ROOTED IN ESSENCE

They were, and still are, the voices we rely on time and time again for inspo when it comes to our tresses. Now former editors share how their time at the publication influenced their hair-fidence

- By Blake Newby

When I was growing up, the beauty editors at ESSENCE were my celebrities. The epitome of poise, they had their finger on the pulse of Black culture—and above all, they looked like me. Their stories and advice always resonated; and I could feel their genuine love for the women they served, through the intentional ways they would string words and images together on the pages.

Fast-forward some decades later and I was honored to join their number. Being an ESSENCE beauty editor was a responsibility I didn't take lightly—not only because I understood the obligation to be a voice for my community, but also because of the shoulders on which I stood.

The sisterhood of former ESSENCE editors is marked by a unique and beautiful shared experience. And through it all, our own ideals of self and beauty have evolved. In honor of 55 years of ESSENCE, I was privileged to speak with 12 of my predecessors about how their time at the legacy-media powerhouse impacted their own journeys. As expected, they chronicled it masterfully.

MIKKI TAYLOR

(Accessories and Home Sewing Editor, Beauty Editor, Beauty and Cover Director, 1980-2010; currently Editor-at-Large)