Cheryl Mayberry McKissack and Desiree Rogers, the two women who recently bought out Black Opal, are now acquiring Fashion Fair from Johnson Publishing Company. Fashion Fair cosmetics was created in 1973 by Eunice W. Johnson to provide African American women with more extensive makeup options.

Both owners have a history at Johnson Publishing Company — Rogers served as CEO and Mayberry McKissack was the COO and President of Digital Media. Together, they helped bring magazines, EBONY and JET, into the digital age, expanding their websites and e-commerce products.

The two are focused on elevating beauty brands loved by Black women.

“Fashion Fair is just too valuable for our community to lose,” Rogers said in a press release. “We plan to modernize the brand and products, but will remain true to the company’s roots, which was to create prestige products focused on women of color.”

According to The Root, Rogers and Mayberry McKissack will be majority owners, while Alec Litowitz will be a minority investor in the purchase of what was once the biggest Black-owned cosmetics company in the world.

More on the official terms of the Fashion Fair deal were not disclosed; however, the move marks another notable moment for Black women in the beauty industry as Rogers and Mayberry McKissack revamp and refresh the brand.

Fashion fair cosmetics

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