Kristina Campbell

Kristina Campbell

The Blueprint: A Reclamation of Black Women’s Beauty & Style
Black women have always been the blueprint. From bold fashion statements to beauty trends that dominate runways and social media feeds, our influence is both foundational and far-reaching. Yet time and time again, the same styles we popularize are dismissed as “ghetto” or “unprofessional” when worn by us; only to be praised as fashionable or cutting-edge when adopted by non-Black infl uencers, designers, and celebrities.

This pattern of cultural appropriation, erasure, and rebranding has become especially visible in the digital age. Platforms like TikTok magnify the speed at which Black aesthetics are copied, commodified, and stripped from their origins.

As a Black woman and designer, I’ve grown increasingly frustrated by how often our contributions are overlooked while others profit from our creativity.

This thesis is both a protest and a reclamation. Through research, media analysis, and visual storytelling, I trace the roots of popular trends, acrylic nails, gold jewelry, curvy silhouettes, and highlight the Black women who shaped them. This work aims to confront the double standards embedded in fashion and beauty, educate those unfamiliar with the origins, and reclaim space for the women who started it all.

Because the truth is, we’ve never been “too much.” We’ve just always been ahead.

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