Ulta Beauty Announces MUSE 100, A Celebration Of 100 Inspiring Black Voices In Beauty 
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 22, 2021

Ulta Beauty Announces MUSE 100, A Celebration Of 100 Inspiring Black Voices In Beauty 

Ulta Beauty, the nation’s largest beauty retailer, today announced the MUSE 100, a celebration of 100 inspiring Black voices in beauty, each of whom will be awarded with a MUSE 100 grant to further their impact.

Representing the next chapter of its MUSE platform to Magnify, Uplift, Support, and Empower Black voices in beauty, the MUSE 100 is another tangible way the leading retailer is actively working to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“We understand our responsibility to inspire positive change and drive greater diversity, equity and inclusion in our industry,” said Dave Kimbell, CEO, Ulta Beauty.

“The MUSE 100 champions those who have succeeded in making so much beauty possible, those who represent the future and those who have inspiring stories that deserve to be shared and supported. We are proud to honor and uplift these 100 Muses and hope others find inspiration in learning their stories while celebrating with us.”

The MUSE 100 recognizes a variety of merits including vision, leadership, and the ability to stimulate change, uphold values and champion inclusivity. Spanning beauty brand founders, makeup artists, activists, authors and more, each honoree’s accomplishments were reviewed and selected by the Ulta Beauty DE&I Counsel with input from a panel of industry leaders: Ulta Beauty’s diversity, equity and inclusion advisor Tracee Ellis Ross, Cosmopolitan’s beauty director Julee Wilson, entrepreneur and co-founder of Melanin Haircare Whitney White and celebrity stylist Mecca James Williams.

Each honoree will be awarded with a MUSE 100 grant of $10,000 to accelerate their continued impact and influence, totaling a commitment that exceeds $1 million from Ulta Beauty. These funds are in addition to the $25 million DE&I commitments made by the company in February of this year.

“I’m excited and consistently encouraged by Ulta Beauty’s continued commitments,” said Tracee Ellis Ross, DE&I advisor at Ulta Beauty, CEO and founder of PATTERN Beauty. “The MUSE 100 demonstrates a significant evolution of Ulta Beauty’s mission to uplift Black voices. By shining a light on these inspiring changemakers, we empower Black communities and continue the important work of fostering foundational change.”

Said Karla Davis, VP of Integrated Marketing at Ulta Beauty:

“As we thought about what the next step in our DE&I journey would look like, we knew it was essential to create something tangible in support of the many Black voices, makers and creators in beauty who are truly fueling the industry. MUSE 100 is a unique, exciting and inspiring way we are honoring their stories and lived experiences, their influence and impact – and the opportunities that lie ahead in each of their journeys. It’s our hope that this platform empowers and inspires others in the way that each of the honorees has done for and with our industry.”

In addition to being featured on the Ulta Beauty MUSE 100 website, honoree stories will be shared on Ulta Beauty’s social channels and further amplified via the company’s media partnerships to celebrate individual ventures and inspire others. Following is a closer look at the MUSE 100:

Makeup Magicians: Those making the world more beautiful – artists and innovators in makeup

Hair Raisers: Stylists and influencers changing the hair game one lock, braid, twist at a time

Style Setters: Icons and trend setters in in the fashion space

Well Makers: Leaders and founders celebrating the beauty of wellness and mental health

 Story Shifters: Those telling the stories of Black beauty

Culture Creators: Influencers, makers and content curators driving culture today and tomorrow

Luminous Leaders: Changemakers and entrepreneurs leading and lighting the way

 Executive Excellency: The bosses of beauty, movers and shakers making an impact in the industry

Fearless Founders: Those changing the face of beauty and taking shelves by storm

The Next Gen Muses: Emerging young Black leaders shaking up our world

 


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