A Sparkling Ode To #BlackLivesMatter

Sherrie Jesse, America’s most talented mentor-hairdresser, amps it up for Beauty Launchpad India. A shoot, with 4 pageant winners that’s like a dream and their profound views on #BlackLivesMatter makes it an editorial to be cherished.

AMYA CALDWELL

MISS VIRGINIA TEEN USA 2020

Amya Caldwell is a 16-year-old high school junior and plans on earning her degree in psychology from the University of Alabama. She would like to become a child psychologist. After struggling with low self-esteem, Amya created her platform, “Dare to Be You” which inspires teens to embrace and love who they are, unconditionally. She believes that we should all be two things: who and what we want to be, and has dedicated her reign as Miss Virginia Teen USA to inspiring others to be themselves.

I think the Black Lives Matter movement is important because it’s allowing all of us to step back and become aware of the injustices that exist within the black community. It has opened a dialogue and forced people to question things they may not have otherwise thought about regarding race. It even gave me a chance to reflect on a personal issue that I posted about on my Facebook page:

“When I say I love who I am, that means all parts of me, including my race. Throughout my life I have been told how “white-washed” I am or how I’m not the “ghetto black girl”. Although these comments were meant to be compliments, they aren’t! Those comments imply that being black is negative and that I should take pride in not fitting into their stereotypical ideas. Being black is not a crime, and isn’t something that people should be ashamed of. I am proud to be a black teenager and find any form of racism and racial injustice disgusting and inexcusable.”