Hair, makeup, and style are the pillars of a great glam team. We were reminded of the power of glam with the announcement of Michelle Obama’s latest book and limited podcast series, The Look, where she dives deep into how her glam team impacted her personal brand and beliefs in the White House and beyond.

For years, we have seen celebrities shout out their makeup artists or stylists on the red carpet. Whether it be Zendaya and Law Roach or Olandria Carthen and Painted by Esther, we constantly see how glam teams have power. How their transformation of our favorite stars tells a deeper story, a story beyond the surface. And when the glam team is diverse, prioritizing Black and Brown people, it can shift a conversation in an instant.

In 2015, Zendaya arrived on the Oscars red carpet draped in Vivienne Westwood, soft glam, and a crown adorned with locs. She radiated with poise, only to be met with commentary about how her hair smelled of “patchouli” and “weed.” This idea that locs are a monolith, and can only be seen in a controversial light, sparked a conversation about hair and all its different forms. Locs are deeply spiritual and connect to a history. Choosing to display them on entertainment’s biggest night was done to pay homage and speak to Zendaya’s connection to culture without having to say it at all. It even paved the way for what we know now as The CROWN Act, a law that created protections against discrimination targeting race-based hairstyles.

This is why we are excited for the conversation being sparked by our forever First Lady Michelle Obama. We understand how being a big big brand on a big stage calls for a code switch or two, but when our teams reflect us, the conversation can be endless. Your stylists can pull designs from Black owned companies sourcing materials ethically. Your makeup artist can adorn you with Black brands affiliated with efforts directly impacting and uplifting HBCU’s. Your fresh boho braids, the hair was sourced by a Black brand that promotes clean ingredients for the scalp. Your team is not just for show, it is your voice when words just are not enough. Picking the right glam team is a direct reflection of the message you want to send to the public, and what we know here at Advisor is that our culture, Black culture, speaks volumes.