Meet Quani Burnett | Creator, Writer, and Beauty Marketer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Quani Burnett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Quani, how do you think about risk?
The biggest risk I’ve recently taken was making the shift from working in healthcare to beauty.

For most of my life, I did what my family wanted from me which was important. I receive great honor in making my family proud of me. As a first generation college graduate, they only wanted what was best for me.

And it’s what I did. I graduated not only with my bachelors but with a doctorate of physical therapy and started working for Veterans Affairs Medical Center shortly thereafter.

However roughly 3 years ago, after an orthopedic residency, and even interning as a trainer for the WNBA LA sparks I felt like something was missing.

I lacked community.

I started a skincare page as a way to connect with people but what I found was a glaring lack of diversity and representation of the brands I was using.

My page, my platform, my passion Beauty4brownskin started in 2019 and has evolved to connection, community, consulting, writing and most recently a full time position in marketing for a skincare brand.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I certainly have an unconventional background into beauty. With no formal experience, but passion around inclusivity and representation I’ve had the opportunity to consult for many beauty companies before joining a skincare brand full time.

Some of the work I did consulting including helping a clean makeup brand expand from 10 to 16 shades with their foundation, being an inaugurating panel member of a paid micro creator program for Black creators, and being the DEI expert for a skincare brand helping to create a 12 month cultural calendar and more.

In my 9 to 5 I work as a Marketing Manager, Community + Inclusion strategist. Its a role I was able to advocate and create myself. So nothing like it exists.

I feel grateful to have such a complex role that touches many parts. While the emphasis is in product marketing I feel most passionate about the community and inclusion work that I do

Whether building strategic relationships with organizations for us to amplify or donate to, to recommending creators of color for paid partnerships I find joy in the wide range of things I get to do.

Outside of my 9 to 5, Beauty4BrownSkin is an extension of who I am and what I find purpose in. Whether it’s creating thought provoking content on the lack of inclusivity, writing articles for the likes of Essence and Byrdie Beauty, sharing skincare reviews and now in the space of wanting to do more with my platform.

Link to essence article https://www.essence.com/beauty/texturism-personal-essay/?amp=1
Link to Byrdie articles https://www.byrdie.com/quani-burnette-5078367

June 26 I am hosting a brunch for Black Creators in the LA area. The mission is for us as Black Creators to be celebrated and centered.

We have sponsors from Briogeo, Paula’s Choice, Supergoop, Versed, Indie Lee, and Kinship to elevate this event and make it feel special for the attendees.

I hope to continue to partner with brands in the future to bring consistent opportunities for creators of color to build community, share transparency and build equity amongst us.

Data shows that Black creators are not only underpaid but also left out of events. I want to shift that narrative.

(as referenced by https://www.insider.com/study-black-influencers-make-significantly-less-money-2021-12?amp

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna16221)

Speaking it to into existence but this will be the first of many experiences that I’ll begin to curate for Creators of color.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d start off with matcha, tea, or coffee whichever your vibe is at places like either Bohemian coffee or Blume and Plume.

Then we’d head over to the Broad museum and peruse.

One of my favorite restaurants is Poppy and Rose in DTLA. It’s Black owned and they recently opened a location in Anaheim which is actually close to where I live. They have a rooftop patio and great brunch food that’s affordable.

For evening I’d try and find a low key spot with jazz or open mic poetry like at the Beehive. https://soulfulofnoise.com/events

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family and friends ; directly and indirectly even when they didn’t see the reasoning of why I made the shift in my career they are the reason why I’m here and it’s with their support , far and unseen, that I’m able to make these leaps and bounds into unknown territories.

Website: https://msha.ke/beauty4brownskin/#about

Instagram: Instagram.com/Beauty4BrownSkin