Young entrepreneurs like Olamide Olowe are breaking barriers and securing funding despite age and gender skepticism in beauty.
Spelman College’s Cosmetic Science Program empowers Black women to become researchers and decision-makers, not just trend influencers.
The event spotlighted how beauty extends beyond appearance—it’s a cultural force for community, entrepreneurship, and authentic self-expression.
Black beauty took center stage as the Bronner Bros. Beauty Icon Awards returned to Atlanta for a second year of celebrating excellence, innovation, and influence. The star-studded ceremony spotlighted the trailblazing visionaries, entrepreneurs, and artists who have reshaped the beauty industry, broken barriers, and paved the way for the next generation of beauty innovators.
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
The 2nd Annual Bronner Bros. Beauty Icon Awards took place at the Riverside EpiCenter in Atlanta, bringing together influential names in beauty, fashion, sports, and entertainment.
BOSSIP’s very own Lauryn Bass was on the scene as the evening unfolded under the theme “Midnight Bloom,” transforming the celebration into an enchanted garden where fantasy, artistry, and Black excellence came to life.
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
With Bronner Bros. approaching its historic 80th anniversary, the ceremony celebrated the legacy of Black beauty entrepreneurship and the people continuing to redefine representation, ownership and innovation across the industry. This year’s honorees included:
Topicals founder Olamide Olowe
Carol’s Daughter founder Lisa Price
Celebrity makeup artist Derrick Rutledge
Former WNBA player and style personality Sydney Carter
and several other industry leaders.
The celebration followed last year’s inaugural ceremony, which honored Chaka Khan, Danessa Myricks, Jesseca “Judy” Harris-Dupart, the late George E. Johnson, and celebrity hairstylist Terrence Davidson.
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
An Enchanted Garden Where Beauty Comes To Life
The evening began with a touch of fantasy as guests were introduced to a special giveaway sponsored by AmaWaterways. Inspired by the golden-ticket excitement of “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” attendees were encouraged to check beneath their seats for a chance to win a river cruise experience, with a valid passport required for eligibility.
One lucky woman seated in the middle section discovered a winning ticket, adding an unexpected moment of excitement before the show truly started.
The opening production, titled “An Enchanted Garden,” brought the evening’s theme to life through elaborate costumes, striking textures and cool-toned designs inspired by wildlife. Performers embodied the beauty of peacocks, lions, snakes, and other creatures, presenting an imaginative interpretation of nature through fashion and movement.
James Bronner addressed the audience following the presentation, reflecting on the company’s longstanding commitment to the industry.
“For nearly 80 years, Bronner Brothers has believed in the power of the beauty industry,” Bronner said.
Pastor Bronner later offered a prayer encouraging attendees to seek God’s guidance regardless of their position or influence, with the theme of being in the “right spot.”
The evening’s returning host acknowledged the audience as a reflection of the American dream, referencing beauty pioneer Madam C.J. Walker and the generations of Black entrepreneurs who challenged stereotypes and created opportunities through the beauty industry.
Atlanta was also celebrated as a beauty mecca, highlighting the city’s continued influence on the culture.
Kelly Keith, Executive Producer of the Bronner Bros. Beauty Icon Awards, received a standing ovation before welcoming guests and acknowledging the challenges of producing the celebration amid difficult weather conditions. She expressed gratitude to those who attended despite the circumstances.
Olamide Olowe Reflects On Defying The Odds As A Young Beauty Entrepreneur
The first group of honorees reflected the industry’s evolving definition of beauty, influence and entrepreneurship.
Camille Rose founder Janell Stephens and Jelisa Semore helped introduce Topicals founder Olamide Ayomikun Olowe, who received the Vanguard of Beauty Award.
In her acceptance speech, Olowe reflected on the skepticism she faced while raising capital for her company at 23.
“When I raised $2 million in 2020 when I was 23, so many people said I couldn’t do it,” Olowe recalled. “So many people said, ‘Why trust a young woman straight out of college without much money?’ But I knew that my community needed me.”
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
Her remarks highlighted the determination required to pursue entrepreneurship while challenging expectations surrounding age, gender, and access to financial opportunities.
The ceremony also recognized celebrity photographer Derek Blanks, with each honoree receiving a personalized video presentation highlighting their professional achievements, personal journeys, and contributions to the beauty industry.
Sydney Carter Celebrates Individuality As Eco Style Continues Its Defy Definition Campaign
Former WNBA player, coach and style personality Sydney Carter was among the evening’s celebrated honorees, receiving the Style & Culture Award for her influence at the intersection of sports, fashion and beauty.
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
During her acceptance speech, Carter reflected on the importance of embracing individuality rather than conforming to expectations.
“God created me not to fit in. He created me to stand out,” Carter said.
She concluded her remarks with a message passed down from her mother.
“It’s not on you. It’s in you.”
Her recognition also marked another significant moment in her partnership with Eco Style, the longtime hair styling brand that joined fellow beauty industry leaders, founders and creatives at the Oct. 10 ceremony.
In September, Carter starred in Eco Style’s Defy Definition campaign, an initiative celebrating individuals who challenge expectations and express themselves without being confined to traditional labels.
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The partnership brings together Carter’s athletic background, fashion influence, and distinctive personal style, making her a natural representative of the campaign’s message.
For Eco Style, the collaboration reflects the brand’s next chapter and its continued investment in cultural storytelling beyond the beauty aisle.
Carter’s recognition at the Bronner Bros. Beauty Icon Awards further emphasized that relationship, celebrating a woman whose influence extends from the basketball court to fashion and beauty.
As Eco Style continues its Defy Definition campaign, the brand is encouraging a broader conversation about personal style, self-expression and the freedom to show up authentically without feeling limited by expectations.
Spelman College Champions The Next Generation Of Black Beauty Innovators
One of the evening’s recurring messages was that beauty extends beyond physical appearance. It is a cultural experience shaped by family, identity, community, and the freedom to express oneself.
Keith introduced a presentation titled “The Power of Beauty,” featuring an AI-generated montage of a young girl visiting a beauty salon with her mother. Through narration and imagery, the production explored a child’s earliest memories of beauty and the influence of the women around her.
The ceremony also recognized Spelman College’s Cosmetic Science Program, celebrating its expansion and commitment to preparing Black women for leadership roles in the beauty industry.
Eco Style’s Vice President of Innovation, Asha Harris, joined cosmetic scientist Angela Ellington to present the honor on behalf of the brand, highlighting the importance of education, scientific advancement and creating opportunities for the next generation of beauty innovators.
The presentation further reflected Eco Style’s investment in the future of the industry, extending its involvement in the evening beyond its celebration of Style & Culture Award recipient Sydney Carter.
Dr. Leyte Winfield, director of Spelman’s Cosmetic Science Program, emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for Black women to become researchers, innovators, and decision-makers within an industry they have historically helped shape.
“We created this because we understood that we needed to empower Black women to be the innovators and the experts in this beauty industry,” Winfield said.
She also addressed the lack of recognition Black women scientists often receive despite their contributions to research and innovation.
“We’re in a moment where Black women in STEM are considered the invisible scientists,” she said.
Her remarks reinforced the importance of ensuring Black women have opportunities not only to influence beauty trends but also to develop products, conduct research, and lead the companies shaping the industry’s future.
Through its participation in both Carter’s recognition and Spelman’s honor, Eco Style helped spotlight two complementary forces shaping the next generation of beauty: individuality and innovation.
Oprah Winfrey Celebrates Derrick Rutledge As Beauty Icons Enter The Hall Of Fame
Celebrity makeup artist Derrick Rutledge received the Beauty Artistry Award following a special video introduction featuring Oprah Winfrey, who acknowledged their longtime professional relationship.
The tribute also featured appearances from Yolanda Adams, Vivica A. Fox, and more celebrity friends and supporters, reflecting Rutledge’s influence and relationships throughout entertainment.
Actor Taylor Polidore Williams of Netflix’s “Beauty in Black” and Grammy-winning singer Anthony Hamilton presented Rutledge with his award.
During his acceptance speech, Rutledge emphasized the importance of collaboration and the people who contribute to an individual’s success.
“No one can achieve greatness alone,” he said.
The celebration continued with the induction of several industry figures into the Bronner Bros. Hall of Fame, including Brittanica Stewart, Patrick Bradley, Jamahl King and Michelina Barber.
Stewart used her moment to encourage families to affirm the potential of their children.
“We don’t tell our children that they’re great enough. Take the time to tell your children that they are great,” she said.
Bradley reflected on the everyday influence of beauty products and the industry’s cultural significance.
“Everyone in here had to put on some lipstick or chapstick or put on something to get where they’re going. Beauty is amazing, and we have to keep this thing going,” he said.
The ceremony also paid tribute to the late George E. Johnson, a pioneering beauty entrepreneur who was recognized during the inaugural awards in 2025 before his death in 2026.
Attendees observed a moment of silence in his honor.
Beyond established industry leaders, Bronner Bros. recognized emerging talent from a student hair competition held earlier that day. The top three competitors were celebrated, with the first-place winner representing Atlanta Technical College and third-place recognition going to students from an Arkansas beauty school.
BOSSIP exclusively spoke with Dominique Akins of Peaky’s Cosmetology for the Culture, who traveled from Arkansas with her students to participate in the competition.
When asked what it meant to receive recognition in Atlanta, Akins reflected on the collective effort that made the experience possible.
“It means everything. We worked so hard,” Akins said. “My school, my students, and the community also helped us. We fundraise. So none of the students that traveled with us had to pay anything tonight. It is such an honor and I’m glad to be here.”
Another presentation explored the many environments in which Black girls and women experience beauty. Models showcased looks that ranged from sports and motherhood to professional spaces and international communities, including Lagos.
Lisa Price And Cornell McBride Sr. Reflect On Building Black Beauty Empires
The celebration of entrepreneurship continued when rapper Da Brat introduced Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter, as the recipient of the Trailblazer in Beauty Business Award.
Price, whose company helped expand the visibility of products designed for textured hair, encouraged the audience to preserve the narratives behind Black beauty entrepreneurship.
“Please continue to tell our stories,” she said.
Her remarks reinforced the importance of documenting the accomplishments of the people who helped shape an industry that has not always acknowledged their contributions.
The program then traveled back to the 1990s through a nostalgic presentation celebrating the era’s beauty trends and regional influences.
Dubbed “90s Fine,” the segment highlighted styles associated with California, New York and Miami. Salon chairs transformed the stage into a familiar beauty-shop setting, paying tribute to the spaces where Black hair culture and community have long intersected.
Sharita Cherry, an honoree from the previous year, introduced Cornell McBride Sr., founder of Design Essentials, who received the Titan of Beauty Business Award.
McBride reflected on his transition from pharmacy into the beauty industry, explaining how he developed Stay-Sof-Fro and introduced the product at a Bronner Bros. show to gain visibility.
After spending 18 years building the product before selling it, McBride eventually returned to entrepreneurship with Design Essentials.
“Building your business, you gotta really love this thing. You’re going to change and grow in the process,” he told attendees.
Now retired, McBride expressed gratitude for the opportunity to build a lasting legacy in the industry.
His son, Cornell McBride Jr., who currently leads the company, also offered perspective on the relationships required to sustain a business over several decades.
“This company is 35 years old and the people who are there to help you in your 1st year as a business are going to be different and not the same as the ones who are there when your company is at 35 years,” he said.
The ceremony also celebrated 30 years of ORS and Namaste Laboratories, with Dr. Stacy J. Johnson introducing a tribute recognizing the brands’ contributions to the beauty industry.
Xia Charles, Bryant “Big Sexy” Bee And Germaine Bolds-Leftridge Close Out The Honors
As the evening continued, celebrity hairstylist Cliff Vmir introduced Xia Charles, a hairstylist and braider whose journey to entrepreneurship began after arriving in the United States from the Caribbean nine years ago, knowing only five people.
Charles reflected on the courage required to turn personal talent into professional opportunity.
“Having a gift is one thing but having the courage is another,” she said.
The Culture Mover Award was presented to Bryant “Big Sexy” Bee by Kie Fair and Karlie Redd, recognizing her influence within beauty and culture.
Actress Jasmine Burke, who portrays June on CBS’ “Beyond the Gates,” presented the final award of the evening to Germaine Bolds-Leftridge, who received the Architect of Multicultural Beauty Award.
Throughout the night, attendees were also introduced to “Love Patrick, Nothing Is Impossible,” a film project from PeachSoul Productions exploring the life and legacy of iconic fashion designer Patrick Kelly and his contributions to fashion and beauty.
Black Beauty’s Legacy Continues To Bloom
Nearly 80 years into its legacy, Bronner Bros. continues to celebrate an industry that has always been about more than looking good. For generations, Black beauty has created opportunities for entrepreneurship, artistic expression and community, often in spaces where those opportunities were otherwise limited.
That history made the evening’s celebration of emerging talent just as meaningful as its recognition of established icons. From Eco Style championing Sydney Carter’s unapologetic individuality through its Defy Definition campaign to joining the recognition of Spelman’s next generation of cosmetic scientists, the night demonstrated how beauty’s cultural influence and its future innovations can flourish together.
The same spirit connected the stories shared across the stage. Each honoree represented a different chapter of an industry built on creativity, conviction, and the courage to make room for something new.
As another class of icons received their flowers, the significance of “Midnight Bloom” became even more fitting. The evening was not simply about celebrating how far Black beauty has come, but recognizing the people, possibilities, and legacies still waiting to blossom.
