Dark And Lovely is celebrating 45 years of catering to the beauty needs of African American women — and marked the occasion with a celebratory event in New York City, and scholarship awards.

The event was attended by leading beauty media and influencers, included the brand’s brand ambassadors, actress Teyonah Parris and actress/singer Demetria McKinney.

Melinda Johnson, Assistant Vice President, Marketing, Dark and Lovely, said, “Since its inception in 1972, Dark and Lovely has helped women of color embrace their unique and highly individual styles, by offering innovative products and technology exclusively designed to meet their needs.”

Erica Bowen, Senior Vice President, Marketing, L’Oreal USA Multi-Cultural Beauty Division, adds, “Reflecting back on the past 45 years fills me with tremendous pride. This brand has been a staple within the African American community; and we are proud to have established a long-lasting, trusted relationship with our core consumer. While we celebrate Dark and Lovely’s rich heritage, we’re excited to continue to elevate the brand’s innovation and offerings to meet the growing needs of women of color.”

The Scholarship Winners

As part of the brand’s “Young Women with a Purpose Project” in partnership with The Tom Joyner Foundation, Dark & Lovely awarded five students with scholarships totaling $10,000. The winners were each assigned a L’Oréal USA senior-level executive as a mentor.

The scholarship winners are: Ashani Scales of Delaware State University, Renea Young of Mississippi Valley State University, Hollye Weekes of Wiley College, as well as Kimberly Burton and Cherise McAdoo of Hampton University.

Thomas Joyner Jr., president and CEO of the Tom Joyner Foundation, said “We’re glad that these outstanding students from HBCUs are getting a once-in-lifetime experience to get scholarships to help them complete their education, and to get mentors who will help them succeed today – and in their careers.”

Photo: Actress and singer Demetria McKinney (third from left) with the 2017 recipients of Dark and Lovely’s Young Women with a Purpose Scholarship in partnership with The Tom Joyner Foundation at Dark and Lovely’s 45th Anniversary celebration.