Skip to content
  • Essence GU
  • Beautycon
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Afropunk
  • Essence Studios
  • Soko Mrkt
  • Ese Funds
  • Refinery29
  • WeLoveUs.shop
  • 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Entrepreneurship
  • News
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
  • Subscribe
Home • Culture

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Ahead of International Day of the Girl, we want to shine a light on Black women who are making the world a better place.
21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better
By Brooklyn White · Updated December 6, 2020
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

We reject the idea that solely the future belongs to women because we know that many aspects of the past, present and future are indebted to the work of Black women. In fact, young Black women specifically have been the catalysts for change across industries—whether it be media, beauty/fashion, tech, or entertainment.

Click HERE to register for the ESSENCE Girls United Virtual Summit and support the next generation of fearless young trailblazers this Saturday, October 10 on essence.com, essencestudios.com, Tik Tok & Twitter beginning at 6PM EST. Don’t miss it!

We do the work, we push to include other Black visionaries and we keep it real all the while.

We’re one day away from ESSENCE Girls United’s Virtual Summit, a digital activation that champions and empowers young movers and shakers.

Article continues after video.

We’ve called on a number of voices, including Reginae Carter, Marsai Martin and many more, to talk about important topics and push the next generation of tastemakers to be all they can be. Ahead of summit, and International Day of the Girl, we highlighted 21 young women who are leading the revolution for a brighter future.

Check out our list below.

The 2020 Girls United Summit is sponsored by ULTA Beauty, McDonald’s and STARZ.

Aaron Philip, model

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Adebukola Ajao, founder of All Things Digital

Asia Hall, CEO of Neon Cowboy

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Chelsea Miller, activist

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

DonMonique, rapper*

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Elyse Fox, founder of Sad Gurls Club

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Jitarra Ellis, co-creator, ESSENCE x ULTA Beauty Girls United makeup collection*

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Kash Doll, Rapper*

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Kheris Rogers, creator of Flexin in My Complexion

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

La’Shaunae Stewart, model

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Makeda Sanford, photographer

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Marley Dias, host of “Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices”/author

Marsai Martin, actress*

Marz Lovejoy, writer/model

Najma Sharif, journalist

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Rashida Gayle, sports and entertainment agent

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Taylor Crumpton, journalist

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Renell Medrano, photographer

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Sage White, celebrity makeup artist

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Barbara Simi Muhumuza, founder of Seen Black Girls

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better

Sonya Harris, clothing designer

21 Black Women Who Are Shaking Sh*t Up For The Better
TOPICS:  GU Summit International Day of the Girl