Inclusion for Black women in the beauty industry has been a long-standing battle for decades as many leaders in this space have strived to make paramount changes that inspire more equity and opportunity. Of those pioneering women, famed YouTuber and beauty guru Jackie Aina has emerged to position herself as a social-justice activist for Black women in the mainstream market of beauty. As a known figure in the industry who has always advocated for more Black women representation, Aina is now teaming up with actress and filmmaker Andrea Lewis to capture the narratives of Black beauty influencers in the upcoming documentary, “Social Beauty.” “I’m so excited to be a part of something that shows our impact as black women in beauty,” said Aina in a press statement. “I hope through this project people will see that so many of us are passionate, multifaceted, and more than what you see outwardly.” Lewis is equally excited to have this project see the light of day and work with such a...

As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, we want to highlight these Black Women who have taken the unconventional route to success and built their own platforms for their respective endeavors. Black women are the future and these ten women are proof that there’s no standard blueprint to follow in order to prosper. Find out more about these phenomenal trailblazers below. Karen Civil Photo Credit: Leon Bennett/Getty Images for BET Elizabeth, New Jersey native Karen Civil has come a long way in the entertainment business. The self-made marketing guru has become one of the most sought after influencers in hip hop culture. She started in this business as an intern for Hot 97, which helped her launch her own website KarenCivil.com in 2008, covering upcoming artists like J. Cole and Nicki Minaj. Civil later turned her love for online blogging into a fruitful career in entertainment. The media maven has built up a platform that she continues to expand today, branching out into...