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Ulta Beauty recently launched the MUSE 100, a celebration of 100 inspirational Black voices in and around beauty, from entrepreneurs and creators to visionary leaders, and more. These individuals are creating impact and driving change in the industry and beyond, to help make beauty in our world possible. Each MUSE honoree will be awarded a $10,000 grant to help accelerate their impact, totaling over a $1M commitment from Ulta Beauty.
The MUSE 100 honorees embody the commitment of Magnifying, Uplifting, Supporting, and Empowering Black voices – and, Ziggy Mack-Johnson is someone who totally reflects this commitment. He has been named an honoree of the Next Gen category, “the emerging young Black leaders shaking up our world.”
As a model, content creator, designer, fashion enthusiast, and influencer, Ziggy pretty much does it all – and he does it with a smile, and without losing his bright and bold personality – which he says, “brands across the country are attracted to.” His aura, attitude, and aesthetic are infectious, and he’s built his audience by simply being himself, and sharing his interests and passions in fashion and art, as well as his niche projects.
We got the chance to sit down with Ziggy to talk about all things fashion, being your authentic self, empowering others by embracing his passions, and so much more. Read below to hear what he had to say, and help us celebrate him as an honoree of MUSE 100!
Here’s to Ziggy, and all of the other MUSE 100 honorees!
Click here to learn more about Ziggy and the other MUSE 100 honorees!
Her Campus: What does fashion mean to you?
Ziggy Mack-Johnson: Fashion simply means expression to me. It is the perfect way to express yourself without any type of speech. When you walk into a room, your outfit speaks to the room before you do!
Her Campus: How are you using your platform to educate and empower others through your brand?
Ziggy: The way I use my platform to educate and empower others through my brand is by being completely and genuinely myself. Knowing there are others out there like me, I make sure I make myself accessible in a way to relate to these people about the things I’ve learned to pass along. I empower people by making others feel completely comfortable with themselves, especially POC queers.
Her Campus: How do you define success?
Ziggy: I define success as doing what makes you happy and making a profit off of it! I strongly believe one is not living if they are working just to work. We live in a world today where you can make a success out of literally anything. I have been blessed to have chosen my success through fashion and visual creativity.
Her Campus: What goal are you currently chasing?
Ziggy: The goal I am currently chasing is being a creative director, more so being behind the camera than in front! Even though I still love being in front of the camera, I intend to create more behind the scenes and allow my visions to also be depicted in this way.
Her Campus: What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
Ziggy: A piece of advice I would give my younger self is, “Trust the process and know the things you need and deserve will fall in place.” Additionally, I would tell myself and honestly anyone else under my age, “Always remember that everything happens for a reason!”
Her Campus: The Muse 100 mission is to amplify and uplift Black voices and individuals. How are you personally aligned with this mission?
Ziggy: I am personally aligned with this mission because my whole career is a representation of being a Black voice. I have used every project I have been a part of to express myself as a Queer Black Man, and I carry that very proudly. Every piece of content I put out is authentic and aligns with my own personal morals and code of ethics which are further founded by my honor of being a Black man. I am a physical manifestation of a Black voice who is comfortable and confident in what I stand on and who I show up as and hope others are able to see themselves in me.
Here’s to Ziggy, and all of the other MUSE 100 honorees!
Click here to learn more about Ziggy and the other MUSE 100 honorees!