Glossy lips traced in deep shades of brown and black liner. Strands of thick, kinky-coily hair braided into intricate shapes and rows. Extra-long acrylic nails covered in eye-catching neon hues and designs. These are just a few creative ideas that can be directly traced back to the beauty practices of Black/African American people.
Black beauty practices have a history of being showcased on television through music videos and award shows, in printed magazines, and most recently online via social media and news websites. How music artists and other celebrities were styled one day was interpreted anew by everyday people the next. Whether she’s posing for a cover shoot or posting a late-night cooking video to show her fans, JT (@thegirljt) is one popular rap artist who has continuously shown her appreciation for Black beauty trends throughout her career.
Formerly a member of the famous Miami-based hip-hop duo City Girls, Jatavia Shakara Johnson, better known by her stage name JT, is now a successful solo artist in her own right. Her song “Alter Ego” with fellow up-and-coming rap star Doechii was nominated for Best Remixed Recording at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. JT’s has a fanbase of 6.6 million Spotify listeners and over seven million Instagram followers and love creating their own renditions of her most iconic makeup looks. On February 18th, the queen of The Black Beauty Club sat down with digital beauty creator Simi Muhumuza (@SimiMoonlight). During a sold-out episode of ‘The Black Beauty Talks,’ the two discussed the expansion of beauty standards on cultural icons like herself – someone helping to shape the future of Black beauty through her influencer status. She also shared her personal favorite beauty looks since debut, which music acts inspire her, and what she hopes to see from the industry as a whole sooner rather than later. Here is a look at some of her favorites below:
1. The Viral Sophia Sinot Lip Combo
During Paris Fashion Week 2023, JT attended MUGLER’s Spring/Summer Haute Couture show. The day after, her makeup artist posted this fabulously exaggerated take on the perfect brown lip-liner combo. When Muhumuza asked for JT’s favorite professionally done beat of all time, the City Cinderella emphasized how beloved this one is even after two years.
“If I had to rock only one look for the rest of my life, it would be a dark eye and dark lip combo,” she said, followed by a roaring applause in agreement from ‘The Black Beauty Talks’ audience.
She continued, “My stylist Sophia Sinot did it for me – I don’t even remember what she used [to create it], but I absolutely loved it! I’ve seen so many videos of my fans trying to recreate it, so if you can do it, then more power to you.”
(Though neither JT nor Sinot have disclosed which exact products came together for the grand reveal, many JT fans have gotten close. (Check out this one from @uniquelytyana on TikTok)
2. Blonde Hair and Bleached Brows
JT and many other Black artists enjoy experimenting with their beauty and fashion choices. Despite this, there are times when the public’s reception does not match the influencers’ expectations. One example includes trying out any hair color brighter than brown – particularly blonde.
While JT discussed which of her style choices cemented her spot as a beauty icon, interviewer Simi Muhumuza pointed to the rapper’s gorgeous icy yellow curls with matching bleached brows from her birthday photoshoot in 2022. In response, JT recalls the excitement she felt posting the photos that day and how certain she was that the results would “break the internet in a great way.” Instead, by the end of her night, JT’s comment sections were filled with unkind words… to say the least.
“Everywhere I would turn – every media blog and it was like five tweets – everybody was saying ‘this is not it’ or whatever, so I was a little sad about it, but I kept the pictures up…” the singer said. “Moving forward, I think that’s the look that made me a part of the conversation. I’m forever grateful for that look, and if I could go back in time and do it again, I would.”
It’s safe to say she was right. These days, blonde hair is much more common amongst hip-hop artists and fans of deeper skin tones – all who embrace it for providing a stark contrast and adding even more nuanced stylization. As someone who is best known for her beauty, fashion, and lifestyle social media content, Muhumuza agreed with the very specific struggles involved when ebony meets platinum.
“It’s crazy being dark-skinned and into beauty; you never know what reaction you’re going to receive,” said JT. “I feel like I look like a lot of people, and to stand out where I come from…I feel like I have to constantly evolve to show people I am worthy of these types of spaces.”
3. Popping Pink Pouts
Despite the amount of pushback JT receives for pushing boundaries, she is determined to bring all of herself with her, even when it’s hard to do. Raised in both Carol City and Liberty City specifically, she has had some opportunities to pay homage to Miami beauty staples.
“What people should know about Miami is Miami people are very trendy, very fly, and very materialistic, so I come from fashion and beauty,” JT explains, harkening back to her childhood as a fan of publications like JET, Essence, and Ebony. For rap’s self-proclaimed it-girl, there was no shortage of media where she saw herself represented.
“If you go back deep, deep into my Facebook, you can find me with my makeup done with hot pink lipstick.”
4. Old Hollywood Chic
Wearing fluorescent hair colors isn’t the only out-of-the-box choice that JT has received backlash for. When photos from her shoot with Harper’s Bazaar dropped in January, some unhappy fans were dissatisfied with what they mistakenly referred to as alternative fashion. However, that couldn’t have been farther from the intended photoshoot theme. As someone who studied fashion in college, the rap star attributed this misunderstanding to a lack of education.
“Our people just need to educate themselves,” she said. “I thought I was giving ‘very Old Hollywood Black beauty’…so I was confused, but I appreciate it, you know?”
New York, New York – FEBRUARUY 18: (L-R) JT AND TOMI TALABI, THE BLACK BEAUTY CLUB FOUNDER POSE TOGETHER AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE BLACK BEAUTY TALKS AT THE TIMES CENTER
Often regarded as a micro category within the beauty world, Black beauty trends have long been most identifiable through providing a strong emphasis on the celebration of diverse skin tones, natural hair textures, limiting comb/heat manipulation through protective styling methods like braids, weaves, and wigs, and a growing demand for products specifically designed for melanin-rich skin – all created by Black-owned brands to ensure greater, authentic representation.
When asked which Black women’s styles she’s admiring most these days, JT pointed to other notable names in music like Teyana Taylor, Doechii, and Grace Jones. As for which names she believes the beauty industry will continue to push, she says she’s already seeing many talented Black creatives doing the work.
“This did not start today. I watched Supreme Models and I was glued to it and so motivated… It’s so many women that came before us to fight for us to be able to wear this makeup and look this good and be praised, so I feel like it’s already here.”
The “makeup” the Rap singer is referring to is that of brighter-colored, more unexpected variety (Black women in particular are often judged harshly or deemed unmarketable when they step away from beauty norms, even when those steps eventually lead to success). Rather than blending in, JT encouraged everyone in attendance of ‘The Black Beauty Talks’ to embrace having fun and to be their own beauty standard. The solution she suggests for the industry? Allowing Black talent to bring their own beauty teams in with them during editorial shoots, TV appearances, and other scheduled events.
“I feel like they masculate dark [skinned] women in makeup a lot and they get it confused, but that’s fine. I just feel like we should keep pushing and be as vibrant, colorful, wild, and crazy as we want to be, no matter what [anyone] thinks it looks like.”
Current members of The Black Beauty Club as well as the public are still reeling from JT’s Black History Month episode over on their Instagram. Those interested in a spot in the next Black Beauty Talks audience or other future beauty-centered festivities can sign up on their website https://theblackbeautyclub.com/. The next one is sure to leave a beauty mark!