I remember when I first understood Black Beauty. It was a scorching afternoon in June, and my mother had just finished braiding my hair. When I looked in the bathroom mirror, I felt like a beautiful brown girl for the first time. I was only five years old, but the memory of my mother saying, "Look at my beautiful brown baby," was forever etched in my mind. I realized then that black beauty is a symbol of power.

I should have welcomed black beauty into my life, but I didn't. As a pre-teen, I believed the rumors society attached to beauty. I assumed that beauty was only for girls with light skin and long, straight hair. I mistakenly believed that true beauty existed only in the lives of my white friends with blue eyes and white skin.

When I became a young adult, I decided to become a beauty editor to influence future generations. I wanted young girls to see the beauty that was inside of them. I wanted to show the world the importance of black beauty.

Today, as Beauty Director, she oversees the beauty content for Marie Claire magazine, and before that, she oversaw the influence and power of Black beauty at Allure and Essence magazines. Even when traditional beauty brands try to diminish its power and support it only when there is potential for financial gain.

For generations, black beauty has not received the proper accolades. For years, black faces did not grace the covers of high fashion magazines. Makeup brands did not support us and offered little more than shades of foundation. In addition, black models were often forgotten backstage at fashion shows. Celebrity hairstylists failed to serve us because they were not taught how to care for us, how to embrace our curls, and how to respect our presence, tormenting black women.

I hate that Hollywood diminishes the value of black beauty and celebrates only black features that do not belong on black bodies. It also bothers me that black consumers spend nine times more on beauty products than any other race, yet black-owned brands account for only 2.5% of beauty industry sales.

Many argue that beauty is colorless. And since all beauty is important, they say, black beauty does not exist. Yet black beauty is a cornerstone of American culture.

What is black beauty: ...... styled baby hair, which brings a special creativity to any hairstyle.

Black beauty is... Diana Ross's big, perfect hair in the 70's.

Black Beauty is... Shea butter based skin care on a cold winter day.

Black Beauty is... Grace Jones' androgynous yet sexy style.

Black beauty is... Curvy and voluptuous.

Black beauty is... Slender, slender, and sophisticated.

Black beauty is... ...Jeri Carl in the 80's.

Black beauty is... . a clean heart, mind, and soul. [Florence Griffith Joyner's (Flo Jo) long nails.

Black Beauty is... Janet Jackson's intricate Poetic Justice braids.

Black Beauty is... Why the lip-enhancing industry is all the rage.

Black beauty is... The perfectly round derrière.

Black beauty is... black hair, black eyes, big nose, big lips.

A black beauty is... Have magical powers.

I will spend the rest of my days honoring and supporting black beauty. And when others shrink from that joy, I promise to keep in mind the words of the late Jamaican activist Marcus Garvey, "Black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a shining symbol of national greatness."