Disruption is key to making a mark and changing the narrative around Black creatives and the CEO of a skincare meets makeup line is up to the task.
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
Over the weekend, the 2024 ESSENCE Girls United Disruptor Summit took place in Atlanta and it was nothing short of a celebration of culture and empowerment, marking its five-year anniversary with a star-studded lineup. The event brought together some of the brightest Black Gen-Z trailblazers, including celebrities like Serena Page, Amber Riley, and Lady London, who shared their personal stories about success, leadership, and staying true to themselves in the entertainment industry.
Serena Page/ Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
Source: Lady London, Reyna Roberts and Amber Riley/ Paras Griffin / Getty
Alongside these powerful voices, HBCU changemakers, social media influencers, and up-and-coming entrepreneurs took center stage to show how they are pushing the boundaries and shaping the future. The day concluded with an energetic performance by Laila!, reminding everyone that the future is Black, bold, and brilliant.
Alicia Scott Of Range Beauty Talks About Inclusivity
A standout moment came when BOSSIP’s Lauryn Bass had an exclusive sit-down interview with Alicia Scott, the CEO of Range Beauty, to talk about the ongoing conversation around inclusivity in the beauty industry.
Alicia Scott/ Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
With the rise of beauty influencers, such as Golloria George, calling out big brands for their lack of inclusivity, especially when it comes to darker skin tones, the discussion has become more urgent than ever.
Golloria George, a beauty influencer and advocate for colorism awareness, has been making waves on social media by testing the darkest shades offered by major beauty companies. George’s viral Instagram videos have highlighted a glaring issue: many of these shades are either not dark enough or simply don’t cater to the needs of Black women.
In her recent statements, she openly criticized beauty brands for creating products that claim to be inclusive but fail to meet the needs of women with darker complexions. According to New York Magazine’s The Cut, George’s advocacy has sparked a larger movement, with many influencers joining her in demanding true diversity in beauty products.
With this in mind, BOSSIP’s Lauryn Bass approached Alicia Scott, a true disruptor in the beauty industry, and asked her thoughts on the matter. Bass, a fan of Scott since her debut on Shark Tank, started the conversation by asking her about her knowledge on this matter.
BOSSIP: Are you familiar with beauty influencers recently calling out brands who aren’t being inclusive with shade ranges? With your brand, Range Beauty, do you have any comments about what you’ve seen online on social media or any other thoughts?”
Scott, known for her commitment to providing inclusive products for all skin tones, didn’t hold back in her response. She explained from her own experience, that big brands who aren’t being inclusive are just making excuses.
Source: L-R) Kayla Nicole, Raven Tracy, Alicia Scott, and Haile Rose /Paras Griffin / Getty
Scott: “When I first started Range Beauty, I started it with $150 dollars and I created about 21 shades of brown. So whenever I see these brands come out and say that they don’t have the funds to create range, or they kind of do it as a play like ‘Oh, we’ll just go back to the lab,’ it’s like—no. If you wanted to include us from the first launch, then you would’ve if you wanted to prioritize us. And I think the biggest thing is, Black women outspend any other group when it comes to makeup and skincare. Yet, we’re constantly being underrepresented and underserved. So for me, I’m always making sure that I prioritize and give my dollars to brands that prioritize us.”
Scott’s response hit home, echoing the very same frustrations that Golloria George and other beauty influencers have been vocal about. That is what the Essence GU Summit is all about; making sure that Black Women push back and disrupt the norm.
The underlying issue is not just about the lack of inclusivity but also about the intentional decisions brands make when they choose not to cater to women of color. For Scott, who started Range Beauty with limited resources but made inclusivity a priority from day one, the excuses from larger brands simply don’t hold up.
Lauryn Bass continued the conversation by asking Scott how she’s navigating the ever-changing beauty industry, particularly as economic challenges have affected how brands operate. Bass wanted to know what advice Scott would offer to aspiring beauty entrepreneurs trying to break into the industry in this current climate.
Scott’s advice was practical and powerful:
“My biggest advice is making sure that you’re truly honing in on building your audience and trying to create true traction. For me, a big financial source is grants and pitch competitions. Make sure you’re applying to these grants—it’s free money, especially if you’re Black and brown. They want us to have these funds to launch our brands and push them forward. So again, strong audience, strong traction, strong bookkeeping, and applying to these grants.”
Source: Carol Lee Rose / Getty
Scott emphasized the importance of building a strong foundation and taking advantage of the resources available to Black entrepreneurs, particularly those that focus on helping underrepresented communities. Her words were a reminder that in an industry where Black women are often overlooked, there are ways to create opportunities for success.
As the conversation wrapped up, it was clear that Alicia Scott remains a driving force in the movement toward inclusivity in the beauty industry. Her commitment to representing Black women in all facets of her brand is a shining example of what true inclusivity looks like. In a world where beauty standards are still largely shaped by brands that fail to cater to darker skin tones, Scott and Range Beauty are leading the charge for change.
For more on the 2024 ESSENCE GU Disruptor Summit, check out our full recap HERE.