This project grew out of a simple but sharp question I kept returning to: how can a community that shapes an entire industry still be shut out of owning it? For my senior capstone, I built a multimedia investigation that looks at the beauty industry through the eyes of Black consumers, founders, chemists, and creators, and examines the systems that determine who gets visibility, funding, and long-term access.

I brought together documentary interviews, a feature story, a podcast episode, and an editorial photo series to trace how products are made, who controls the supply chain, how retail placement happens, and why creator pay gaps persist. Each piece of the project works together to show where the disconnects lie and where real change is already happening.

Completing this capstone allowed me to merge research, reporting, and visual storytelling in a way that reflects my purpose as a creative. Most importantly, it gave me the opportunity to amplify the voices shaping the future of beauty and open up space for a deeper conversation around ownership, equity, and what Black beauty truly deserves.