Hey BB Girls! With Inauguration Week coming to a close, I want to take a moment to celebrate Black women. Yesterday the nation witnessed a young Black woman named Amanda Gorman deliver a very impactful inaugural poem entitled, “The Hill We Climb.” She began the poem by highlighting America’s many imperfections, and then continued by describing the aspiration of America being a healed and united nation. Not only was Gorman stepping into her well deserved position of a powerful Black woman, but she is now the youngest inaugural poet, being only 22 years of age. Before she presented her poem, she had a little over one hundred thousand followers over on instagram. Now she is approaching three million, and it has barely been 24 hours! Here at Beauty and Brains we are all about seeing Black Women win. Gorman taking the stage at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration was a perfect representation of the talent and potential that we possess as Black women… Black excellence and hard work at its finest! It is important to never give up on your dreams, and set intentions for everything that you do. If you were waiting on a sign from the universe to tell you that dreams do come true, take Amanda Gorman as that sign. She was once a Black girl with a dream just like you, and now she has the opportunity to take the world into her own hands. Reach for the sky, and one day you will be rocking lavish outfits just like the women of color did yesterday morning! Did you see Michelle Obama decked out in her burgundy power suit? What about Kamala Harris in her beautiful purple inauguration outfit? I don’t know about you, but I have definitely been googling all of the masks that I saw these wonderful women change into yesterday!  #BlackWomanInPowerButMakeItFashion.  We need more Black women in office, leadership roles, and overall in positions of power. Not only will we witness an impeccable shift in the right direction, but we will also get tons of fashion ideas from these fly women too!  This is so important; having a Black woman in a position of power helps remind us that our limits reach beyond what we can imagine, and that there are numerous goals that we can achieve. A proud Howard Student and a fellow fly Black woman, BBGirl Angel❤️💙 & BBGirl Ariana Bell💖

Hey BB Girls! In my last post, I mentioned that it’s very important to maintain one’s self care. One way I escape from the world is by stressing out about a character’s problems instead of my own. We all need to become immersed in a good show sometimes, so to follow-up, I have made a list of my favorite shows on Netflix.  Grey’s Anatomy Ryann’s Rating: 10/10  This show is one of my all-time favorites. It follows the life of Meredith Grey, a surgical intern at Seattle Grace Hospital as she juggles life, love, and her career. Now, fair-warning, be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster, because this show is full of surprises. If you’re not ready for the tears, then maybe you should try one of my other options. However, if you want a show that will take you a couple of months to finish, and one that will have you obsessed with the character's lives; this is the one for you.  Shooter  Ryann’s Rating: 9.5/10  A must watch. Period. This show will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time. The protagonist, Bob Lee Swagger, is accused of attempting to murder the President of the United States, so this series unfolds as he deals with this crisis. This series is only three seasons, so if you’re looking for a quick binge-worthy show, this one's for you. The only reason why it’s not a 10/10 is because the ending could’ve been a little better, but it’s still worth the watch.  How to Get Away With Murder  Ryann’s Rating: 1000/10  If there was a blueprint for how to make the perfect show, HTGAWM would be the perfect example. This show follows Annalise Keating, a prominent lawyer, and her five students as they all get entangled in a murder investigation. This show is amazing from beginning to end. Once you start watching, you won’t be able to stop.  Quantico Ryann’s Rating: Seasons 1 and 2 (10/10) Season 3 (8/10)  This show was a solid watch. If you can’t tell yet, I really like crime shows lol. This show tells the story of many individuals as they progress through the FBI Academy, while it also explores Alex Parish, the main character, being a prime suspect in a terrorist attack. I would definitely recommend this show if you like crime, drama, and romance all wrapped into one.  Lenox Hill  Ryann’s Rating: 100/10  This show was beautiful. It’s very different from my other recommendations, because this one is a reality show. The producers follow the lives of surgeons in New York City at Lenox Hill hospital as they transition from pre-Covid-19 to post-Covid-19. It’s literally a real life version of Grey’s Anatomy; I finished in 3 days.  Alright, now that I’ve poured my heart out about my favorite shows, let me know your recommendations in the comments. Crawl into your cocoon and watch your shows BB girls! You deserve it. Until next time… Love your fellow BB girl,  Ryann Phillips

One of the most common questions we get asked is how we decided on our name. Honestly, it was a no brainer to us. We wouldn’t be the organization that we are today without the name ‘Beauty and Brains’. The name has shaped our purpose from our origin in 2018, and with every expansion, the meaning strengthens. At its simplest form, Beauty and Brains stands to represent the duality of Black women- both beautiful and brilliant. As an organization, we argue that these two terms do not exist exclusively, despite what society or mainstream media may try to have you believe. Your beauty, nor your placing importance on beauty, in no way diminishes your intelligence. If you are in this position, you know what kinds of assumptions can be made about you. We are smart AND we look good, equally. I can put just as much time into finding the perfect outfit as I do studying/preparing, and I should be proud of that, not feel judged or that I won’t be taken as seriously. On a deeper level, Beauty and Brains isn’t about physical beauty at all. It’s soul deep. It’s about perfecting what's on the inside and using that to reflect a better outside world. It’s about taking the time to balance and unify both aspects, so that you may be of service to yourself and others. It’s for this reason that we coined the phrase “Confidence breeds Beauty, Intellect produces Power.” Beauty and Brains work simultaneously within to give light to an improved, outwardly shining, you. I was inspired to write about this topic after hearing how eloquently and insightfully Angela Yang answered our signature “What does Beauty and Brains mean to you?” question on the Beyond the Borders Speaker Series. Angela nailed it when she described it as reimagining our definitions of both of these terms. To her, it is examining beauty and brains in a non-traditional, non-white supremacist way. So with that comes addressing the ways that society has told us that we aren’t beautiful and healing those wounds. Beauty does not solely adhere to Western standards- we’re proof of that. It is also knowing that a formal education isn’t necessary to have brains or to validate your intelligence. Everyone’s path is unique, and for some, school just isn’t for them. While Beauty and Brains is working to combat this, as of now, for some it just simply isn’t feasible or accessible. It changes nothing when it’s all said and done. I just loved loved loved hearing Angela’s perspective, because yes! I really loved how she spoke on the inclusivity of it all as well. The movement leaves out no one. I literally commented back “You get it! 💖💖💖” because this is Beauty and Brains at its core. If you missed it, you can still watch it under our IGTV section on Instagram! I highly recommend it. If you’ve applied for a scholarship or ambassador position, you’re familiar with our signature question. We tell our current ambassadors all the time that they were chosen because they are embodiments of Beauty and Brains, and they are. But truthfully, every woman is. It is the essence of the Black woman. We exude these characteristics naturally, which is why Beauty and Brains is so intent on helping Black women to realize this, and embrace it. Especially when the world doesn’t want us to. By integrating the two, that's how we unleash our full potential. ✨ So, now, it’s your turn. What does Beauty and Brains mean to you?