ELC, Pinterest, and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Partner to Celebrate Black Women Thriving

On Wednesday, August 7, The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), Pinterest, and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics convened nearly 100 Black tastemakers for a powerhouse panel of influential women's health and wellness advocates on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

The convening, Black Women Thriving, centered the stories and experiences of Black women, the challenges they face, and the collaborative solutions across industries and sectors that will help them thrive. The panel, moderated by CNN's Abby Phillip, featured:

• Dr. Uché Blackstock, best-selling author of LEGACY: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine
• Elaine Welteroth, award-winning journalist, best-selling author, TV host, and founder of birthFUND
• Dr. Lisa A. Newman, Chief of Breast Surgery, New York-Presbyterian, and Scientist, Breast Cancer Research Foundation
• Jessica Smalls, 2-time Emmy-award nominated celebrity makeup artist and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics partner

Exploring what it would look like for Black women to thrive, panelists shared their perspectives on the state of Black women's health and wellness and highlighted the initiatives they're championing to advance Black women collectively.

Anchoring the discussion, Dr. Uché Blackstock highlighted the history of systemic medical racism Black women face, pointing to how, among other examples, Black women are often misdiagnosed, labeled as "drug-seekers," or needlessly tested for sexually transmitted diseases, due to racial profiling and stereotyping, which can have life-threatening consequences.

Dr. Lisa Newman spoke about the Health Equity Initiative supported by The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) that funds research aimed at reducing breast cancer disparities and improving outcomes in Black women. She also shared insights from research she's leading through the BCRF to better understand race-based breast cancer disparities. Dr. Newman advocated for better, more accurate forms of testing to detect breast cancer earlier, especially among Black women who are more likely to contract breast cancer before age 40 and to have more aggressive strains.

Elaine Welteroth shared how her challenges navigating the maternal health system and finding physicians that listened to her inspired her to create birthFUND, a community fund that aims to make midwifery care more accessible to birthing people.

Jessica Smalls, star of the new Bobbi Brown Cosmetics' "In My Skin" campaign, shared her journey with reclaiming beauty after being diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer. Her experiences inspired her mission as a makeup artist to help women feel confident, seen, and valued for their unique and beautiful individuality.

The panel discussion concluded with remarks from Dr. Sharon E. Smith, Corporate Medical Director, ELC, and Wanji Walcott, Chief Legal Officer, Pinterest.

Black Women Thriving also featured an immersive experience presented by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, featuring the NEW Weightless Skin Foundation. Bobbi Brown Pro Artists provided makeup touchups, shade matching, and a complimentary full-size bottle of the new foundation to attendees in the shade of their choice. The launch of Weightless Skin Foundation coincides with the brand's new "In My Skin" campaign-a new evolution for the brand that honors their heritage in natural, skin-first beauty through conversations about self-love and real-life experiences.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.