Honoring the Past, Investing in the Future: Mielle and Florida A&M University Partner on ‘Beyond Black Beauty’ Exhibit
April 07, 2025
Administration
By Office of Communications
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –Mielle, the award-winning textured haircare brand known for science-backed formulas and celebrating authentic beauty, is proud to announce its sponsorship of Florida A&M University’s "Beyond Black Beauty" exhibit in partnership with iHeartMedia. The immersive experience will debut at the Meek-Eaton Black Archives (MEBA) Research Center & Museum, highlighting the evolution, resistance, and celebration of Black beauty across decades.
The exhibit officially opens to the public on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 10 a.m. – 3 pm with an exclusive FAMU-only preview and celebratory event for students, faculty, and staff taking place on Friday, April 11, 2025. Guests will enjoy food, drinks, and complimentary Mielle product samples. While admission is free, guests are encouraged to reserve a spot via Eventbrite at BeyondBlackBeauty.eventbrite.com to avoid long wait times.
Exhibit Schedule:
- Saturday, April 12, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Sunday, April 13, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Closed on Mondays
- Tuesday – Friday 10 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
- Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2:45 pm.
“The inspiration behind "Beyond Black Beauty" stems from a desire to create a space where the multifaceted story of African American beauty, identity, and resistance could be told through a unified narrative. I wanted to explore how African American women have historically defined beauty on their own terms,” Timothy Barber, director of the museum and curator of the exhibit, explains.
From beauty contest traditions to hairstyles and doll collections, "Beyond Black Beauty" offers an in-depth exploration of how beauty standards have transformed while honoring the resilience and creativity of Black culture.
“I wanted to incorporate the cultural significance of Black dolls as symbols of self-acceptance and empowerment, recognizing their connection to the same narrative of beauty and resistance as Black beauty pageants, then further elevating it through the powerful imagery of Sandro Miller’s Crowns: My Hair, My Soul, My Freedom and the visionary expressions of Steve Allen’s Afrofuturism,” Barber states.
The "Beyond Black Beauty" exhibit will open to the public at 10 a.m. on Saturday,
April 12. There will be two private showings for the FAMU community on Friday, April
11, 2025.
The exhibit also includes significant contributions from Kimberly Brown Pellum, Ph.D. assistant professor of history at FAMU. Her research on the Miss FAMU legacy and Black beauty pageants adds depth to the Aesthetics of Excellence portion of the exhibit. Pellum, author of "Black Beauties: African American Pageant Queens in the Segregated South," emphasized, “Too often, historical narratives focus solely on struggle, but our celebratory productions—our pageants, our coronations, our cultural expressions —are just as essential to understanding Black life,” she states. “By preserving and sharing these stories, we affirm the significance of Black joy and agency in shaping American history.”Mielle President Omar Goff (‘04) adds, “Being a FAMU alum makes supporting the "Beyond Black Beauty" exhibition especially meaningful. HBCUs have long been pillars of creativity and culture, and this exhibition is a powerful reflection of that legacy. It’s an honor to invest in the institutions that shaped me and continue to inspire the generations of Black innovators.”As part of its ongoing commitment to HBCUs, Mielle invested $50,000 in direct funding to the exhibit and to support Pellum’s research and contributions. This partnership is powered by iHeartMedia’s iHeartIMPACT division and amplified by an on-air campaign celebrating the exhibit and its mission.
Media Contact:
Rachel James-Terry
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu
For more information on FAMU Strategic Initiatives, contact Deidre P. Williams at (850) 412-7899.
For more information on the “Beyond Black Beauty Exhibition,” visit famu.edu/MEBA.
About Mielle Organics
Founded in 2014 by CEO Monique Rodriguez, Mielle is a popular Black-founded, woman-led global beauty brand that is rooted in natural ingredients. With a heavy emphasis on incorporating healthier ingredients as its "root to results approach" Mielle Organics' collection of beauty products is designed for Black women. Their products can be found in more than 100,000 stores across the U.S.
About iHeartIMPACT & iHeartMedia
iHeartIMPACT is a community impact division of iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT], designed to help corporate brands partner with nonprofits through advertising spends with iHeartMedia. Launched in 2019, iHeartIMPACT works with brands to achieve marketing goals on iHeartMedia platforms and to invest in community organizations addressing critical social causes. To date, this program has provided $10M in funding to nonprofits across dozens of issue areas. Visit iHeartIMPACT.com and iHeartMedia.com for more program and company information tech solutions across broadcast, streaming and podcasts.
About Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University/ Meek-Eaton Black Archives
The Meek-Eaton Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum was created in the early 1970s after the legislative efforts of Joe Lang Kershaw, Sr. Its founder, James N. Eaton, Sr., L.H.D. spearheaded this institution with the motto “African American history is the history of America.” Now home to over 500,000 priceless artifacts, memorabilia, and collections, the institution strives daily to document, educate and amplify African Americans’ rich contributions to history in Florida and the larger southeastern region of the United States. Through the collaborative efforts of Florida A&M University, the Meek-Eaton Black Archives has developed initiatives like this one that strengthen its goal of making history more accessible and visible in the digital age.
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