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Munroe Bergdorf, a British model, and transgender activist, who was ousted from a L’Oréal campaign in 2017 for speaking out against systemic racism, announced today that she has a new role with the beauty group as a consultant on its U.K. Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board.

The news comes days after Munroe called out L’Oréal for gaslighting. The French company shared a social media post that called for solidarity in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement, and Munroe responded by saying “its not ok.”

“Where was my support when I spoke out? Where was my apology?” she wrote in an Instagram post. “This is gaslighting,” said Munroe who noted it would only be a matter of time before “racist brands” saw a window of PR opportunity.

Today Munroe provided an update on her fragmented relationship with the brand, and she says she’s “looking forward to new beginnings.”

“This week, I spoke with L’Oréal Paris new president, Delphine Viguier, who reached out to me directly. We had an open and constructive conversation, she listened to what I had to say and expressed her regret for how the situation was handled three years ago,” Munroe wrote in a statement she shared to Twitter.

I have spoken with @loreal, please swipe for full statement.Thank you everyone for having my back with this matter over the past three years, it hasn't been easy. Looking forward to new beginnings and a new positive relationship with the L'Oreal team.Munroe x pic.twitter.com/DxltLF8Z7j

“As an activist, part of my work is to encourage big businesses to understand their responsibility with regards to diversity and inclusion. It’s imperative that in all industries, a wide range of people from different backgrounds and experiences are in the room at all levels and decision making roles, to reduce oversight and to create a product that is built with all people in mind,” Munroe added.

The change-maker says the consultancy role is the perfect opportunity to practice what she preaches, and she’s hopeful that the opportunity will give her a chance to champion for trans and queer voices in the beauty industry.

The post Munroe Bergdorf Rehired By L’Oréal Paris After Being Fired For Speaking Out On Racism appeared first on Essence.

The latest series on Netflix brings to the forefront strong representation from the Hispanic and Latin culture.

The creators of Gentefied, Linda Yvette Chávez and Marvin Lemus, have fashioned a binge-worthy series that informs while it entertains its audiences about issues that are often overlooked.

It is rare that a show can represent the struggles of so many in short 30-minute episodes, yet this is what Gentefied delivers to its viewers. This comedy is smart, witty, and brave in its portrayal of hard subjects Hispanics go through in their communities.

The show is centered around an LA neighborhood and focuses on the lives of three cousins and their families. The cousins are: Joseph Julian Soria, who plays Erik Morales that becomes an advocate for kids’ reading books; Carlos Santos, a Puerto Rican, who plays Chris Morales, a cook who has dreams of being a chef; and Karrie Martin, a Honduran American, who plays Ana Morales who is the leading lady in this captivating series.

Each character decides to help their grandfather Casimiro “Pop” Morales, who is played by Joaquin Cosio, in the decline of Pop’s taco shop. The community is slowly becoming more and more gentrified, and the effects of this are being felt all over the area. In part, due to rent spikes, people who have lived in the community for many years find themselves out of their homes and businesses. The show forces all three cousins to confront their people, their cultural customs, and their obligations to their families, all while trying to overcome the largest obstacles of all — the gentrification of their society.

What makes this series so relatable is its commitment to plausible narratives. It is true that Hispanics as a whole value family. This is seen in countless shows. One of many examples is the reboot of One Day at a Time that was on Netflix. The amazing aspect of this series is how close it hit home. For me, this series confirmed that many of the claims that I made in my article about the Hispanic Education Gap are still true. I wanted to bring attention to an issue I see as needing to be better understood in order to fix it: older generations wanting the next generation to continue to work instead of furthering their education. Gentified has done this one better by bringing its stories to a medium that is more readily available. It manages to allow many from different backgrounds to better understand the struggles of this community. This show has added to what One Day at a Time started — it opened up the conversation for more Latinx to be seen.

What is most impactful when viewing this TV show is how each actor sounds and how each experience feels like they have personally gone through this, even if they haven’t. Ana Morales is a lesbian Chicana artist who lives in LA’s Latin-dominated Boyle Heights neighborhood. Ana’s girlfriend in the show is Yessika Castillo, played by Julissa Calderon. Yessika is an Afro-Latinx woman who fully supports Ana’s endeavors of being an artist. When these two actors have an intimate scene together, it makes you feel like anything is possible for them. When Ana paints a beautiful mural of Brown love, it solidifies the idea that we need love in our community.

Beatriz Morales who is played by Laura Patalano, is Ana’s mother. Beatriz’s actions and attitude are often harsh and demanding, but her actions often come from a place of worry and fear.  Bianca Melgar plays Ana’s little sister, Nayeli Morales. Nayeli’s performance brings just the right amount of relief to the tense scene. When all four of these female characters become the focus of one storyline, it becomes one of the most moving episodes of the series.

This show does an honest portrayal of what Hispanics who have struggled in their homeland have come to experience in America. They bring with them the cultures and costumes of their native lands. This often translates into a good work ethic, but it also means that they bring with them the same issues that caused them so much harm in their native lands. In one episode, Ana’s mother Beatriz upbraids her daughter for not helping to support the family.

In a powerful scene where Ana stands up for herself, she says, “You treat me like I’m not supposed to have a life, like I am supposed to be working all the time to make you happy… Isn’t that what you came here for? So, I wouldn’t have to do all that? Or are you just living the exact same life you sacrificed everything for? Is that what you want for me and Nayeli?”

Too often, Hispanics whose family has only known poverty in their country will continue to keep those traditions alive in the new country they live in, passing on those exact methods that have caused them unhappiness. Many are unable to see that they are just repeating the same lives in a different country. The next generation is forced to live their parents’ lives, unless they turn their backs on their culture.

The show has strong Hispanic actors, great use of humor, and a lot of insight on issues that are rarely discussed. These are all elements that make for a good binge worthy series. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, I can’t recommend this show enough. The beautiful message of Brown love, convictions, and understanding all combine in this touching series.

You can catch the series on Netflix.

The post Review ‘Gentefied’: Beautiful Brown Love appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

The nationwide call to end systemic racism has forced the beauty community to do some much-needed introspection. Making the industry a space that’s inclusive for all not only requires brands to extend their shade range in cosmetics, but it also requires companies to hire more people of color—from executives to creatives.

Platforms like YouTube and Instagram are flowing with Black beauty talent, and few get an opportunity to work closely with brands, and even fewer of them are men.

As brands strategize on how to make more seats at the table for people of color, we also hope they’re reserving spots for the talented male creatives who teach us how to slay.

To help draw visibility to the community of male makeup artists and beauty bloggers, here’s a list of a few Black beauty boys you should be following on Instagram.

The post 9 Black Male Beauty Influencers To Follow appeared first on Essence.

It’s no doubt that the entire world is going through something that we have never experienced before. However throughout this uncertain time, it is important to note the influencers coming forward during this pandemic and using their platforms to find relief to those in need. At first, the aura of uncertainty quickly hugged us as a community but after a few days of quarantine life settling in with the content creation community, affirmative action resulted shortly after.

It wasn’t too far after that I saw fellow influencers and designers curating social efforts to help the victims of Covid-19. What stood out to me the most is the distance within all of these influencers which was from Paris to Los Angeles to New York. We are all dealing with the outcome of this pandemic, but as social issues arise everyday, I want to put focus on a few influencers utilizing their voice and following.

Magne Ndiaye

worldwide we stand together!June.2.2020 #justicepouradama #justiceforgeorgefloyd #justiceforbreonnataylor #justiceforahmaudarbery #justiceforall

A post shared by magné (@magnendiaye) on Jun 2, 2020 at 3:11pm PDT

Essence: What specifically drove you to begin this charitable efforts to help Covid-19 victims?

Ndiaye: I am a model and creative from Dakar, Senegal mainly based in  New York City. I wanted to start this project as a way to show love to the children of my country and  implement a plan to give back to the people who deserve it most. Currently with the COVID-19 virus affecting millions of people around the world, Senegal has decided to shut down the majority of its school systems and businesses. With Senegal already being a country filled with low income families, this makes it much harder for children who want to be able to continue their education at home.”

What exactly is your project doing to help?

The goal for this project was to fundraise money using my platform to buy enough art supplies and help at least 150 kids. We were able to buy art supplies from local businesses, thus helping to pour money back into the Senegalese economy. Handmade toys were purchased from Alyfa Toys, which is a West African educational toy company in Dakar. Custom reusable tote bags were made by ATS events, who also donated a bottle of hand sanitizer per child. We partnered with the following children’s organizations in Dakar to help us distribute these kits to their students; Ker Imagination Afrika, Sunu Thiossane, Village S.O.S des Enfants, Empire des Enfants and Alpha Dia Fondation. Together we helped make this current situation a little bit easier for some kids and put a lot of smiles on faces. 

Has this pandemic affected you in any way, if so, as a creative what have you done to overcome it? 

I feel like it has definitely affected everyone in some way. No one was expecting this to happen, and  a lot of people especially in my generation who feel so free and unstoppable all the time, realized how quickly things can change. I think the uncertainty of how long it will last and what the world will be like when it’s over makes everyone a little on edge. I used the time to work on the Art Relief Fund project and to reflect on what I will be doing in the future after this is all over. Having something to keep you busy is very important. I changed my eating habits and exercise habitjust so I can come out of this feeling my best. I have my days of course where I  complain and feel down, but I just try to keep my mind and body healthy overall.

Cleopatra Lee

Koral tights always fit the just right! I’ll be doing a live Boxing Cardio workout on @koral’s IG live Wednesday at 3:00PM(est), make sure you tune in! #CleopatrasArmy #KoralBabe —— Speaking of the , click the link in my bio for exercises to plump up that .

A post shared by Cleopatra Lee (@thecleopatralee) on May 4, 2020 at 3:17pm PDT

Essence: What specifically drove you to begin this charitable efforts to help Covid-19 victims?

Lee: My friend Paul Bamba had this idea to complete a running challenge and he was looking for a way to figure out how to make it charitable. He decided he would run 72 miles in 72 hours, raising $72,000 and I came up with the execution plan. I also logged some miles as well). We knew we needed to work with a charity that donates 100% of proceeds so that we’d know exactly where the funds would go. We chose the RobinHood Foundation.

What exactly is your project doing to help?

Our project helped by inspiring people to get active while also helping those greatly affected by this deadly virus. You could’ve donated as little as 1 cent, it still meant something

Has this pandemic affected you in any way, if so, as a creative what have you done to overcome it? 

This pandemic made me lose a few sources of income and and has forced me to hustle harder. My days seem busier now than they were before. I spend more time content creating and focusing on the digital aspect of things. I’ve even taken up graphic design and video editing.

Jarline Almonte

Goodmorning from me and my @fashionnova cozy set Fashionnovapartner

A post shared by The ‘Hood Fairy じゃりん (@jarline) on Apr 29, 2020 at 7:11am PDT

Essence: What specifically drove you to begin this charitable efforts to help Covid-19 victims?

Almonte: What drove me to want to donate is the fact that I feel a desire to contribute something, whatever I could to any capacity. I don’t like to feel as if I’m just sitting there, not being of use. My debut single “Potion” was scheduled to be released and I felt like it was the perfect opportunity to use it as a driving force to allow me to help others. 100% of the money earned from those purchasing the single on iTunes are growing towards 2 different organizations — one to help women in quarantine who are in domestic abuse relationships seek haven and aid and the other to help fund the creation of new ventilators. 

What exactly is your project doing to help?

All earnings from the single will be donated. The song a fun, female-empowering track. It’s about owning our bodies, knowing our worth, and recognizing who and who not to involve ourselves with. I want everyone to feel good during this time, and even party tracks can be healing if you think about it.

Has this pandemic affected you in any way, if so, as a creative what have you done to overcome it? 

The pandemic has affected me in a few ways, definitely. I’m a very social person who enjoys traveling and flying for work. And although I’ve had upcoming jobs, video shoots and recording sessions canceled or postponed, I don’t feel like it’s the end of the world for me. It’s all for good reason. My main concern is the health and safety of everyone. This is causing us all to be very creative and learn to work together for the sake of public health. Work life has adjusted by having shoots and castings be done through zoom, and I’m learning to make demos in the comfort of my own home. I’m keeping myself occupied through creating content for brands on my instagram, learning Japanese, painting, and trying out photography. Through this experience I’ve learned to not take breathing fresh air, and being able to experience the outdoors for granted.

Tizita Balemlay

Being silent is choosing a side. Help us end police brutality #blacklivesmatter Praying for everyone’s safety. Yesterday i witnessed people protesting peacefully and still getting attacked by police, for their voice!! Shit is not OK!

A post shared by Tizita Balemlay (@theplugsdaughterr) on May 31, 2020 at 4:15pm PDT

Essence: What specifically drove you to begin this charitable efforts to help Covid-19 victims?

Balemlay: As a small business we understand how this pandemic is effecting small businesses and how discouraging it can be to young entrepreneurs. We wanted to uplift the spirits of young business owners.

What exactly is your project doing to help? 

PLUGGEDNYC is teaming up with Target Style, CVS & Pizza HUT to give away $10,000 to a small owned women company. We have chosen a women owned company because 36% of business are ran by women, which mean 64% is ran by men. Out of the 36% of companies ran by women 99.9% are SMALL OWNED business. We want to empower women like us during this time.

Has this pandemic affected you in any way, if so, as a creative what have you done to overcome it?

Our in-house factory PLUGGEDSTUDIO, has had to close during this pandemic due to the safety of our staff. This has made it hard to launch our new collection. We are still conducting small in-house shoots during this time to prepare for the launch of our new collection and our team has daily zoom meetings to stay on task.

Shannon and Shannade Clermont

STAY SIX FEET AWAY PERIOD @farrellfigure #clermonttwins

A post shared by Shannon and Shannade Clermont (@clermonttwins) on Mar 31, 2020 at 8:52pm PDT

Essence: What specifically drove you to begin this charitable efforts to help Covid-19 victims?

Clermont Twins: So currently we are pairing up with Reform, which is a nonprofit organization, to help change the US probation system and to keep the prison community safe from coronavirus. It’s our platform and any way we can to spread awareness is really important. There are inmates dying and they’re not getting the help which they need. Me and my sister started The Clermont Foundation a couple of years ago and we want to really spread awareness to everything that’s going on. When I was in jail, just being there, you feel helpless. Not much you can do while you’re there. It’s not like you have any control the outside world so I could only imagine just being exposed to the coronavirus and not being able to do anything. There’s inmates slowly dying. They’re not getting the treatment that they need. And it’s really scary. Our focus has always been mental health issues, but just what we have experienced this past year, I feel like it’s important to speak about what’s going on now.

What exactly is your project doing to help? 

This petition, specifically, the purpose is to facilitate the population of non-confinement offenders to home confinement. Why not us? We all have to be home, right? So why not allow inmates to have not much time left on their sentence to go home. I think if we want to talk about keeping everyone safe, we need to keep everyone safe. Everyone has made mistakes in their life and we’re all living and growing from it. I think during this time, we shouldn’t judge people on things that they’ve done and figure out how to keep everyone alive. We are talking about people who are nonviolent offenders. It just wouldn’t feel right to have experienced this past year, and me coming out now, to not use our platform in any other way than using it for good. It just makes sense.

Has this pandemic affected you in any way, if so, as a creative what have you done to overcome it? 

As far as the pandemic affecting us in any way, thankfully we’re able to work from home, so it hasn’t really changed much for us. But it has really allowed us to be creative and just use this time for self love. The most this pandemic has affected us is really being away from our family. I’m really more worried about our parents at the moment. We’ve been really just using this time to just plan out our next five years. Everything that we’ve wanted to do, we’re making it happen.

The post 6 Creatives Using Their Platform To Create Covid-19 Relief appeared first on Essence.