FAMU Beauty And Wellness Expo Puts Health Education And Self-Care In Focus
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M University’s annual Beauty and Wellness Expo was a gathering point for attendees to have conversations about preventive care, mental well-being and Black maternal health gave homecoming a broader purpose.
Held Oct. 21 during FAMU’s homecoming celebration, the expo brought students, staff, alumni and community members together for yoga sessions, panels and opportunities to connect with health organizations and beauty brands.
Women’s health and self-care were central to the programming, which included a discussion about nutrition, health and GLP-1 medications used to treat diabetes and manage weight.
An attendee receives a finger-prick screening during FAMU’s Beauty and Wellness Expo
in the Grand Ballroom. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Adams.)
Expo host Briana Harmon, who has served in the role since 2021, said she has watched the event grow in student attendance, brand participation and involvement from campus organizations and departments offering health and wellness resources.
Briana Harmon hosts FAMU’s Beauty and Wellness Expo in the Grand Ballroom during homecoming
week. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Adams)
“What makes this event so special is its ability to connect students with valuable resources, industry-leading brands and meaningful conversations that extend far beyond Homecoming,” Harmon said.
Participating organizations included FAMU Student Health Services, Bond Community Health Center, Sickle Cell FoundationInc. and 4Kira4Moms. The FAMU Student Service Center also distributed CVS health bags filled with wellness items for attendees to take home.
Attendees gather at FAMU’s Beauty and Wellness Expo in the Grand Ballroom during homecoming week. Photo courtesy of Jeff Adams.
For Denya Copeland, a first-year accounting student, the expo offered a welcoming
space to explore participating brands and connect with knowledgeable representatives.
She named Bask & Lather among her favorites.
“Everyone there was pretty nice and they were very informed,” Copeland said. “I would
encourage everyone around campus to come and see it.”
Bags featuring the message “Know Your Status. Get Tested” promote HIV testing awareness at FAMU’s Beauty and Wellness Expo. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Adams.)
Harmon described the expo as a bridge between students and major brands, with new participants and opportunities adding to the experience each year.
“It's been amazing to witness its continued growth and see how it has become an experience that students and alumni look forward to during homecoming week,” she said.
Alumni bring resources back to the Hill
Regine Moore, a FAMU alumna and Walmart’s director of constituent relations, corporate affairs, helped organize participating vendors and connect attendees with resources.
For Moore, homecoming provides an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with the university while contributing to the experiences of current students. The expo extended that connection into conversations about physical and mental health.
A breast model helps demonstrate breast self-examination techniques during FAMU’s
Beauty and Wellness Expo. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Adams.)
“Sometimes when you’re in school, you think you’re invincible, not realizing it can catch up to you physically and mentally,” she said.
Moore emphasized that giving back includes sharing the knowledge and resources graduates gain as they build their careers.
“I think we have a responsibility not only to do well in life, but to bring that back to campus,” Moore said.
Connecting beauty with wellness
Miss Jessie’s, Walmart and Bask & Lather distributed free haircare products, pairing giveaways with opportunities for attendees to learn about beauty and self-care.
Octavia Hogan, a Bask & Lather student brand ambassador, shared hair and scalp care information, while encouraging students to make their well-being a priority. She said events like the expo offered opportunities to connect with brand representatives, discover resources and take time for themselves.
Attendees show their Rattler pride at FAMU’s Beauty and Wellness Expo during homecoming
week. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Adams.)
“It’s important for you to show up for people, show up for yourself, come to these events,” Hogan said.
Bringing maternal health advocacy to campus
The expo also created space for conversations about Black maternal health and the importance of advocating for care.
Attendees connect with exhibitors and explore wellness resources at FAMU’s Beauty
and Wellness Expo in the Grand Ballroom. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Adams.)
Gabrielle “Gabby” Albert, a FAMU alumna and executive director of 4Kira4Moms, returned to campus to share resources and encourage students to understand their bodies, ask questions and speak up in medical settings.
The organization’s participation introduced maternal health advocacy into a setting where young women could begin learning about these issues before pregnancy. Conversations with Albert emphasized taking an active role in discussions about care.
“FAMU is home for me. Being able to come back to FAMU to make sure that the next generation doesn't have to inherit what's going on in the Black maternal health crisis. That’s what's most important, that's what truly is FAMUly,” Albert said.
Media Contact:
Ashley Flete
Senior Communications Specialist
ashley1.flete@famu.edu
