Ebonee Davis (@eboneedavis) brings strength and wisdom to the luxury haircare world as Kérastase brand ambassador.
The model, poet, actor and activist sees beauty as empowerment
“I am honored to join the Kérastase family! I love how the brand is beautifully embracing diversity and celebrating the multifaceted nature of beauty. I can’t wait to help shape what it means for the next generation of women to dare to manifest their greatness and true selves. Partnering with Kérastase will allow me to be a force for change on an even greater scale.”
Brand Ambassador, Kérastase
“With Ebonee, we are welcoming a new powerful woman to our sisterhood of Kérastase brand ambassadors. Not only is she a talented and charismatic model, but she’s also an inspirational and courageous role model, leading a path for other women with a strong message we deeply share with her: Manifest Your Greatness.”
Kerastase Global President
Get to know Ebonee
The model, poet, actor and activist sees beauty as empowerment
Ebonee Davis has appeared on the covers and pages of fashion and beauty magazines around the world, including
Vogue,
Allure, L’Officiel,
Essence,
Elle
and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, as well as in major
campaigns for Calvin Klein, Ivy Park and many others. But her career path hasn’t always been easy. Faced with
the deep systemic bias in the fashion industry, she knows what it means to be marginalized because you do not
fit a certain beauty standard, a feeling familiar to many women of color around the world. Yet Ebonee’s early
setbacks only sharpened her determination to be a force of change through her own unique beauty and personal
strength, a quality that places her perfectly in line with the Kérastase spirit of You Dare, We Care. “I relate
to the brand motto because I have had to be extremely daring throughout my career in order to break out of the
boxes and exceed the limitations imposed on me,” she says.
Alongside success in fashion and film, Ebonee has given countless talks on her experience as a Black model,
including a widely viewed TED Talk entitled,
“Black Girl Magic in the Fashion Industry.” With 345,000 Instagram
followers, she is a daily inspiration to all those who feel their visibility has been stifled by traditional
beauty standards.
Ebonee, does your hair make you feel powerful?
My hair absolutely makes me feel powerful. To me, my hair is a reflection of my spiritual growth. I cut it off in 2016 as I began my journey into greater self-awareness. As I have evolved, my hair has evolved along with me. To be a Kérastase Brand Ambassador based on how vocal I have been about my hair is truly a testament to my spiritual growth.
What is your favorite Kérastase product?
I really appreciate the Curl Manifesto range for all curls and coils as the products answer my hair needs in terms of hydration, strength and definition. And I’ve been loving the Elixir Ultime L’Huile Originale Hair Oil for years because it’s super lightweight and it smells amazing!
What does female empowerment mean to you?
Female empowerment means honoring qualities such as compassion and empathy. When empathy becomes the most important human quality, we will experience massive waves of change that empower all life forms across the globe and galaxy.
Can beauty be empowering?
Yes, and all of the changes I have pushed for in the fashion industry are a reflection of this belief. Beauty truly begins on the inside. It’s about the confidence a person has in themself. It’s about their belief in their own magic. To believe in your beauty is to love yourself. To love yourself is to be empowered.
Do you have any women role models?
My mother, my grandmother and all the women in my life are my role models. Unapologetic change makers such as Bethann Hardison and Nadia Lopez are role models. Women who use their art and platforms to spread a message such as Lauryn Hill, Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey are role models. Women who changed history and made it their mission to bring awareness to our suffering such as Angela Davis, Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison are role models. Women who exude excellence such as Beyonce, Rihanna and Zendaya are role models. I see aspects of myself in all of these women.
What are you most proud of in your career so far?
I am really proud that despite all of the rejection I’ve faced as a Black model in the fashion industry, I have managed to stay true to myself. That level of authenticity has opened unimaginable doors. My career is a reflection of my deepest values. Now, I’d like to use my platform to create change and uplift others. What good is the spotlight if you’re not using it to create a brighter future for those coming after you?
