Earlier this month, Lupita Nyong'o landed a contract with Lancome; today British model Jourdan Dunn has signed a deal to be the spokeswoman for Maybelline. Great advancements for women of color in the beauty industry — and for consumers.
As Britsh Vogue reports, Dunn says "It is an honor to be a spokesperson for such an iconic brand." She's no stranger to the fashion and beauty scene, having walked the Victoria's Secret fashion show and worked with Burberry Beauty and Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat. (She also has a really fun YouTube cooking show.)
It wasn't that long ago that certain skin tones were straight-up ignored by cosmetic companies. When I was just getting into makeup, it was hard, if not impossible, to find my shade of brown in the drug store aisles. While my friends were trying all kinds of foundations, powders and cover-ups, for me, it was Fashion Fair or nothing. There's definitely been a shift in the last ten years or so — CoverGirl hired Queen Latifah and Rihanna; Beyoncé shilled for L'Oreal, Revlon signed up Halle Berry. Iman is CEO of her own beauty company.
That said, they represent a slender sliver when it comes to the spectrum of human skin tones. Many women still find themselves out of luck when it comes to finding products that work. The fashion and beauty industries are global, yet women of color continue to be underrepresented. But this is absolutely a step in the right direction. Congrats to Dunn and Maybelline: Recognizing black beauty is a victory for all.
Thank you @maybelline for making this young girl dream come true, words can't describe how happy I am that I'm part of this iconic brand! It just shows no dream is too big or small to achieve!! 😘😁😘#MaybellineFamily#MaybellineGirl
Images via Getty/Maybelline.