#EssenceChallenge

The #vougechallenge is trending on social media, did you know in 125 years Vogue saw its first black photographer thanks to @beyonce . One thing I’ve noticed is that brands constantly lack diversity in staff, I’ve experienced this first hand as a black woman working in fashion . During my 10 years of working in the fashion industry it became very evident to me that their is a lack of diversity, and representation for black woman. I often found myself very misunderstood, looked down on, and feeling like I had to work 10 times harder than everyone else. Even in a position of running my own business I knew I would have to fight harder for myself, and my team to rise to success. It was alarming as a child not seeing woman like me on covers of my favorite news spreads. Magazines like Essence , Jet , Word up were my go to magazines it was the only place I saw people who looked like me on the cover . So it was important to me that I made this challenge my own by paying homage to one of my favorite magazines. Thank you @essence for always showcasing beautiful black women and embracing us because we matter ! The #blackmagazinechallenge by @thegoldnnug  #essencemagazinecover
Shot by @rashidtakingflight 
@julianbbarlow on the essence edit