Black hair care company Bronner Bros. debuting Beauty Icon Awards this weekend in Austell
In the mid-1990s, Spelman College graduate Kelly Keith landed an opportunity with Morgan Stanley, a financial services company, but decided to go work for Atlanta-based, Black-owned hair care company Bronner Bros.
She helped launch the company’s professional division for its flagship hair show event. Keith wanted to create efforts that appeal the established Bronner Bros. brand to younger audiences.
“Some brands that have been around more than 50 years can sometimes go on the bottom of the shelf, and it’s no easy feat to get to that point. They understand their consumer is getting older and want to attract the new ones,” Keith told UATL.
Three decades later, Keith is leading the 78-year-old family-owned hair care company into its next chapter. She’s the producer and creative force behind its inaugural Bronner Bros. Beauty Icon Awards at Riverside EpiCenter in the Bronner Center of Performing Arts on Saturday. The event is a black-tie affair that recognizes Black entrepreneurs, cosmetologists and entertainers who made an impact on the beauty industry.
R&B singer Chaka Khan, Kaleidoscope Hair Products CEO Jesseca “Judy” Dupart, hairstylist Derek J, makeup artist Danessa Myricks, braider Nastacia Brady, photographer Allen Cooley and Afro Sheen creator George E. Johnson Sr. are some of the honorees.
Keith told UATL she wanted the Beauty Icon Awards to spotlight a cross-generation of talent.
“It’s a love letter. We’re getting dressed up and having our own Academy Awards for the beauty industry. It’s beyond people that’s behind the chair. We wanted to pay tribute to up-and-coming hairstylists, barbers, makeup artists and founders of beauty brands who laid the foundation,” Keith said.
Themed “The Decades of Beauty,” the Beauty Icon Awards is paying homage to the Black community’s influence on style throughout various eras. The main presentation is told in four acts, integrating video, models wearing hairstyles and costumes associated with each decade.
The first chapter begins with African royalty to the 1950s. The 1960s focus spotlights Afros and natural hairstyles.
Actors Billy Dee Williams, Richard Roundtree, athletes O.J. Simpson, Jim Brown and singer Teddy Pendergrass are the subjects of a 1970s-era installation themed on male heartthrobs. Hairstyles like the Jheri Curl and finger waves are highlighted in the 1980s showcase.
Bronner Bros. president James Bronner said the Beauty Icon Awards continues the family’s original mission to provide space for Black hair specialists to thrive.
“It’s about creativity, excellence and the celebration of Black culture. We’re thrilled to honor pioneers and innovators who continue to shape the industry and carry us forward,” he said.
The Beauty Icon Awards arrive at a time when hair care brands are facing legal action from Black women experiencing health challenges resulting from using the products. The current administration is also demanding that corporations end diversity, equity, and inclusion and cultural institutions remove exhibits themed around cultural diversity.
Keith said the awards celebrate the Black community’s contributions to style and culture.
“We’re bringing our history to life, telling a story and taking you on a journey through time. This isn’t just about hair, how you wear your makeup or dress,” Keith said.
“It’s our contribution to culture. We were impacting and setting the stage for how people were looking from the suburbs to across the globe.”
Hairstylist Terrence Davidson is an honoree and creative director with Keith for the event. He said working on the first Beauty Icon Awards is a full-circle moment.
“I’m a creative who grew up inspired by the brand’s history. They’ve always been the heartbeat of Black beauty and innovation, and they’re giving me a platform to express my creativity, love for the culture and excellence. It celebrates where we’ve been and where we’re headed.”
After her initial position with Bronner Bros, Keith held executive positions with American Express and cosmetic brands under L’Oreal and Unilever that targeted Black female consumers. She often shared and explained Black culture to her colleagues.
She said her personal mission in corporate America was to create cultural awareness and empathy.
“Black women were on those brands, but you didn’t see a lot of them. I was often the only one in the room with leadership that didn’t look like me. I had to explain hair differences and cultural nuances and our relationships with our hair, and I enjoyed helping them understand that,” she said.
Keith returned to Bronner Bros. to help the family-owned business with its rebranding. She plans to develop Bronner Bros. Beauty Icon Awards into a televised program and year-round event series.
She hopes it empowers Black people to appreciate their natural beauty and history.
“They should feel pride. It’s not about having the perfect nose, lips or smile but how you feel about yourself,” Keith said.
“I want women and men to think about the first time you felt pretty or handsome.”
Bronner Bros. Beauty Icon Awards. Saturday, Oct. 11. 7 p.m. $199-$499. Riverside EpiCenter, 135 Riverside Parkway, Austell. bronnerbros.com
About the Author
Christopher A. Daniel is a Black Culture reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is an Atlanta-based, award-winning journalist, cultural critic and ethnomusicologist. He previously taught courses at Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Georgia State University.
