For ages Black women, especially creators, have gone unrecognized, unappreciated, and barely given a fair platform to showcase their work and talents in the same ways their White counterparts have. From beauty to TikTok and other entertainment platforms, here are my personal top 5 of who you should support.
01. tIARA WILLIS @makeupforwoc
Tiara is an esthetician I have followed for years, as I’ve had an adoration for her work ethic, content, and her love for skin! It’s easy to get lost in the countless amounts of skincare routines on YouTube, but they don’t all specifically cater to nor work the best on Black skin. Seeing someone who not only looks like me, but also someone who put in the work to become a licensed esthetician at the age of 17, she’s phenomenal! A product that she absolutely loves and has actually done wonders for moisturizing my skin at night is Cerave’s Healing Ointment. You can follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter under @makeupforwoc.
02. MARSAI MARTIN @marsaimartin
You more than likely recognize her from ABC’s hit sitcom Black-ish, but outside of her role as Diane she’s a real life girl boss. At the age of 16, Marsai became the youngest executive producer in Hollywood as she launched her production company Genius Entertainment and produced the film Little starring herself, Issa Rae, and Regina Hall (great movie, I highly recommend). Nearly two years later, Marsai has started another business venture under the name MaribyMarsai. It delivers a product that I personally admire: luxury press on nails! I’m excited to see what’s in store for not only her businesses but her acting career as well. You can follow Marsai on Instagram, TikTok, and Instagram at @marsaimartin.
03. AMANDA MARYANNA @amandamaryanna
Amandamaryanna is a YouTuber I’ve recently found and absolutely fell in love with! Her videos reflect her views and interpretations of topics that are culturally relevant. For example, the first video I watched of Amanda’s was “on being an average Black girl” and it was a great watch. She touched base on the rise of the “luxury black girl” trend on platforms such as TikTok and the ways in which Black women are expected to look or be a certain way, and the impact it has on how we see ourselves, what we buy to reach an unrealistic beauty standard, and how it’s acceptable to simply just be who you are. You can subscribe to her channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmHAVcXFFUcFRI7Gs4HQ6Kg
04. JALAIAH HARMON @JalaiahHarmon
Jalaiah Harmon is most notably known for her creation of the TikTok dance “Renegade“ and unfortunately the lack of credit given to her once fellow TikTok influencer Charli D’Amelio’s video doing the dance went viral. Many did not know who Jalaiah was, as they contributed the dance to be the work of Charli and received recognition for it on the app. An unfortunate instance of Black creators not getting the credit nor benefits of exposure for their creative works. After months Jalaiah was finally recognized by not only social media, but the artist behind Renegade K Camp. Jalaiah now sits at 2.9 million followers on TikTok and is actively posting videos of her choreography to new songs, has been interviewed on her social impact, and is overall crushing it at 16! Her creativity and drive is definitely something that I admire.
05. NIJA @AMNIJA_
While her name is unfamiliar to many, her work is very well-known as she’s written “Everything is Love” by Beyonce and Jay-Z, “I Do” by Cardi B feat. SZA, and Lady Gaga’s hit “Rain on Me”. She’s proven herself in the industry as a powerhouse songwriter, winning two Grammys at the age of 21. But within the past year Nija has began her own career singing. Her voice is melodic, and I absolutely love her use of marrying drill and r&b together on her songs “Ease My Mind” and “Not One OF Them”. Her debut project Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You is out on all music platforms.
I hope you consider following these amazing women as they make history and develop as creators in their respective fields. Who’s a part of your Top 5?