It is still a rare occasion that models of color are offered contracts with major cosmetic brands, so when it’s happens, it is certainly something to celebrate. Cult-favorite cosmetic brand, Maybelline New York kicked off Fall 16 Fashion week on a high note with the announcement that the brand has signed on Tanzanian-born supermodel, Herieth Paul as their new global brand ambassador. As the newest addition to the Maybelline family, she will be in great company, joining the likes of Jourdann Dunn and a few others. In an Instagram post to announce the partnership, Herieth wrote, “This has been the hardest-kept secret of my entire life and the highlight of my career. I am so honored & excited to announce that I am joining the Maybelline family!!!! I’m so grateful to be named a global spokesmodel for the world’s 1 cosmetics brand. #MaybellineGirl”
In an interview with CBS news, Paul explained that the joining the Maybelline family is much more than a dream job, it’s also an opportunity to change that face of beauty and usher in a new era that include minority models. “There is a lot of work that needs to be done, beaucse out of 100 percent of models, there are only two percent black, and three percent Asian; so we need to change the numbers,” she stated, “I actually got a lot of emails and messages saying you’re such an inspiration, you’re a black girl, you have short hair, that’s not the ideal that society this is beautiful—you have to have blond hair and blue eyes.”
Kudos to Maybelline, for recognizing Herieth’s obvious Black girl magic, and major props to Herieth for implementing an “each one, reach one” mentality to change the landscape of beauty for women of color everywhere!
