Photographer: Viola Rolando
“Urban Bush Babes is the “definitive source for natural hair, fashion, health, music, film, lifestyle and arts & culture” co-founded by Cipriana Quann and Nikisha Brunson. We had a chat with Quann and her identical twin sister TK, aka musician TK Wonder, on fashion, natural hair and their sources of inspiration.” -Missoni
TK and I sat down with Missoni to discuss fashion, politics and changing the face of the “standard beauty” in the industry for their ongoing series; “Missoni Moments”.
Scroll below to view our discussion
Can you tell us a little about where Urban Bush Babes came from, and how you developed the concept?
Cipriana – Urban Bush Babes was always about creating a platform where women of color could feel comfortable being themselves. So when I cofounded the site in 2011 with Nikisha Brunson and my sister, TK Quann joining in 2013, we wanted to show the multifaceted lives of different women—we’re chefs, we’re lawyers, we’re students, we’re doctors, we love Pink Floyd, we could be in the middle of the woods fishing… I just wanted to show different examples of what wasn’t being shown in mainstream media. And it kind of blossomed into much more than just women of color. The unifying message of it is to be who you are and love yourself, because when you love yourself, you’re able to do anything. We wanted to promote that platform and do it while showing a side of beauty and fashion in a more diverse way.
Growing up as identical twins, did you find it hard to become your own person? Were – are you – the kind of twins who do everything together, or the kind who fight hard to put some space between each other?
TK – I’ve never found it difficult to become my own person. I think other people growing up found it difficult since quite often as children we were referred to as “twins” instead of our names. My sister has always been my best friend and I feel incredibly fortunate that we work together. I have been in a relationship for eight years and my boyfriend jokes when he hears my phone ring or when he sees me dialing a number because he knows most of the time Cipriana is calling or I’m calling her. I can never get enough of my sister. Why would I? She is incredible.
You have devoted a lot of work to the creation of a more inclusive standard of beauty, one that takes into account the specificity of black girls, particularly hair styling. Would you like to tell us a little about that?
Cipriana – Yes, perceptions have changed, however mainstream acceptance could be greater. Sometimes people are so hung up on this old idea of what beauty represents, whether it be hair or beauty, that they refuse to see our differences is what makes us beautiful. This ideology that blond hair and blue eyes is more appealing in the eyes of certain companies is asinine, and their acceptance of that ideology is negating the beauty of diversity when it comes to the color of one’s skin, lifestyle choices or the natural state of one’s hair. The ideology of “good hair” within the industry and communities is absolutely absurd.
TK – I think we’re particularly focused on diversity in the industry. I joined UBB over three years ago and I know in the beginning when Cipriana cofounded Urban Bush Babes the focus was quite a bit on natural hair, however the platform always embraced many different topics. Diversity is a platform that is incredibly important to us, and exhorting brands, audiences and platforms to welcome the idea that diversity is no longer the minority. Companies or brands shouldn’t hesitate to feature women or men of color in fear that it will stunt their revenue or their growth.
At this time in history, your work takes on a distinctly political flavor. What is your relationship with politics?
Cipriana – Some people believe that fashion and politics can’t mix, but we believe fashion is what you make it, and it is a big part of our life; but what is happening around us socially and politically cannot be ignored for the sake of the latest “trend”. Some people believe that taking a stance on anything politically or socially will thwart potential jobs, and this may be true, but sometimes you have to be the change you want to see and always talk about and give voice to those who cannot be heard. I have learned long ago that living a life walking on eggshells, caring so much what others think in a way that stifles your true nature is no way to live, that is not life.
For more photos, details on the looks above and to read our complete interview, including my thoughts on being a twin, the impact our mother had from youth to adulthood, how our interest in fashion began, and our personal icons in and outside the fashion industry click here
from Urban Bush Babes http://ift.tt/2c8fBNC
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