Not so long ago, it would have been crazy to think that a woman of African descent, or any woman of color, could be a widely recognized model. Strutting down the catwalk, showcasing major brands to the world? Impossible! But no longer…

We’ve fought hard to be recognised in every arena of life, and beauty and modelling is just one of them. Now we’re taking the fashion world by storm, both behind the camera and in front of it. We’re represented in our full glory – from light skinned stunners to dark skinned beauties, with every body size represented, too. Some of our models rock natural hair. Some rock wigs and weaves. But one thing’s for sure, despite all their differences, they all do us proud.

Here are six of our favorite black women models!

What’s your favorite genre? Rap? R&B? What about reggae? If you’re a huge reggae fan, salute! You know all about how relaxing and inspiring this genre can be. You’ll know all the artists of the moment, as well as all the golden oldies like Bob Marley.

If you just occasionally dip your toes into the reggae waters, this is the list for you! We’ve chosen five of our top black female reggae artists and singers. Check them out. You never know, you might just find a new favorite.

We all want to look our best, don’t we? And some days, makeup might be part of that package that helps us feel confident and stylish.

Makeup shopping is supposed to be fun. But as a black woman, it can be difficult to know which brands are going to cater to you. Walking in store after store, not finding anything that matches your skin tone, can be demoralizing.

But don’t worry. We’ve got your back.

We’ve looked around so you don’t have to, and now we can present you with our top 6 makeup brands for black skin.

Decorating a new house or flat doesn’t have to be expensive, and making a small house feel spacious is much easier than you think. These twelve tips will turn a small, cramped apartment into a colorful, creative design space that you will be proud to call home.

Thanks to social media and how easy it is to search, discover and communicate with people across the globe, we are now becoming more aware and accepting of a wide range of different skin types.

You may be familiar with the success of model and activist Winnie Harlow. After appearing on America’s Next Top Model, Winnie rose to fame for embracing, owning and using her rare skin condition vitiligo to empower her, as opposed to seeing it as a burden. That is but just one example of how skin conditions can be seen in a new light.

Our aim is to shed a positive light on albinism, and learn a whole bunch in the process.

Note: Title image from Love Mirian.

You may have heard about Kwanzaa, but be wondering what on earth it is. Is it a religious festival? What does it really celebrate? Is it compatible with my beliefs? How do I take part?

Don’t worry. We have the answers to all these questions and more, right here in this article. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll know if Kwanzaa is something you want to celebrate. And if so, you’ll know how to celebrate Kwanzaa in style next time it comes around.

So let’s get started.

Do you sometimes want to turn your gorgeous curls into a sleek dark curtain? It’s fun to switch up styles sometimes, right? Well, you might have been struggling with flat irons for a while. No fear. Let us introduce you to the straightening brushes for sleek, soft, straight hair.

Note: this is not a permanent straightening solution. It’s for women who love their natural hair, but just want something different once in a while.

Oil has been used as a moisturizing and sealing agent for skin and hair for centuries. In earlier times, ancient Egyptians often used castor oil on their hair to soothe itchy scalps, seal in moisture, and add shine and health back to the hair. Oil has a special place in the beauty cabinet of black women and always has.

Most people in our culture remember the days of mama oiling their scalp, or using Jamaican black castor oil for daily maintenance. For many of us, it has become such an essential part of our everyday routines that we do not even realize there are a multitude of ways to use it! One of the most common yet least discussed ways to use oil in your hair care regimen is through hot oil treatments.

Oh, heat damage. The bane of our existence. But, sadly, every sister in their lives is sure to go through it. Whether it’s because of chemical relaxers, poor blow-drying or just sizzling away on the flat irons, this is definitely the lowest of the low. Broken edges, split ends and brittle textures are not what we want to be remembered for, oh no.

When you find yourself faced with a problem the first thing you must ask yourself is, ‘Can I overcome this?’ Luckily, in this case, the answer is yes. Similarly, when you’ve broken something you must also ask, ‘Is it repairable?’. The good news? It is.

The one thing that can make or break any look is accessories. Bad accessories can ruin a whole outfit, regardless of those Louboutins, honey. It’s exactly the same for your hair. So, if you want to know the 8 most trending accessories this season, look no further. We’ve got you covered.