By Jihan Forbes, Allure
Black women are consistently setting beauty trends. From cornrows to Bantu Knots,
black women's aesthetics continue to inform designers, hairstylists,
makeup artists, and other tastemakers – even if they don't get credit
for it (see: Kim Kardashian's cornrows being rebranded as "boxer
braids").
[post_ads]In spite of black women's trendsetting tendencies, it's
been very difficult for them to break into the mainstream, thanks to
society's historic and institutionalized racism as well as systemic
suppression. But fortunately, there have been black women who were able
to knock down those walls, and help move us forward into a world that
finally accepts and acknowledges their contributions to culture, as well
as their stunning, unique beauty.
From Madame C.J. Walker, who
became one of the first black female self-made millionaires thanks to
her hair care line aimed at black women, to Maria Borges, who in 2015
made waves on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
runway rocking a kinky, cropped TWA (teeny-weeny afro); black women
have fearlessly fought and overcome the limitations placed on them by
society with grace, excellence, and a whole lot of eyes watching them.
And they've also provided lots of iconic cultural moments in the
process.
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Be it in film, modeling, business, or on the Miss America
stage, black women have had to create their own spaces in order to
redefine society's ideas of what is beautiful.
Above, check out
our video highlighting eight black women whose talents, intelligence,
and innovation have allowed them to change the beauty game and break
down major barriers while doing so.
More #BlackGirlMagic:
- 10 Iconic Black Women in History and How to Re-create Their Looks
- The Most Popular Hairstyles for Black Women on Pinterest
- Black History Month: 8 Women Who Broke Barriers in Beauty
