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NEW YORK — Ethnic skin care and makeup supplier Black Opal has announced the winner of its True Beauty Model Search.The company, which offers a range of skin products for women and men of color, on Wednesday named 20-year-old Brookell Barber as the True Beauty winner. Chosen from more 700 applicants, Barber is an aspiring college student from Davenport, Fla.
As the grand prize winner, Barber will be featured in Black Opal’s marketing material worldwide, according to the company. She will also get an all-expense paid trip to New York City to star in a photo shoot, complete with professional hair and makeup courtesy of Black Opal. In addition, Barber will receive a $20,000 scholarship and a year’s supply of Black Opal skin care and cosmetics.
“Our panel chose Brookell as Black Opal’s True Beauty because her essay reflected what we as a brand believe to be true, that beauty is found within,” commented Maya Brown, senior marketing director at Black Opal. “She’s obviously a beautiful girl on the outside, but she showed us that she values what’s on the inside as well. We believe that she will truly represent the essence of the brand.”
A panel of judges from the beauty care and entertainment fields evaluated applicants based on essays, community service involvement, educational aspiration and their photos to represent Black Opal’s True Beauty. The panel included such luminaries as Grammy Award-winning musician Michelle Williams, makeup artist Lanier Long, beauty editor Marcia Cole, stylist Andre Austin, actress Taral Hicks and beauty educator Evelyn Manson Miller.
In addition to the grand prize winner, 20 finalists chosen by online fan voting will receive complimentary Black Opal skin care and cosmetics products and may also be given the opportunity to be featured in Black Opal worldwide marketing material. Each finalist will also receive a $2,500.00 scholarship award.
Black Opal products — which include fade, blemish and moisture care; face, lip and eye makeup and accessories; and an anti-bump shaving system for men, including facial cleansers and a shave gel — are available as such chain drug retailers as CVS, Rite Aid, Duane Reade and Walmart.
