Madam C. J. Walker was an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political and social activist. She is recorded as the first female self-made millionaire in America in the Guinness Book of World Records. Multiple sources mention that although other women might have been the first, their wealth is not as well-documented.
Vivica Anjanetta Fox is an American actress, producer and television host. Fox began her career on Soul Train (1982–1983) and played roles on the daytime television soap operas Days of Our Lives (1988) and Generations (1989–1992). In prime time she starred opposite Patti LaBelle in the NBC sitcom Out All Night (1992–1993). Fox's breakthrough came in 1996, with roles in two box-office hit films, Roland Emmerich's Independence Day and F. Gary Gray's Set It Off.
Leyla Milani Khoshbin is a Canadian-American model, TV host and retired actress. Milani was born in Iran and moved to Toronto when she was 4 years old. She led a successful career before meeting her husband Manuchehr (Manny) Khoshbin, Iranian entrepreneur, real estate investor and author.
Rodolfo Valentin is a New York City hairdresser and entrepreneur. Beginning his career as a fashion model in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Valentin later emigrated to New York and opened an elegant salon in Madison Avenue. Now he owns three hair salons within the New York City area with products and services that include hair extension, and hair coloring.
Monica Calhoun is an American film and television actress. Calhoun is best known for her roles in the films Bagdad Cafe (1987), The Players Club (1998), The Salon (2005), The Best Man (1999), and its sequel The Best Man Holiday (2013). She has also appeared in the films Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) and Love & Basketball (2000). Calhoun has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award and one NAACP Image Award.
Beverly Ann Johnson is an American model, actress, singer, and businesswoman. Johnson rose to fame when she became the first Black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue in August 1974, after Donyale Luna was the first Black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue in 1966. In 2012, Johnson was the star of the reality series Beverly's Full House that aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). In 2008, The New York Times named Johnson one of the 20th century's most influential people in fashion.
Beverly Mascoll was a Canadian businesswoman, fundraiser, community leader, and Member of the Order of Canada.
Eugena Washington is an American model from Palmdale, California, United States. She made her first public appearance as the third runner up on the global phenomenon America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7. Her first major project after the show was a multi season National Campaign for South Pole where she garnered her first billboard in Times Square. She quickly became a household name after her debut season at Los Angeles Fashion Week where she walked for brands like Zach Posen, Shane Peacock, and celebrity designer Christian Audigier. Eugena became a favorite face in the Commercial & Television Space appearing in over 20 commercials across her career. She then expanded her career into the beauty space becoming the face of Cover Girl Queen Collection scoring 2 National Commercials and a Beauty Campaign. She then became the face of Clinique's new Spot Corrector scoring another multi- year Commercial and Campaign. She was named Playmate of the month for December 2015, and later the 3rd Black Playmate of the Year in history for 2016 year. She was the first fashion model to be named in Playboy's post-nude era, and the last Playmate of the year to be chosen by Hugh Hefner himself at the Playboy Mansion. Eugena founded 2 beauty brands: A hair care line specializing in weaves wigs and extensions called Don't Touch My Hair Products and a CBD skin care brand called Faded Skin Care. She is currently and Iconic Creator for Investment Group Good Trouble, and has launched an ASMR channel to help those with sleep apnea. She is also a successful makeup and beauty creator as Eugena continues to use her beauty, relatability, and global recognition to create services that help women get the love and recognition they deserve.
The history of cosmetics spans at least 7,000 years and is present in almost every society on earth. Cosmetic body art is argued to have been the earliest form of a ritual in human culture. The evidence for this comes in the form of utilised red mineral pigments including crayons associated with the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa. Cosmetics are mentioned in the Old Testament—2 Kings 9:30 where Jezebel painted her eyelids—approximately 840 BC—and the book of Esther describes various beauty treatments as well.
Annie Minerva Turnbo Malone was an American businesswoman, inventor and philanthropist. In the first three decades of the 20th century, she founded and developed a large and prominent commercial and educational enterprise centered on cosmetics for African-American women.
Kinky hair, also known as afro-textured hair, is a human hair texture prevalent in the indigenous populations of many regions with hot climates, mainly sub-Saharan Africa, some areas of Melanesia, and Australia. Each strand of this hair type grows in a repeating pattern of small contiguous kinks. These numerous kinks make kinky hair appear denser than straight, wavy, and curly hair types.
The Salon is a 2005 comedy-drama film, directed by Mark Brown, executive produced by David Odom, and starring Vivica A. Fox, Kym Whitley, and Monica Calhoun. It was filmed in Baltimore, Maryland.
Paula Jane Meehan was an American businesswoman, executive and philanthropist. She co-founded the Redken hair care products company. She briefly worked as an actress and fashion model.
Good Hair is a 2009 American documentary film directed by Jeff Stilson and produced by Chris Rock Productions and HBO Films, starring and narrated by comedian Chris Rock. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2009, Good Hair had a limited release to theaters in the United States by Roadside Attractions on October 9, 2009, and opened across the country on October 23.
African-American hair or Black hair refers to hair types, textures, and styles that are linked to African-American culture, often drawing inspiration from African hair culture. It plays a major role in the identity and politics of Black culture in the United States and across the diaspora. African-American hair often has a kinky hairy texture, appearing tightly coiled and packed. Black hair has a complex history, culture, and cultural impact, including its relationship with racism.
In the US, Black-owned businesses, also known as African American businesses, originated in the days of slavery before 1865. Emancipation and civil rights permitted businessmen to operate inside the American legal structure starting in the Reconstruction Era (1863–77) and afterwards. By the 1890s, thousands of small business operations had opened in urban areas. The most rapid growth came in the early 20th century, as the increasingly rigid Jim Crow system of segregation moved urban Blacks into a community large enough to support a business establishment. The National Negro Business League—which Booker T. Washington, college president, promoted—opened over 600 chapters. It reached every city with a significant Black population.
Kinky is a 2018 American erotic romantic thriller directed, written and produced by Jean-Claude La Marre. The film stars Robert Ri'chard, Dawn Richard, Gary Dourdan, and Vivica A. Fox. The film was released in the United States on October 12, 2018, by Patriot Pictures.
Toxic Beauty is a 2019 Canadian-American documentary film about exposure to dangerous substances from commonly trusted beauty products such as baby powder. Directed by Phyllis Ellis and produced by White Pine Pictures, the film premiered at the April 2019 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. The documentary follows the experiences and motivations of beauty product consumers as well as the experience of cancers caused by brand-name cosmetics, including but not limited to Johnson & Johnson. Features include interviews with scientists, doctors, and lawyers about the issues surrounding a substandard regulation system, and scientist Mymy Nguyen's journey of discovery as she seeks to replace commonly used products with safer ones.
Fox Soul is a digital television network and live streaming service operated by Fox Corporation that launched on January 13, 2020. Named after soul music, the network focuses on two demographics; the African American experience and Christian media.
The Wrong... is an American television thriller film series starring and produced by Vivica A. Fox for Lifetime. The series was produced by Hybrid Films and directed by David DeCoteau. More than 26 movies were produced between 2016 and 2024. Some of the other notable actors in the series include Jason-Shane Scott, Jessica Morris, Tracy Nelson, Dominique Swain, and Eric Roberts.
