My Black Is Beautiful Expands

P&G’s empowerment platform, My Black is Beautiful (MBIB), has inspired more than 3.2 million girls and women, according to Procter & Gamble. MBIB's Imagine A Future (IAF) was developed to reach and teach one million girls and young women to believe their Black is beautiful over a three year period. Organizations and individuals who have inspired millions of beautiful futures by supporting the MBIB IAF mission, for the past three years, were also acknowledged at a celebration on June 10.

MBIB launched the IAF program in 2012, in collaboration with Black Girls Rock and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). In 2013, the program sparked a national conversation surrounding Black beauty and self-image by releasing the Imagine A Future documentary, which examined the historical and current beauty and self-esteem issues that challenge Black women and girls. In a world where Black girls and women are typically marginalized in mainstream media, the community partnerships and Documentary have been integral resources in the movement to positively encourage Black girls and young women to embrace their inner and outer beauty.

“Three years ago we set out on a journey to reach and teach one million Black girls and young women to be their best selves and redefine the conversation around Black beauty,” said Grace Janes, brand manager, Procter & Gamble’s My Black is Beautiful. “We are so humbled to be a part of a program that has resonated so deeply within our community and touched the lives of more than 3.2 million girls and young women.”

Over the course of the three-year IAF program, more than 3.2 million Black girls and women have been educated and reached. Of that number, 705,722 have engaged with the program’s educational components through national and local Documentary screenings, inspiration panels, online affirmation sessions and downloads of the programs accompanying curriculum: the IAF Discussion and Facilitator’s Guides. Additionally, 2,527,797 girls and young women have been reached through screenings of Imagine A Future vignettes and enrollment in the Beauty in Action Challenge. The IAF Documentary and resource materials, such as the Beauty in Action Challenge transformational series remain available for use and can be accessed by visiting www.MBIBImagineAFuture.com and YouTube/MBIB.

The Imagine A Future celebration event, held in the Soho section of Manhattan, was attended by key influencers who have supported the IAF program through the years. The Documentary’s Producer and Director, Lisa Cortes; Director, Shola Lynch and Executive Producer, Beverly Bond were on hand to motivate and thank guests for committing to the movement. Editor and Imagine A Future documentary participant, Mikki Taylor was the event’s special guest and encouraged the audience to continue to motivate Black girls and young women to be self-confident and fully love themselves.