From the Hill to the Beauty Industry: FAMU Alumna Leads National Beauty Summit
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — For three radiant days, over 100 young women from HBCUs across the country gathered not just for selfies, swag bags, or star-studded panels--but for purpose.
The 2025 first annual Impressions of Beauty (IOB) AchieveHER Summit, founded by Florida A&M University (FAMU) alum Ashlee Gomez, was more than an event; it was a transformational experience grounded in sisterhood, strategy, and self-love.
“What encouraged me to start Impressions of Beauty was really seeing a need for companies wanting to do HBCU college marketing but not really having the capacity to do it,” Gomez shared. “I also wanted to help Black women discover products made specifically for them. When I was a student at FAMU, there were no programs like this where you could try things made for us, our hair, and our skin. So IOB became that platform to fill the gap.” Held June 20–22 in Atlanta, Georgia, the summit offered attendees a rare opportunity to connect directly with beauty brands, cultural leaders, and one another, bridging the gap between classroom ambition and career possibilities.
With over $400 worth of beauty products gifted to each guest in complimentary swag bags and a stacked itinerary of sessions covering everything from confidence and career-building to self-care and storytelling, the summit represented what happens when brilliance meets intention.
Impressions of Beauty started as a grassroots collegiate marketing campaign in the early 2010s when Gomez was still a student at FAMU.
Today, it stands as a national brand that uplifts and reflects the beauty, intellect, and innovation of Black college women.
“During my time at FAMU, I saw so many inspirational Black students doing amazing things, but I also noticed an absence in the student experience, especially when there were no programs in place to uplift them or provide access to free products that supported their self-care and hygiene," Gomez stated. "That was another major driving force behind creating Impressions of Beauty."
Young women from HBCUs throughout the country showed what it meant to have a good
time line dancing. (Photo special to FAMU)
A Weekend of Intention
Students wore their school attire, networked, and line-danced the night away at Friday's
lively welcome party themed "Rooted in Pride." It was an electric opening that seemed to remind everyone why the HBCU culture is
so special.
On Saturday, students arrived for the main event, which included interactive workshops, vendor activations from some of the biggest names in the beauty industry, and high-impact panel discussions such as:
- Mental Glow-Up: The Ultimate Guide to Self-Care & Wellness
- Make Bold Moves: The Confidence to Take Up Space, powered by Dark & Lovely
- Your Purpose, Your Power: Turning Your Talents Into Your Superpower
- Bold & Unapologetic: Using Beauty to Express Your Authentic Self
- Win the Day: Daily Habits That Keep You On Track
- Be HER Now: Living Your Legacy While You Build It
The evening "turned up" with a "Cowgirl Closeout" party featuring musical artist and Savannah, Georgia native Dess Dior. Guests were decked out in full rodeo glam, complete with rhinestones, denim, fringe, and boots clicking across the dance floor.
Sunday, attendees gathered for a closing power luncheon that focused on introspection, celebration, and fresh starts, embracing the theme "Power in Pink."
Lailah Barnes, a fourth-year environmental science scholar at FAMU, expressed her excitement about the event lineup.
"The whole weekend, I saw everyone dance so freely without any judgment, connect with one another, and learn valuable life skills, which I thought was so amazing,” Barnes said. “That was the best weekend I had in a long time because it genuinely felt like I was creating sisterhoods with the girls in there.”
Several young ladies received $500 scholarships from Dark & Lovely during the AchieveHER
Summit. (Photo special to FAMU)
Stories of Impact
For many attendees, the summit was not just inspiring; it was affirming.
Kamya Campbell, a second-year business administration scholar at FAMU with ambitions in sports management, shared how one panel transformed her perspective.
“The most exciting part of the summit for me was seeing the Black entrepreneurship panel. The CEO being a FAMU alum and a Black woman really hits home,” Campbell said. “In the field I am going into, I will not often see people who look like me. So being in that room, hearing those stories, seeing that representation, it was empowering. Our grandparents could not have even imagined an opportunity like this. We are standing in progress.”
The keynote speaker was KJ Smith Black, an acclaimed actress and executive producer most known for her breakthrough role as “Andi” in Tyler Perry’s Sistahs. Black left an impression on the audience with a message rooted in generational pride and purpose.
KJ Smith greets the audience before she drops gems, inspiring the next generation
of young women. (Photo special to FAMU)
“It is an interesting time for Black women right now. We are coming into knowing of our excellence,” she said. “We are no longer letting the establishment mute our voices, our style, our elegance, our brains. Now more than ever, we need spaces like this: spaces for learning, sharing, and growing together.”
Black, who has been in the entertainment industry for over 15 years, did not just reflect on her own journey; she also poured into the attendees.
“These young women, I cannot wait to see where they go. They are coming into this world already knowing their power. I had to dismantle a lot to get here, but they are starting ahead. And I am so proud of everyone. They are standing in their passion. They are standing in their purpose,” she said.
The AcheiveHER Summit had something for everyone no matter the interest. (Photo special
to FAMU)
The Legacy Continues
Though makeup and haircare were certainly celebrated, the summit's true focus was deeper: community, confidence and claiming space.
“We tried to make sure that this was a holistic experience. Whether someone needed guidance on finances, purpose, relationships, or career paths, we made sure there was something for them. I just hope every attendee left different than they came,” Gomez said
From an idea that started in a FAMU classroom to transforming college women's lives across the country, Gomez’s Impressions of Beauty exemplifies how HBCU students lead and inspire others.
For more information about the mission of Impressions of Beauty, visit their website:
https://impressionsofbeauty.com/
Media Contact:
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu
