Celebrity Virals: It’s no small thing that Fenty Beauty offers so many colors. Rihanna explains why.

Monday 11 September 2017

It’s no small thing that Fenty Beauty offers so many colors. Rihanna explains why.

International pop star and fashion icon Rihanna unveiled her long-awaited beauty line Thursday night to much fanfare.

With fabulous launch events in London and New York, the singer’s latest project, Fenty Beauty, made its star-studded debut Sept. 7. The high-end makeup line features primers, lipsticks, brushes, and both everyday and special occasion looks.

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna launches at Harvey Nichols in London. Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for Fenty and Harvey Nichols.

But among the bright lights, glamour, and convivial atmosphere was a crucial aspect of the products’ long-awaited debut: inclusion.

RiRi’s line features a wide range of colors and undertones, from soft pale beiges to warm browns. There are products available for people of every complexion — a rare find in a cosmetic industry that often ignores the outliers, particularly those with dark skin.

Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for Fenty and Harvey Nichols.

This commitment to inclusivity begins all the way at the top, as Rihanna explained why this type of representation is so important.

In the short clip below, Rihanna shared that she wanted every product to feel accessible to people with different complexions, going so far as to call out subtle touches like blue or pink undertones.

Everyone needs to hear @rihanna talk about why creating inclusive makeup shades is so important. @fentybeauty 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/kdzETuhTrQ

— Cat Quinn (@catquinn) September 8, 2017

“I was like, ‘Let me see something for a dark-skinned girl. Let me see something for a pale girl. Let me see someone in between.’ There’s so many different shades. There’s red undertones, there’s green undertones, there’s blue undertones, there’s pink undertones, there’s yellow. You just never know, so you want people to appreciate the product and not feel like ‘Oh that’s cute but it only looks good on her.'”

BOOM!

While Rihanna makes nearly everything look effortless, recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusion is truly something all of us can do.

Seeing ourselves in stories, advertisements, and even the makeup counter is vital to feeling welcome and supported.

You don’t need a world tour or a burgeoning beauty empire to encourage diverse voices in your community, workplace, and the companies and brands you support. Start with listening to the people and ideas that often go unheard, and if you come from a position of privilege, be sure to pass the mic.

We can all do better. And just like she always has, Rihanna will show us the way.

Photo by Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images.

Note: We were not paid by Fenty Beauty to promote this. (We would tell you!) We just think it’s just awesome to see some diverse representation.