Awards show shines light on emerging Black fashion talent
October 27, 2022
Seeing her mother and two aunts massaging clients at a resort in Hanover, Jamaica inspired Orica Smart.
“Just seeing people in a relaxed state getting the soft tissues of their body manipulated by the sea and just that beautiful atmosphere was so appealing,” she said. “Looking on as a child, I could see they felt so much better and refreshed after the treatment. Since then, I dreamed of owning a spa so people can feel good. Now I do, but it looks different than how I envisioned it.”
Seven months before the COVID-19 lockdown, Smart launched The O Spot.
“It was challenging being an entrepreneur during that period,” she said. “This year will mark the first time that I have been open for 12 consecutive months.”
The O Spot owner was the recipient of the Esthetician and Retailer of the Year Awards at the inaugural Black Fashion & Beauty Gala (BFBG) in Toronto on September 24.
Smart said the honours are significant.
“Many people of my colour are making strides in the esthetics industry without getting the recognition they deserve as successful business owners,” she pointed out. “This recognition shines a light on us. We are being seen.”
The O Spot provides multiple facial treatments.
“We also offer laser acne and ingrown treatments, hair removals, chemical peels, microneedling, skin correction and skin rejuvenation,” said Smart. “A lot of people out there are damaging their skins because of lack of education. They see products advertised on television and purchase them only to realize it is not for their skin.”
The Ajax store also carry a range of product lines.
“These will help you to continue to maintain your skin care, including hyperpigmentation acne,” she added.
Orica Smart won two awards at the inaugural BFBG in Toronto (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
Aesthetic Loft Founder & Chief Executive Officer Anisah Mohamed is Smart’s mentor and coach.
“When I first met Orica, she had a one-room operation at the back of a barber shop,” the Respiratory Therapist recalled. “She had aspirations of getting out of there, but didn’t know how. Coaching is not all about the business strategy, but also self-growth which we worked a lot on. Through that process, she was able to move from one room to four rooms at a new spot that she leased and she brought on two employees to help her grow.
“I also helped her in identifying who she wanted to serve which is the skin of people of colour and community. That was based on her past experience in spas in the Greater Toronto Area and the lack of focus with melanin rich skin. So, a plan was devised for her to focus on a niche and build her business to be able to serve that community. I am so proud of Orica.”
Tasked with doing headpieces for a photo shoot, the photographer turned to Tiffany Cyrus who obliged using skew sticks flowers.
On the heels of favourable reviews, she decided to start a business with less than $100 in her bank account.
Tiffany Cyrus (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
“I create headpieces to make women feel different within themselves,” Cyrus, who migrated from St. Vincent & the Grenadines in 2009, said. “Some of them are made with wraps, but I tend to add appliques on them to make them really stand out. I also use skew sticks.”
She does not use drawings to create headpieces.
“When a thought comes to my head, I start to make that piece right away,” noted Cyrus who launched Nubian Crowns four years ago that has changed its name to T.M.A Creations. “I create the piece, spray paint it and then bring it to life.”
A year after the birth of her son 14 years ago, Honey Benjamin launched her modelling career.
She was the winner of the Model of the Year award.
“This is so gratifying because seldom do we get recognition for the work we do,” said Benjamin who models on runways and in commercial shoots, hair shows and lookbooks. “It is so amazing to be honoured on a platform like this and I am super happy.”
Model of the Year Honey Benjamin (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
Born and raised in Montreal to immigrants from Haiti and Guatemala, she started Honey B Management in 2019 to offer opportunities to models of colour.
“I wanted to give those who are just as passionate as I am a chance to thrive,” Benjamin said.
Hairstylist of the Year winner Nichole Geddes (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
Other winners were Sin C. Lair (Fashion Stylist of the Year), Nichole Geddes (Hair Stylist of the Year), Kyra Milan Brown (Influencer of the Year), Monique Nicholson (Makeup Artist of the Year), Simkha Biocosmetics (Skincare Brand of the Year), PABA Cosmetics (Makeup Brand of the Year), Zahra Ali (Red Carpet Best Dress) and Samantha Clarke (Photographer of the Year).
Zahra Ali was the Red Carpet Best Dress winner (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
Super model Stacey McKenzie was honoured with the Trailblazer & Lifetime Achievement Award.
Jamaican-born Fashion & Event Stylist Ann-Marie Daniel-Barker conceived the idea for the event that celebrates creatives and businesses in the Black community.
“One of the things I noticed was that most of the jobs in the fashion industry go to a very small group of people,” she said. “I wanted to change that narrative. There is a lot of Black talent in Canada. Often times at award shows, most of the people that get honours are already established and well known. I wanted to shine a light on the raw talent out there that people are not aware of.”
BFBG founder Ann-Marie Daniel-Barker (r) with supermodel Stacey McKenzie who was the recipient of a Trailblazer & Lifetime Achievement Award (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
Daniel-Barker, who also resided in France and the United States before settling in the Greater Toronto Area 23 years ago, collaborated with Clore Beauty Supply and Urban Planet to create a mentorship program.
“This is for up and coming talent who will be supported by industry professionals,” she added.
