Journalist-turned-beauty trailblazer Tashara Parker has earned a reputation for her authenticity and advocacy for Black beauty. She first went viral for wearing her natural hair on TV and went on to launch a movement celebrating the beauty of women and their hair, and Loud Women Lead, a community-driven organization aimed at redefining female leadership.
Now, the five-time Emmy-winning media powerhouse is serving as the face of her own beauty brand, Loud Beauty. The brand features a collection of liquid lipsticks, liners and glosses designed to complement melanated skin tones.
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Parker recently sat down with Sadiaa Black Beauty Guide to talk about her new cosmetics line and the impact she hopes to have on Black beauty culture and conversations.
For the Houston-native, Loud Beauty is more than a makeup collection, it’s a statement.
“Whatever beauty means to you, you own that space. that’s what it’s important to break free from restrictive norms,” she said.
Parker first captured public attention when she faced backlash for wearing a kinky natural afro while serving as a television anchor on WFAA in Dallas. She used the experience to amplify her voice, becoming a champion for how Black women are portrayed on screen.
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“I have always been someone to defy norms, to does things different, to shatter glass ceilings, so to speak, when it comes to how we present ourselves in different spaces,” she said.
Her advocacy also helped catapult her to more than 350K followers across Instagram and TikTok, where she has amassed a cult-like following of beauty lovers and supporters. Through her content, she debunks myths about life as a media journalist, giving followers a behind-the-scenes look at her journey, including learning to do her own makeup.
“As a TV news anchor, one of my goals was to ensure that we show up as who we are,” Parker said. “Whether that’s with our natural hair… or with braids[…] whatever that looks like to you because we have been so confined to these spaces.”
Parker revealed that creating social media content inspired her to venture off into makeup versus a haircare brand.
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“I started to enjoy showcasing the behind-the-scenes of putting my makeup on and the experience of it,” she said. “I felt like hair would have been an easy transition, but I don’t like people to know what’s coming.”
The brand’s lip offerings not only play into her journalistic endeavors, but also defy long-standing stereotypes of Black women wearing vibrant hues. “Stopping Traffic,” one of the line’s signature shades, is just one example of Parker’s fearless approach.
“I love that you mentioned the red and that I didn’t stop,” she said in the interview. “The name of that red is “Stopping Traffic,” because that’s exactly what we’re trying to do!”
Another fan-favorite is “Anchor Bae,” a rich hue inspired by Parker’s time in the TV news industry, where bold colors were often avoided. “It’s a reddish tone, almost like a dark maroon,” she said. “Anchor Bae represents breaking away from subtlety and embracing confidence.”
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As the brand evolves along with other projects she has in store, Parker said she is focused on continuing to conversations around empowerment and confidence, one bold shade at a time.
“Whatever Black beauty means to you, to each individual person, that’s what I want to uplift. That’s what I want to amplify. That’s what I want to magnify.”
Press play below to watch the full interview and visit loudbeautybrand.com to get into the new lippies.
Alicia Wilson is a lover of all things Black hair and founder of the weekly IG live series “Hair Talk.” Be sure to follow her at TwinNation15 to watch more Hair Talk live chats focused on Black hair pioneers and the people who are helping to break down myths and misconceptions about Black hair.