The Beauty of Blackness

‘The Beauty of Blackness’ is a feature-length documentary film that chronicles the checkered past, present and future of Black Beauty. It calls attention to the historical and still persistent dearth of fashion and beauty products made for and by People of Color.

At the center of the film is Fashion Fair - the legendary cosmetics brand started by Eunice Johnson, the founder of Ebony and Jet. Following its launch in the 1970s, the brand would go on to revolutionize the beauty industry and become a household name for every Black woman in America. The film unveils Fashion Fair’s rise, fall and rebirth in 2021, against an equally tumultuous shift in commerce and culture.

We’re introduced to renowned experts, artists and models who have witnessed firsthand the evolution of the industry. We watch with anticipation as Fashion Fair’s new leadership - Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack - plot the brand’s high-stakes relaunch.

The Beauty of Blackness is a front-row look at the massive undertaking that goes into reviving an iconic beauty brand amidst a new cultural context, how the industry has changed, and how much progress we still have to make.