Kylie Jenner is facing pressure after her 2015-founded Kylie Cosmetics company revealed what percentage of its workforce is black. The 22-year-old makeup mogul – who recently fronted media outlets for having Forbes strip her of her billionaire status – is back in the news as her best-selling brand made public just how many of its workers are African American. A statement made on Sunday by Kylie Cosmetics revealed 13% of its staff to be black, with 47% BIPOC (Back, Indigneous, and People of Color), plus 53% white.
The reveal came as Pull Up for Change founder Sharon Chuter called on cosmetics brands to “pull up or shut up” – Kylie Cosmetics appeared up for the former as it posted an Instagram message reading: “Kylie Cosmetics is here for Pull Up for Change, for our team, and for the Black community. We are proud of the diversity within our company, with a team of Black, White, Asian, Native American, Hispanic and Middle Eastern women.”
“The numbers you see above represent the people at our Kylie Cosmetics/Kylie Skin HQ,” it continued.
Transparency seemed to be the vibe as the company behind the Lip Kits lining America’s teenage bathrooms revealed its figures. The Instagram post confirmed the company’s “leadership” to be formed of Kylie Jenner and “momager” Kris Jenner, closing with the #PullUpForChange also employed of late by brands including Rihanna’s SavagexFenty lingerie line and affordable clothing giant Fashion Nova.
The response has proven mixed. While 69,000 likes to the IG post and “Thank you” from many fans sent the brand the thumbs-up, responses now see the Calabasas-based star and her company informed that 13% black is too low.
Per The Sun’s documentation of the response, many appear to feel that Kylie and her brand need to step up. “Hire more. 13% is not enough when African Americans set the trends & standards in the beauty industry,” one user wrote. “13 percent? ??” another said, with a third adding: “They’re still the minority by A LOT in your company…” Meanwhile, a fan appeared unsatisfied with the way the information was presented: “Can we have the titles/ positions of these people ?? This is incredibly vague and misleading,” they asked.
Ahead of its percentage statement, Kylie Cosmetics – which Jenner sold 51% of to Coty Inc in 2019 – released the following: “As a beauty brand built around community, we always have, and always will stand for inclusivity, and have set to empower our customers, followers and team members.
“Our team has signed petitions, texted, sent emails, made calls, and come together in solidarity over this last week, but these are not one time actions and this is not a momentary commitment,” it added.
