(Black PR Wire) NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ESSENCE, the leading media, technology and commerce company serving Black women, and Ulta Beauty today announced the culmination of a year-long mentorship initiative with the launch of The ESSENCE x Ulta Beauty Girls United Collection. The collection of exclusive beauty products is a result of ESSENCE and Ulta Beauty joining forces in Fall 2018 to inspire and mentor young African-American young women, and share through the development of this collection their creativity with people across the country.

As part of the mentorship initiative, the two brands co-produced ESSENCE Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities—a groundbreaking six-part web series featuring six aspiring Black teens’ journey to discover their own personal potential within the beauty industry. The selected teens received an opportunity of a lifetime—a behind the scenes look into the beauty biz. The mentorship program included career counsel from ESSENCE and Ulta Beauty leaders and hands-on development, in addition to co-creating the exclusive cosmetics collection which launched at Ulta Beauty stores this fall.

The ESSENCE x Ulta Beauty Girls United Collection is a stunning array of beauty must-haves—including a rich and creamy eyeshadow palette, four high shine lip glosses, two luminous highlighter sticks, and one cosmetic bag. To shop the collection, visit ulta.com/featured/ubcxessence.

The six teens chosen to participate in the mentorship program are as follows:

• Amani Taylor, 17 [Missouri City, TX]
• Asha Yearwood, 16 [Miami, FL]
• Kristian Hardy, 16 [Blythewood, SC]
• Madisyn Clark, 19 [Hughesville, MD]
• Marieme Djanke Drame, 17 [Los Angeles, CA]
• Rhyann Sampson, 18 [Dallas, TX]

“ESSENCE is incredibly proud of each of these young women who not only have delivered an outstanding product, but were also able to have this amazing experience,” said MoAna Luu, ESSENCE Chief Content & Creative Officer. “We are so tremendously grateful for Ulta Beauty’s partnership and support for our Girls United initiative to empower young women and to bring this spectacular campaign to life.”

“We’re excited to continue this partnership with Essence and have the chance to both impact and learn from our next class of future leaders,” said Karla Davis, Ulta Beauty Senior Director Marketing.

ESSENCE and Ulta Beauty will launch Beautiful Possibilities 2.0 in the fall. For more on ESSENCE Girls United visit ESSENCE.com/GirlsUnited, or join the conversation on social @Essence and @essencegu #ESSENCEGirlsUnited.

About Essence Communications Inc.

Essence Communications is the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women and inspires a global audience of more than 20.2 million through diverse storytelling and immersive original content. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online, ESSENCE encompasses its signature magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; as well as live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival. Essence Communications is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent African-American owned company focused on merging content, community and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of people of color.

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