PLEASE NOTE: This is my original, unabridged feature. A condensed version of this story was published by the Jacksonville Free Press due to print space limitations. https://jacksonvillefreepress.com/from-los-angeles-to-lagos-black-fashion-and-beauty-shine-during-bet-weekend/
As Black America gathered in Los Angeles to celebrate the BET Awards — the culture’s biggest weekend — the Jacksonville Free Press was on the scene capturing the sights, sounds and unforgettable moments of the BET Experience 2026 weekend. While music was undoubtedly at the heart of the festivities, the weekend also served as a vibrant showcase for high fashion, streetwear and beauty, proving that style is just as much a part of the culture as the performances themselves.
Leading up to the BET Awards, there was a plethora of red carpet events, exclusive industry gatherings and VIP celebrations that set the tone for the culture’s biggest weekend. Both men and women offered a stunning preview of the fashion to come, expressing their individuality, creativity and cultural pride through every look. Perhaps Los Angeles, in its own way, encourages both genders to be bold in their expression—still, it was interesting to observe how that boldness took shape individually.
Throughout the weekend, several trends stood out above the rest – that is, a conscious effort to support Black designers and creators as well as the embrace of statement-making designs by African designers, whose bold prints, striking silhouettes, and rich cultural influences were impossible to ignore. Plus, there was a celebration of natural hairstyles in all its glorious forms. Still, from locs, braids and Afros to silk presses, curls and elegant updos, to Caesar cuts and clean-shaven heads, both Black men and women embraced styles that reflected their individuality.
It’s no secret that Black America has long been the driving force behind culture, shaping trends in fashion, music, beauty, and entertainment that influence the global world. Both Black and African designers are enjoying unprecedented visibility. Established fashion houses, such as LaQuan Smith and Sergio Hudson as well as emerging brands are being noticed on and off the red carpet thanks, in part, to social media and Black celebrity stylists like Law Roach and Jason Bolden.
This trend was especially evident at the Black Excellence Gala, held at the Globe Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Wearing one of her signature designs, celebrated Nigerian fashion designer Azeezat Abiola Amusat was honored for her outstanding contributions to the fashion industry. Her eponymous Lagos-based luxury womenswear brand seamlessly blends contemporary design with the richness of Yoruba heritage, creating pieces that are both modern and deeply rooted in culture. Amusat also contributed wardrobe and styling support to Beyonce’s Black Is King visual albumfurther cementing her influence on the global fashion stage.
And for those traveling to Africa, the days of returning home with trinkets and souvenirs are giving way to something far more meaningful. Increasingly, Black women are investing in timeless fashion pieces, hairstyles, and beauty that reflect the continent’s creativity, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage — that is, bringing home pieces that make a lasting statement. For example, on the night of the Black Excellence Gala, talent manager Zee Griffith donned a contemporary afrocentric gown designed by Nigerian fashion designer Alia Rayana Bare that she picked up during a recent trip to Africa.
But for Maleena Lawrence, her best accessory for the evening wasn’t jewelry — it was her hair. She wore an intricate style inspired by the Tanavoho, the iconic braided hairstyle traditionally worn by women of the Malagasy people of Madagascar. The striking look required nearly three hours of meticulous braiding, transforming her hairstyle into a celebration of African artistry, culture, and craftsmanship. It simply was a beautiful work of art!
“I’ve been admiring indigenous styles for years and every chance I get when returning to the continent, I enjoy curating creative options with stylists (braiders) that keep me connected and reflect traditional styles that offer me a unique experience to share a ‘where I’ve been’ story that in this case begins with who and where I got my hair done – that is, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso at La Coquette du Faso,” said Lawrence.
Meanwhile, at the relaunch of Black Beat Magazine, streetwear reigned supreme. Guests embraced elevated casual fashion, pairing oversized silhouettes, graphic tees, statement sneakers, and luxury accessories with effortless confidence. The looks reflected the continued influence of Black designers and creatives, proving that streetwear remains one of the most powerful expressions of contemporary Black style and culture.
Rapper, entrepreneur and streetwear designer Omar Cook sported a signature look from his clothing brand, Rich With God Apparel. Cook’s collection blends elevated streetwear with faith-based messaging, creating a style that reflects both modern fashion and spiritual empowerment. Cook encourages entrepreneurship because “business is the way to prove your faith to God because you really don’t know when and what time the resources are going to come,” he said. “So, it’s the biggest test of faith.”
“And we’re so creative as Black people and the biggest influencers in the world, and if we really devote ourselves to our passions, our abilities and our talents, we can really shift this world in a whole entire way and start creating generational wealth … .”
Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks
MUZE Hair products
On the beauty front, creative executive Thembisa Mshaka teamed up with renowned two-time Emmy-nominated celebrity makeup artistAshunta Sheriff-Kendricks to celebrate the legacy of hip hop’s beauty aesthetic with a Hip Hop Beauty Bar at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. The duo partnered with Hello Beautiful and Hip-Hop Wired to treat attendees to a curated beauty experience while highlighting the latest trends in hair, makeup and self-expression.
The beauty bar introduced attendees to Black beauty brands like MUZE hair perfume from multiple Emmy Award-winning hairstylist Kiyah Wright; Sheriff-Kendricks’ eponymous cosmetics line; and THEBO hair, founded by Stacey Gray.
Mshaka said Black women have always set beauty trends, and that “out of necessity, creating trends and using our ingenuity to account for the lack of products that were designed for melanated skin, for deeper tones,” she explained. The same is true with haircare, she added.
“Hip hop beauty really is an extension and really is an expansion on the ‘Black Is Beautiful’ movement, which is the Black Power movement where we celebrate the hair and the way it grows out of our heads; where we celebrate our skin tone and we don’t try to use bleaching creams anymore.”
Mshaka continued that the ultimate expression of hip hop beauty “is really celebrating that ingenuity and innovation of being unapologetic about how we present and doing that the way that we want to … .”
From bold natural hairstyles and streetwear to luxury designs by Black and African creatives, the weekend was a powerful reminder that Black excellence isn’t just on display—it continues to shape the future of fashion and beauty from Los Angeles to Lagos and beyond.
SHOP BLACK BRANDS FOR THE RIGHT ‘FIT:
- LaQuan Smith
LaQuanSmith.com
(available in department stores and boutiques nationwide)
https://laquansmith.com/?srsltid=AfmBOort6ztotq-cBnQvPGdtt6qKsVH6Jn0bNCMjxazv4z5rca3KZCdb
- Sergio Hudson
SergioHudson.com
(available in department stores and boutiques nationwide)
https://sergiohudson.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqem1vCWZx6UcWf3wZIqYxrU1dy2baicUv-GOMQC7PX7-WbHfMt
- Nigerian designer Abiola Olusola
Abiola Olusola.com
https://abiolaolusola.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqkGs2e14kfb_2Qq1j8E-EUVXrF3Ula9_vrwuCKEWtXkys03Lvs - Nigerian designer Alia Rayana Bare
@Alia.Bare on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/alia.bare/
- Rich With God Apparel
RichWithGodApparel.com
https://www.richwithgodapparel.com/ - Angela Dean of DeanZign
https://deanzign.net/pages/designer-bio - Sante Grace
https://santegrace.com/collections/luxury-plus-size-clothing?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22936878462&gbraid=0AAAAABixwiAmJDI-ZCU57IRFQ8mY5Oecb&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9ZLSBhCcARIsAEhGKgMHYVt22aZCTAKdmZFUY8OWWL5Ya5UVZTALRVYg2-b1FXZaCEsqjdcaAvyaEALw_wcB
FOR GLAM:
- Multiple Emmy Award-winning hairstylist Kiyah Wright
MUZE HAIR
https://www.muzehair.com/
- Two-time Emmy-nominated celebrity makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks
Ashunta Sheriff Beauty
(available at selected Nordstrom stores and Amazon)
https://ashuntabeauty.com/pages/about-us?srsltid=AfmBOoph-oYeOBZB1MtAo7uA7-2AhirbmlnT5fDON3TXxNOaDYLy74j-
FOR HAIR:
- And if you’re in Africa — that is, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso — and want a new hairdo like Maleena Lawrence (pictured above), visit the popular beauty salon La Coquette du Faso. On Instagram, @coquette_du_faso
https://www.instagram.com/coquette_du_faso/?hl=en
FOR HAIR:
- And if you’re in Africa — that is, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso — and want a new hairdo like Maleena Lawrence (pictured above), visit the popular beauty salon La Coquette du Faso. On Instagram, @coquette_du_faso
https://www.instagram.com/coquette_du_faso/?hl=en
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