Expo promotes natural beauty

Students in FAMU’s health and beauty expo in the Grand Ballroom. Photo courtesy: Nashley Pierre

The annual Health and Beauty Expo is one of the many events Florida A&M hosts during Homecoming Week. The expo encourages professionals, experts, and businesses from the health and beauty industry to showcase products, services and information related to health, wellness and beauty.

The expo included hair and skincare companies like Ulta Beauty and TGIN that partnered with the university for giveaways.

Aleisha Fleurantin, Ulta beauty skincare consultant, attracted many students as she came to today’s event with swag bags and high-end facial products. Within 30 minutes, many of her products were gone and she was left with a nearly empty table.

“We were reached out to, and I was definitely like we should do it!” Fleurantin said. “Skincare is so important nowadays, especially in this era of being more natural and more beautiful and accepting your natural beauty, so I definitely wanted to share the importance of natural beauty with everybody.”

Danae Daniels, a fourth-year broadcast journalism student, has a passion for the beauty and makeup industry. Her creativity is based in her own upbringing near Newbury Street in Boston. She saw the event as a chance to network with Ulta consultants.

“As an adolescent, I have always had a passion toward artistic expression, fashion, and the makeup industry,” Daniels said. “So it was a great opportunity to network with Ulta consultants at the beauty expo.”

Even without the additional knowledge or background within the beauty industry, the spirit of the event could be deeply felt. Fleurantine’s goal of wanting everyone to know and understand the importance of their natural beauty was felt by the attendees of the event.

Mandy Bienaime, a fourth-year psychology student feels that beauty is being your true, authentic self.

“Beauty to me is how you carry yourself,” Bienaime said. “Being patient with yourself, loving yourself, and just having the confidence to be yourself and do what you want to do without feeling judgment.”

FAMU’s annual health and beauty expo stands as a testament to the significance of embracing natural beauty and wellness in today’s world. The event not only provided a platform for renowned industry professionals like Aleisha Fleurantin from Ulta Beauty to share their expertise but also created a space for students like Danae Daniels to forge valuable connections and fuel their passion for the makeup and beauty industry.

Beyond the tangible products and giveaways, the expo resonated with a profound message: that beauty is fundamentally about authenticity and self-love.