In honor of Women’s History Month, HBO Max has acquired a documentary tracing the creation, rise, and continued significance of Fashion Fair, the first cosmetics brand specifically designed for Black women. From directors Tiffany Johnson and Kiana Moore, “The Beauty of Blackness” is now streaming, a press release announced. The doc is being featured as part of HBO Max’s Black Voices and Women’s History Month curated programming.
Created in 1973 by Ebony and Jet Magazines co-founder Eunice Johnson, Fashion Fair quickly achieved “icon status and…surpassed cultural obstacles to overcome beauty standards that previously excluded people of color.”
The source continues, “Despite revolutionizing the beauty industry and becoming a household name for every Black and Brown woman in the 1970s, the brand faced a rocky media landscape and encountered challenges due to emerging competitors. The documentary follows the brand’s journey to present day where, amidst an evolving industry with a new focus on inclusivity, Fashion Fair Cosmetics has been revived under the helm of two entrepreneurs, Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack.”
“The Beauty of Blackness” also includes interviews with models, makeup artists, performers, and more.
The doc marks the directorial debut of Moore, who is VP of Content Production and Head of Epic Digital at Vox Media. Johnson counts “Dear White People,” “Black Monday,” and “Twenties” among her previous credits.
