In the past few decades, the beauty industry has gone through dramatic changes with regard to diversity and inclusion. Advances in technology, the influence of social media, and a greater understanding of the nuances of beauty have all assisted in a focus on recognizing beauty in every shape, color, and size.
For far too long, the beauty industry has failed to represent the vast diversity of beauty. The industry has traditionally focused on creating products and images that emphasize a certain Eurocentric standard of beauty. This denigration of minorities has recently become widely acknowledged and called out with more people demanding change and justice in regards to the beauty industry.
Progress is being made, with some large companies leading the way in embracing diversity and inclusion. To start, many companies are making moves to better represent the diversity of their customer base. They are expanding the spectrum of their products, campaigns, and even hiring tactics to be more inclusive. For example, in 2019, Estée Lauder created the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation in 45 shades to match varying skin tones.
Large beauty companies are also going out of their way to increase the presence of people from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds in positions of power. For example, Covergirl’s 2018 announcement that their Creative Director was Insta-famous beauty vlogger, James Charles was a big deal. This was a major step in the right direction, as the presence of diverse voices behind the lens will help to create a broader image in the brand’s publications and products.
With the rise of social media, there has been an emergence of new type of diversity leaders. Influencers such as Manny Gutierrez, Jackie Aina and Nabela Noor are advocating for an end to discrimination in the beauty industry and speaking up for marginalized communities. These influencers are courageous and vocal with their public knowledge-sharing that empowers underserved individuals and allows them to create more conscious and inclusive brands.
The beauty industry is still in the early stages of its journey towards true diversity and inclusion and there is still a lot of work to be done. But with the work being done by the major beauty companies, influencers, and individuals, we are slowly on our way to a more inclusive and varied representation of beauty.
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