Presented in Partnership with HUE Affair with Special Guest, Lisa Price, Founder and President of Carol’s Daughter
Glow and Grow Program Empowers Beauty Entrepreneurs
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Brooklyn—Brooklyn Public Library has awarded Temika Walker top prize in the first ever Glow and Grow pitch competition. Walker was awarded $1200 for B4 UR SKN, which provides natural, plant-based skincare using fruit butter and cold-pressed oils sourced from the Amazon rainforest of South America.
“Winning the Glow and Grow Pitch Competition is an unforgettable moment that celebrates not just B4 UR SKN®’s growth, but the legacy of my Guyanese roots, the power of clean beauty, and the generations of women who made this dream possible,” said Walker.
Glow and Grow is a Brooklyn Public Library program series designed to elevate emerging beauty entrepreneurs by providing skills, resources and networking opportunities fostering innovation and inclusion.
The finalists also included Karyne Tinord, owner of Kay de Tres, a beauty school for painless braiding; and Jessica Walker, owner of Baddie Glow, a natural skin care line.
“Being a finalist for the Glow & Grow Black Beauty Impact Award means the world to me. It shows that our work is being seen and valued. Beauty entrepreneurship isn’t just about looking good — it’s about building something that speaks to your community and reminds women that they matter, just as they are. I’m honored to be part of this moment,” said Walker.
All three finalists presented their ideas live in front of an audience of friends, family members and colleagues along with Price and the panel of judges. The program also included a panel discussion highlighting the contributions of Black beauty entrepreneurs and the future of the textured hair industry. Featured speakers included Lisa Price, Brooklyn native and founder and president of Carol’s Daughter, and Dana Bly founder of Pardon My Fro. HUE Affair curator Ylorie Taylor moderated the conversation which explored themes of cultural legacy, entrepreneurship, and what it takes to build lasting impact in the beauty space.
To enter the contest, applicants need to attend at least three of the Library’s Glow and Grow workshops which cover topics like running a business, trend forecasting, digital marketing, visual identity and the role of AI in the beauty business. They must also identify as Black or of African descent, own or operate a beauty business in Brooklyn, and have an active website or social media presence for the brand.
Glow and Grow is just one a of a series of BPL’s programs for aspiring entrepreneurs. To learn more about PowerUP—a business education and pitch program, workshops for small business owners and non-profit leaders, and all the resources the Business and Career Center has to offer, visit the website: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/business.
The Glow and Grow program was created in the Brooklyn Library Incubator program, which supports innovative programs by leveraging the expertise and innovative ideas of library staff and the community. BKLYN Incubator is supported by generous funding provided by The Charles H. Revson Foundation.
HUE Affair serves as a cultural and commercial hub for Black-owned businesses, creating spaces where commerce meets community—from marketplace pop-ups to founder-led conversations like Leadership & Legacy. HUE, which stands for hair unites everyone, the premier beauty and hair exposition serving the northeastern corridor with brands represented from across the United States.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. Providing innovative library service for over 125 years, we support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.6 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We are a global leader in the fight for the freedom to read through our Books Unbanned initiative, offering teens across the US access to the library’s online catalog. We provide nearly 65,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.