My Campus Celebrity: Amber Koonce

Beth Thompson Student Contributor, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

shannonsmith Student Contributor, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Chapel Hill chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

If you perused the September issue of Glamour magazine, chances are you came across its list of the “Top 10 College Women of 2011,” featuring 10 talented and inspiring young women from across the nation. Amber Koonce, a senior here at Chapel Hill, was selected as one of the contest winners and lived out many college women’s dreams of attending a photo shoot and interview with Glamour. Recognized by the magazine as The Social Entreprenuer, Amber is a public policy and African studies major who exemplifies the change that toaday’s youth can make in the world. In addition to managing her own website project, Beauty Gap, Amber’s passions include helping children realize their own, unique beauty and develop a strong sense of self-esteem.

HC: How were you selected for Glamour’s Top 10 College Women of 2011?
Amber: December 1, 2010, I submitted my application for the Top 10 College Women competition. It was a portfolio that had my transcript, articles that had been written about me, along with a copy of their application. After my submission, I was contacted by a Glamour representative a few months later, and then began a phone interviewing process that lasted approximately 6 months!

HC: What inspired your interest in Beauty Gap, the website you founded?

Amber: The summer of 2009 I was living in Ghana teaching in a primary school and mentoring in their young women’s correctional center. As I traveled throughout the country, I realized that none of the young girls she saw were carrying dolls that looked like themselves. I also had several conversations with the young girls I was teaching and mentoring and they often expressed discontent about their features. When I returned home I began collecting dolls to send back to Ghana, and it really exploded from there. The name came from my African Studies professor, Dr. Waithera Karim-Sesay, who taught me in a lesson that the standard of beauty throughout Africa is the gap between a woman’s two front teeth and is called the “beauty gap.”

HC: What other things are you involved with at UNC?
Amber: I am co-chair of Criminal Justice Action and Awareness within the Campus Y and a staff member at the Institute for African American Research. I also participate in the NC Fellows and Public Service Scholars programs.

HC: Where do you see yourself after graduation?
Amber: After graduation I hope to be working on children’s rights, criminal justice, or social welfare issues in some capacity, domestically or internationally. My next academic step is to attend law school.

HC: What do you think are the major setbacks to children in Ghana realizing their true beauty? Do you see these issues as being resolved any time soon?

Amber: I don’t believe this issue is isolated to Ghana. Throughout the world, a Western aesthetic is overwhelmingly seen as the most attractive. I believe this stems from colonialism to mainstream media, to the internet, which allows anyone to access ads and pictures of what should be considered beautiful.

HC: What was the Glamour photo shoot like?
Amber: The photo shoot was a crazy experience. This summer I was living in a dorm at Princeton, so I had to get my entire wardrobe, hair and make up done in a tiny dorm room. I also wasn’t allowed to tell anyone that I had won the competition until September 7th, so I was walking around campus with an entourage of people getting my picture taken, but I couldn’t tell anyone what was going on. That was awkward!

HC: What were your friends and family’s reactions to your article in Glamour? Did anyone treat you differently?
Amber: I am really fortunate to have a very supportive group of friends and family members. All of my friends and loved ones were extremely excited about the article–a lot of my guy friends even bought a copy of Glamour to support me!

HC: Any words of advice for aspiring social entrepreneurs like yourself?
Amber: Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Don’t let your age, the overwhelming breadth of an issue, or a lack of resources discourage you from following through with a great idea! Be creative!

All photos from Beauty Gap, http://www.beautygap.org/

My Campus Celebrity: Amber Koonce

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