Before TikTok took the beauty world by storm, there was a crew of Black beauty gurus who laid the groundwork for everything we see today. These OGs—Jackie Aina, MakeupShayla, Arnell Armon, Alissa Ashley, Aaliyah Jay, Shalom Blac and Patricia Bright—didn’t just step into the beauty industry; they kicked down the doors, shattered the glass ceilings and made space for themselves and countless others. As we celebrate Black Business Month, it’s only right to give these pioneers their flowers. They didn’t just work jobs; they became the jobs, turning their passions into thriving businesses and inspiring a new generation of Black beauty influencers.
Jackie Aina, the queen of calling out brands on their lack of inclusivity, started her journey at a time when beauty was anything but diverse. With her unfiltered opinions and unmatched skills, Aina became the voice Black women didn’t know they needed. Her impact? Game-changing. “The proudest achievement is being able to not only open doors for myself as a content creator but for other Black creators in this space,” she says. “Inclusion is no longer an option. It is at the forefront of every single conversation, period.” And now, with her brand, FORVR MOOD, Aina is continuing to set the bar high, proving that Black women can and should dominate in every space.
Makeup Shayla’s story is another testament to the power of perseverance and vision. What started as a passion for makeup has transformed into a multifaceted career that includes her own activewear brand, Season 10. “When I first started creating content on YouTube and Instagram, my goal was to become a successful makeup artist. I never would have imagined my career lasting this long and blossoming into something this great,” Shayla reflects. “The most valuable thing you could do as an influencer is to start your own business and/or have equity in other businesses.” Shayla’s journey from content creator to business mogul highlights the importance of evolution in this ever-changing industry.
Aaliyah Jay, who many of us watched grow up on YouTube, has also transitioned from influencer to entrepreneur. “It’s so crazy to think that I went from a girl just wanting to post on YouTube to now being a brand and also being a CEO of my own company,” she says. Jay’s rise wasn’t easy, but her story is one of resilience and community. “As a woman, specifically a Black woman, the process of building one’s legacy can be so daunting and an uphill battle. I feel truly blessed that I was able to find my community through YouTube.”
These women, along with Arnell Armon, Alissa Ashley, Shalom Blac and Patricia Bright, created a blueprint for success that many Black beauty influencers on TikTok are now following. They took the beauty industry by storm, not just by being talented but by being unapologetically themselves and proud. They showed us that there’s power in representation, that Black beauty deserves to be celebrated, and that our voices matter.
Today, as we scroll through TikTok and see the new wave of Black beauty influencers, it’s clear that the path these OGs carved out is still growing. They’ve opened doors, created opportunities, and, most importantly, they’ve shown that we’re here to stay. So, as we celebrate Black Business Month, let’s honor these trailblazers who turned their passions into empires and continue to inspire us all. Their legacy is not just in the businesses they’ve built but in the countless lives they’ve touched and the doors they’ve opened for the next generation.
If you’re not already following the girls below, hit that follow button.
