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Taraji P. Henson reminded everyone why she remains a force of nature. For Black excellence and entrepreneurship and self-worth 101, the Oscar-nominated actress-turned-beauty mogul showcased her brilliance for the Black Beauty Roster x Instagram Beauty Summit.
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Dressed to the nines and brimming with confidence, one could never say she casually dropped by-the Empire star came glamorously out for the event. In building a summit about Black ingenuity in beauty, Henson, along with The Empress, were given the platform to impart timeless wisdom on the journey of reclaiming full ownership of her hair care line, TPH by Taraji.
“I own the names, the packaging, the juice and the bile,” she huffed in anger in the clip. “All of the formulas, all of the fonts, all of the trademarks—ALL OF IT!” The crowd gave a standing ovation. And here’s the clincher: this wasn’t just a business lesson. This was the climax of a full-circle moment for an artist who would settle for nothing less than the complete ownership of what she created from emptiness.”
Henson’s statement conveyed far more than ownership over her brands; there was the need for a voice behind the scenes, especially in industries where Black professionals have faced discrimination. “As my celebrity grew, I had the power to say, ‘No, I want this person to do the job,’” she said. “I ushered several people into the union because it’s really hard for us to get in. That was important for me.”
This was received so well by the audience of beauty lovers, entrepreneurs, creatives, and everyone in between that one attendee said, “This was such a good panel!” Another added, “That was everything.” Someone else wrapped it up with “Taraji is that Woman.” Really, nothing else needs to be said.
Henson’s passion for lifting others while keeping the legacy steady or shattered many. One user self-identified as a stylist and then shared an experience: “I love this!!! I was rejected when I made several attempts to get into the union. Glad to know things have changed.” To which Henson replied with simple encouragement: “Keep pushing.”
Not surprisingly, the comments were bombarded with love for the TPH by Taraji products. “I loooooove it—I love how it smells and the packaging,” exclaimed one. Another chimed in, “That’s your baby,” in regards to the deeply personal origins of the brand.
Far beyond just another celebrity appearance, her attendance and presence at the summit marked one of many larger paradigm shifts wherein Black women are no longer just the face of a brand but its design and construction managers. Having broken ceilings across Hollywood and across the rules of the beauty industry, she sits pretty as proof that ownership is so much more than money—it’s about power, pride, and opening doors for the next generation.
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Judging by all the cheers, heart-eyed emojis, and declarations in all caps in the comments? Mission well and truly accomplished.
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