Shades Of Beauty – Advocating for BIPOC consumers in beauty, fashion and wellness.

On the latest episode of “Shades of Beauty,” Najah welcomed her new co-host Zashia, marking a significant shift in the show’s dynamic. The episode centered around advocating for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) consumers in the realms of beauty, fashion, and wellness. The hosts initiated an important conversation by reflecting on their own experiences of growing up seeing limited representation of darker complexions in beauty brands, highlighting the importance of consumer advocacy, and speaking up for inclusivity.

Zashia, a mother herself, expressed the profound impact of seeing her daughter represented in beauty brands, emphasizing the significance of brands and celebrities to use their voice to advocate for minorities. Zashia brought up the role of prominent celebrities in diversifying beauty brands, acknowledging the new efforts they have collectively taken to help showcase a more inclusive space for consumers. “Using your voice and your platform to advocate for the minority is so important.”

A pivotal moment in the episode came with the introduction of Dwight Allen O’Neal, co-founder of RoseNeal Consulting, who shared his journey from Little Rock, Arkansas, to New York City and his experiences in the beauty industry. Dwight’s encounters with influential figures such as Kelly Rowland and Rihanna provided valuable insights into the beauty and fashion world’s dynamics. However, his observations also shed light on the industry’s continued lack of diversity, which is what prompted him to co-found RoseNeal Consulting to help champion BIPOC representation in the beauty space.

Dwight recalled a moment during a meeting with a major company where he noticed the absence of BIPOC representation in a marketing campaign for a product targeting textured hair. The companies lack of diversity is what fueled his determination to advocate for BIPOC consumers, recognizing the need change within the industry because it hit close to come, “I didn’t see representation of my mother or my sister” he emphasized. He understands that the industries progress is evident but says “Things are changing but there is still a long way to go.”

Offering advice to aspiring individuals looking to enter the beauty brand world, Dwight emphasized the importance of presenting yourself in the best possible light. “You want to make sure you put your best foot forward in what you’re doing.”

The episode concluded as the hosts engaged in a fun game called “Shade or Praise” with Dwight, where they talked about various trends in the beauty and fashion sphere. Bringing on some laughter and fun, they unanimously praised trends like the viral social media “mob wife” look. They also praised fast fashion with each admitting to owning one piece of fast fashion. The group unanimously shaded bigen when it comes to men’s hair, giving a nice laugh to the end of an episode. This hard hitting but fun episode helped shed light on what consumers in the beauty and fashion world are advocating for when it comes to diversity, and with companies like RoseNeal, the future looks bright for BIPOC consumers.

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