Out of more than 275 applicants, fine fragrance brand BROWN GIRL Jane was recently crowned as the first-ever graduate of the inaugural Sephora Beauty Grant in partnership with The 15 Percent Pledge.
On Feb. 3, co-founder and CEO Malaika Jones was captured on video proudly accepting an achievement award at the annual star-studded 15 Percent Pledge Gala, which took place in Los Angele. She was honored with a clapping ovation before she graced the stage with Artemis Patrick, President of Sephora North America, and Danessa Myricks, Founder of Danessa Myricks Beauty. The announcement of the Sephora Beauty Grant celebrated a ‘shestory’ anchored in heritage, wanderlust, and masterful craftsmanship that is BROWN GIRL Jane.
“Some nights make this crazy entrepreneurial journey feel even more rewarding. Still floating,” Jones captioned a post on Instagram.
“Thank you to my unbelievably amazing @sephora family and the trailblazers at @15percentpledge
for honoring @itsbrowngirljane with the achievement award at this year’s gala. @taibeau @niafana and I are so incredibly grateful and humbled, and we’ve only just begun. Eyes forward, hearts full.”Founded by Jones and co-founders Tai Beauchamp and Nia Jones, BROWN GIRL Jane was bestowed with a $100,000 cash prize and a year-long mentorship program that “aims to support and empower Black-owned prestige beauty brands in the US,” according to a press release provided to BLACK ENTERPRISE
.The initiative is a rumination of Sephora’s ongoing commitment since doubling its assortment of Black-owned businesses and hitting the 15% benchmark in prestige haircare last year. The major retailer was the first of its caliber to sign the 15 Percent Pledge in 2020. Since then, the non-profit has put more than 600 Black-owned brands on the shelves with Pledge takers.
Beauchamp, who serves as chief business officer (CBO) at BROWN GIRL Jane, also expressed her gratitude to the partnering companies and emphasized the importance of the brand.
“Your commitment will shift previously normalized patterns for the better and more reflectivity. Thank you! We are so grateful to be awarded the inaugural #sephora#15percentpledge Beauty grant as we continue to bottle award-winning, mood-boosting fragrances that reflect the rich culture of the Diaspora to support our collective wellness.”
The love didn’t stop there. Beauchamp also gave a shout-out to her co-founders and Spelman College sisters for the journey up to this point.
“It took years and years to arrive to a place where industry finally recognizes and accepts that inclusivity matters,” she wrote. “To my loves @browngirlmalaika and @niafana, with the highs and lows of life, business, conviction, fatigue, lessons, and joys…we are doing it, Joe! Love to each of you for the vision, fortitude, sleepless nights, and commitment,” she continued.
Last year, BROWN GIRL Jane graduated from the 2023 Sephora Accelerate brand incubation program dedicated to building a community of innovative, inspirational brand founders in beauty. The founders embarked on a six-month journey learning directly from industry experts, beauty brand founders, and Sephora leaders and gained access to a host of resources to optimize retail readiness and boost their brand. The brand is no stranger to wins, with 22 beauty awards under its name, including Innovator of the Year by Refinery29.
“At BROWN GIRL Jane, our mission has always been to shift culture’s course and give voice to every part of us, to our stories steeped in heritage. This recognition means we’ve touched lives. To anyone who feels unseen — we bottle inspiration for you. To Sephora — we are grateful to be a vessel. Thank you for reminding us that the future smells like home,” Malaika Jones wrote on the company’s Instagram page.