News > Industry News > Ulta Beauty Highlights The 100 Most Influential Black Voices
Last updated: October 01, 2021

Ulta Beauty Highlights The 100 Most Influential Black Voices

Ulta Beauty Muse 100
close formula

Ulta Beauty’s MUSE 100 Celebrates Black Honorees

Ulta Beauty is putting $1 million toward amplifying and celebrating Black voices in beauty, giving $10,000 grants to 100 Black honorees as part of the MUSE 100. Standing for Magnify, Uplift, Support and Empower, Ulta announced its MUSE initiative earlier this year as part of its $25 million investment to support and amplify Black-owned brands over 2021. Keep reading to learn how the nation’s largest beauty retailer is actively working to champion diversity, equity and inclusion—and to see the MUSE 100 list of honorees.

 

“I’m excited and consistently encouraged by Ulta Beauty’s continued commitments,” said Tracee Ellis Ross, diversity, equity and inclusion advisor at Ulta Beauty, and CEO and founder of PATTERN Beauty. “The MUSE 100 demonstrates a significant evolution of Ulta Beauty’s mission to uplift Black voices. By shining a light on these inspiring changemakers, we empower Black communities and continue the important work of fostering foundational change.”

 

Related: Tracee Ellis Ross Joins Ulta Beauty as Diversity Advisor

 

Spanning hairstylists, beauty brand founders, makeup artists, activists, authors and more, each honoree’s accomplishments were reviewed and selected by the Ulta Beauty DE&I Counsel with input from a panel of industry leaders: Tracee Ellis Ross, Cosmopolitan’s beauty director Julee Wilson, entrepreneur and co-founder of Melanin Haircare Whitney White and celebrity stylist Mecca James Williams.

 

Each MUSE 100 honoree will receive a $10,000 grant to accelerate their continued impact and influence. In addition to being featured on the Ulta Beauty MUSE 100 website, honoree stories will be shared on Ulta Beauty’s social channels and further amplified via the company’s media partnerships to celebrate individual ventures and inspire others.

 

In the Hair Raisers category, two Ulta Beauty Pro Team members made the list: Pekela Riley and Michelle O’Connor. What’s it like for these two pro stylists to receive this honor, and what’s next for their futures? Click here to read an interview with Pekela and Michelle.

 

Related: Michelle O’Connor Joins Ulta Beauty Pro Team

 

“Whether they are representing us onstage at an industry event, collaborating on set at a Pro Team shoot, presenting education to our community of stylists or sharing their powerful expertise and influence across platforms, we are humbled and fortunate to have Pekela Riley and Michelle O’Connor on our team,” said Ammon Carver, Chief Artistic Director for Ulta Beauty and the Pro Team.

 

Here’s a closer look at the MUSE 100:

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ulta Beauty (@ultabeauty)

 

Hair Raisers: Stylists and influencers changing the hair game one lock, braid, twist at a time

 

Makeup Magicians: Those making the world more beautiful – artists and innovators in makeup

 

Style Setters: Icons and trend setters in the fashion space

 

Well Makers: Leaders and founders celebrating the beauty of wellness and mental health

 

Story Shifters: Those telling the stories of Black beauty

 

Culture Creators: Influencers, makers and content curators driving culture today and tomorrow

 

Luminous Leaders: Changemakers and entrepreneurs leading and lighting the way

 

Executive Excellency: The bosses of beauty, movers and shakers making an impact in the industry

 

Fearless Founders: Those changing the face of beauty and taking shelves by storm

 

The Next Gen Muses: Emerging young Black leaders shaking up our world

More from
Ulta Beauty

YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS

TRENDING NOW!

close newsletter modal

Finally!