EDITOR’S LETTER

Aging is a privilege, and the older I get I have the privilege of becoming more in tune with myself. I understand what makes me tick, what excites me, what to avoid and what to embrace. I am learning my true values and with that I will not negotiate who I am and what I stand for. That being said, I am committed to your success.

The other day I was told “diversity and Inclusion doesn’t completely align with my brand message.” There was complete silence, and we had an awkward stare down. The conversation continued with “we have to focus on what is best for our brand.” I thought to myself: “What a privilege that diversity and inclusion is a choice.”

What happened? Are we so far removed from the truth that we have reverted back to what was? Please don’t tell me that another person of colour needs to be brutally murdered in front of the world again for the beauty industry to acknowledge the gap. THERE IS A GAP.

I watched big companies make extravagant statements and promises for change on social media. And because of my love for our industry, I believed them. I hoped there would be real action that followed. I hope that the leaders of our industry were not bandwagon jumpers. I hoped the black square on your social media pages for #blackouttuesday was not just to