brown, former fashion and beauty editor-turned-mega influencer; Karla Evans-Davis, senior. director of Integrated Marketing & Media at Ulta Beauty, and former supermodel Veronica Webb, who was the first African American model to land a major cosmetics contract.
Women of color are projected to be the majority of all women in the workforce by 2060 and generate over $1T in consumer spending power. As entrepreneurs, they contribute $361B in revenue to the economy, launching new companies at quadruple the rate of all women-owned businesses.
In beauty, specifically, the spending power of Black women in the U.S. is a staggering $7.5B according to an ESSENCE study, which is 80 percent more in cosmetics and twice as much in skincare versus non-Black consumers.
A 2018 Nielsen study also spoke to the sheer influence of Black women noting that “Black consumer choices have a “cool factor” that has created a halo effect, influencing not just consumers of color, but the mainstream as well.”
“25 Black Women in Beauty will serve as a space for collaboration, mentorship and perhaps most importantly a source of inspiration for corporate professionals, entrepreneurs and influencers,” said Gorgla. “There is strength in numbers, and it’s important that we know we exist.”
To learn more about 25 Black Women in Beauty, visit 25BWB.org.
—Information provided by 25 Black Women in Beauty
