We‘re beyond lucky to work with such an incredible array of talented and inspiring creators with crazy good style from a range of unique backgrounds. In honor of Black History Month, we’re so excited to highlight a group of Black style icons we’ve partnered with to help launch our Black History Month collection. Keep an eye out for more conversations with our rue21 team members in celebration of this month and the new collection!
Sydney Bell @sydneylbell
What is your name and how would you describe your content?
My name is Sydney Bell and I would describe my content as raw and authentic. My page is basically a journal of things I’ve either gone through or things that I currently am going through! Whether it’s body positivity, mental health, or even just wearing an outfit that makes me as a larger woman feel confident, my goal is to put everyday feelings or emotions that so many of us go through in a creative visual or concept and let people know that it’s okay you’re not alone or it’s okay. WE WILL get through this stronger than ever imagined!
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Black History Month to me is about celebrating how far we have come and how powerful we truly are. To not only celebrate the Black culture but to bring awareness to the world and my circle on the life-changing contributions that Black people, artists, scientists (the list goes on) have contributed to the world.
What are your favorite ways to celebrate your heritage?
My favorite way to celebrate my heritage is by being around family and attending family gatherings! Each time I’m around my family I learn so many amazing things that they have achieved in the world, and it inspires me to keep the cycle going to make my ancestors proud! Hopefully I’m doing a good job! 😂
Who is a black public figure that you look up to and why?
Spike Lee is a Black public figure who I look up to! Before I became an influencer and model, I was a professional photographer and videographer and Spike Lee’s films have always inspired me with how raw and authentic they are. He is able to put so much deep emotion in his films with his style, and creativity to truly tell stories about Black leaders and the Black community.
Who in your life inspires you to be proud of your background?
My mom and dad make me proud of my background. They themselves have broken so many barriers as African Americans in their lifetime and it reminds me that as a Black woman, the possibilities are endless for me.
What is a piece of advice you’d like to give to young Black children?
What my mom has always told me: be the very best version of yourself every day. A little piece of whatever you do allows it to be life-changing and a contribution to changing the world for the better. You may have people who don’t like you or can’t stand to see you win. But there will be so many other people who will be impacted or inspired by you.
Nicholas Rodriguez @nicdanger
What is your name and how would you describe your content?
My Name is NicDanger (Nicholas Rodriguez) and I make content pertaining to art, music, and self-expression.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Black History Month is a month to highlight African American history, achievements, and advancements. Hopefully, in the future it will be celebrated more every month of the year.
What are your favorite ways to celebrate your heritage?
Reading, attending events, asking questions, and speaking at events are ways I celebrate my heritage.
Who is a black public figure that you look up to and why?
I look up to Mansa Musa for spreading his wealth to build up all of his people and setting a great example of greatness. He used his wealth to improve cultural centers. He was considered one of the wealthiest people to ever walk the planet.
Who in your life inspires you to be proud of your background?
My mother and father 1st and foremost and other leaders in my community inspire me to be proud of my background.
What is a piece of advice you’d like to give to young Black children?
I want the young Black children to read and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to critically think about everything, and objectively along with subjectively looking at everything when making a decision.
Natasha Jones @oliviaeyes
What is your name and how would you describe your content?
My name is Natasha Jones and I would describe my content as fashion, lifestyle, body acceptance and a space to uplift women.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Black History Month is all about celebrating Black culture, creatives, our ancestors and moguls. During this month we celebrate Blackness and how it plays an important role in all aspects of society.
What are your favorite ways to celebrate your heritage?
I celebrate my heritage every day, by just being me and living my life proudly.
Who is a black public figure that you look up to and why?
I have always looked up and admired Martin Luther King Jr. Without him we wouldn’t be where we are as a society. He made so many sacrifices for our people and was the voice for us when we had none.
Who in your life inspires you to be proud of your background?
My mother. I am half Mexican & half Black. My mother is from Sinaloa Mexico, and she has always raised my siblings and I with so much love and encouraged us to learn about our culture. I have never felt inferior and always walked with my head held high thanks to my momma.
What is a piece of advice you’d like to give to young Black children?
You are magic, you are enough, you are beautiful. Believe in yourself even when the world will try to break your spirit. Our people are power, and we will continue to grow like a rose from concrete.
Jasmine Brower @jb__heart
What is your name and how would you describe your content?
My name is Jasmine Brower, and I am a plus size creator and model specializing in body positivity, plus fashion, and entertainment. My goal is to bring awareness to plus women sizes 16 and larger that we can believe our body is equally as beautiful as regular sized women. I have a passion for my body of work because I love sharing any information about how to properly love your body and showing plus women our weight is not a constraint and we can be fashionable too!
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Black History Month means to me that we are receiving the acknowledgement of the hard work my people have done for America. We are often overlooked and used as the blueprint for many styles and content creation without being credited. For one month, we can be celebrated and praised for all our contributions to society.
What are your favorite ways to celebrate your heritage?
My favorite ways to celebrate my heritage are being around my friends and family, also making content informing my audience of some Black history facts they might didn’t know.
Who is a black public figure that you look up to and why?
A Black public figure I look up to is Oprah. I have a strong passion for journalism and she has broken many barriers and boxes for Black women. She has shown the impact a Black woman can make on the world, and I would love to make an impact as well.
Who in your life inspires you to be proud of your background?
My mother inspires me to be proud of my background because whenever I was little, I would always ask questions about our family history, and I’ve always been interested in my ancestors and where I come from.
What is a piece of advice you’d like to give to young Black children?
A piece of advice I’d like to give young Black children is to be proud of your skin and don’t let anyone’s words defeat you from going after your dreams because being Black means you can achieve the unachievable.
DJ Ward @dj_ward9
What is your name and how would you describe your content?
My name is DJ Ward and I’d describe my content as an expressive way to give my audience an everyday look to fit all occasions. I show many different activities and interests of mine within my content so I want to inspire my audience to always be themselves!
What does Black History Month mean to you?
While it’s a one-month national holiday, it’s something that I celebrate and acknowledge every single day. It’s important for me to know who’s paved the way for me.
What are your favorite ways to celebrate your heritage?
Educating my daughter about Black History. While she’s only 5 months old, I take every opportunity to show her black and brown skin so she will always know being black is BEAUTIFUL.
Who is a black public figure that you look up to and why?
I look up to Colin Kaepernick. He risked his entire career to bring awareness to ongoing racial issues that are still nowhere near to improving. So much courage and selflessness.
Who in your life inspires you to be proud of your background?
My entire family. My family consists of multicultural and multiracial people. We all take pride in loving ourselves and loving others no matter what background they come from.
What is a piece of advice you’d like to give to young Black children?
Be yourself always. There is nothing you can’t do. If you can dream it you can do it and if it hasn’t been done, be the first to do it.
Share your own answers to these questions in the comments – we always love to hear from our rue21 community! Keep up to date with our Black History Month stories on the blog, TikTok & Instagram.
Be sure to follow all of these amazing creators on their social channels! Much love to our #YOUinrue community!
What pieces have you grabbed from the collection? Show off how you styled it on Instagram using #YOUinrue & tag us @rue21!
