Sadiaa Black Beauty Guide, a directory and news platform created to amplify the voices of Black beauty brands and entrepreneurs, has announced the inaugural list of winners for its first-ever Black Beauty Room & Awards.

Awards and honorees include the Pioneer award which went to natural hair pioneer Isis Brantley; CURLS Founder Mahisha Dellinger received the Innovator award; celebrity hairstylist Jonathan Wright received the Tastemaker award; April Holt, Group Vice President of Stores, Beauty Systems Group, received the Corporate Ally award; and Nu Standard Founder Autumn Yarbrough received the Legacy Award.

The Sadiaa Black Beauty Room & Awards was created to increase awareness and conversations around the cultural, political, and economic impact of Black beauty. The Awards portion will honor luminaries in the beauty industry who exemplify what it means to redefine and nurture Black beauty.

“I am so excited for this opportunity to build the platform to help center and celebrate the impact of Black beauty culture in America and beyond,” said Stephenetta (isis) Harmon, founder of Sadiaa. “Additionally, to be able to celebrate these Black beauty entrepreneurs and professionals is an honor in and of itself. Each of them has helped to drive change in how we see, celebrate and experience Black beauty.”

The one-day celebration will also feature a fireside chat on the “Stte of Black Beauty,” along with a beauty show art directed by celebrity hairstylist Kimberly Steward and a bazaar featuring Black-owned beauty vendors.

The Sadiaa Black Beauty Room & Awards is presented by Legacy West, the largest business and cultural district and lifestyle center in North Texas, as part of its 2022 Black Business Month activations. 

The event is also the culminating event for the first-ever National Black Beauty Week, August 21-27. Sadiaa Black Beauty has declared the third full week in August to be an annual week dedicated to changing how the world sees, celebrates, and experiences Black beauty.

“Disparities in beauty are overwhelming when it comes resources, product choice, marketing, and more. However, Black buying power and influence do not correlate with how we experience beauty and are perceived in the beauty industry — whether as consumers or brand owners,” said Harmon. “Our demographic is the least considered, least visible, and first to be discarded. The Black Beauty Room & Awards was created to put us first, as we honor our fellow changemakers and drive conversations and connections celebrating Black beauty voices.”

The awards ceremony was held on August 27 at the Renaissance Dallas at Legacy West Plano, TX.