5 Afro-Latino disruptors who are changing the course of the beauty industry

This particular moment in history is charged for countless people, but it's undeniable that blacks and browns are at the forefront of many unfolding movements. currently in the United States and abroad. The turmoil of this time forced me to look closely at my own experiences as a black woman and acknowledge some uncomfortable truths about how I learned to subconsciously shrink to fit the mold of what I thought I lined up the most. dignity. (My hair has a lot to do with it, which I've talked about here.) It was moving and eye-opening and really got me thinking about what needs to happen for my sisters existing in another part of the African Diaspora: Afro- Latinas.

While I'm familiar with Latin legends such as Celia Cruz, who had beautiful melanin skin, it wasn't until relatively recently that I began to better understand the complexity of an experience it may be about claiming a mixed heritage that not everyone firmly grasps. But more than ever, those with Afro-Latino roots are refusing to be forced into boxes that erode their expansive and wealthy identities. It's a beautiful thing to see, because it's educational for all of us, and because watching people step into their most authentic expressions of themselves, without shame or worry, is super profound.

But guess what. There is nothing new in Afro-Latino heritage! It's literally as old as the Eurocentric beauty standards that have caused many to adopt and strictly adhere to a singular, incomplete notion of what an "acceptable" Latina looks like. To those who oppose this system, we hear you, we see you, and we have mad love and respect for you.

And thwarting the system is exactly what Alba Ramos, Christine Cruz, Diana Danelys De Los Santos, Grasie Mercedes and Monica Veloz do. Ahead, meet these five powerful Afro-Latino creators sharing their own stories through art and beauty and forging a new path of representation for all who identify with their unique perspectives. Learn all about them and their experiences in the beauty industry and beyond, and find out which products are among their favorites.

What does beauty mean to you?

For me, beauty is everything. It is having the combination of quality of character and an authentic or unique physical appearance. Both give pleasure to our senses when experiencing, internal quality and physical appearance. But the truth is that a person is too often considered beautiful based on their appearance alone without categorizing their beauty as a whole. Physical beauty is just a bonus.

What is one misconception about Afro-Latino heritage/identity that you would like to clarify?

I think the most common misconception I encounter is that identifying as Afro-Latino means you are mixed, with one Latino parent and the other Afro- American. This may be true for some, but that is not how Afro-Latino is defined. Being Afro-Latino means that you come from a Hispanic heritage/culture or country and have beautiful brown skin of all intensities due to your black ancestry. This precision is necessary because the thought of a Hispanic person resembling Jennifer Lopez is still assumed by many. In my case, I was born in the Dominican Republic. Both my parents were born there as well as my grandparents. Both my parents have similar brown skin tones, but my grandparents have a mix of parents of African descent and Spanish descent with opposite skin tones.

How has your personal experience influenced your philosophy of beauty?

As ​​a child, my mother's idea of ​​beauty influenced mine. This has always been a problem because since my mother struggled with her identity and self-acceptance, I naturally adapted to her poor perception of beauty. As a kid, I thought I couldn't stay out in the sun too long because being darker meant being...