Our Creator

Welcome! My name is Makeen. I am a 21-year-old college sophomore and the creator of Blk Girl Culture.

What I do when I’m not on Twitter:

I am a fourth-year college student based in New York City. Thus, a lot of my time is spent studying.

I’ve recently enjoyed interning for Elaine Welteroth and dentsu international, gaining marketing experiences and mentor relationships that I’ll cherish forever.

I work with various organizations promoting research by and for Black women and girls. One organization is The Collaborative for the Research on Black Women and Girls. With them, I have helped to plan the annual Black Women and Girl’s Symposium which promote the research of Black women and girls. I also worked as a researcher with an organization called Sista Fire with the goal of gathering data on women of color in our community through interviews and surveys in hopes of designing and providing better resources.

Blk Girl Culture has become such a vital community for me and encouraged such incredible exploration within myself and in the world! I do hope that we can continue to grow, learn and thrive together. Thank you for the love and support, always!

Our Writers

Sharonda “SL” Thomas

Health & Beauty Editor

Sharonda is a self-identified beauty ADDICT who has combined her love of cosmetics with digital technology. She is a licensed Cosmetologist / Barber who has a B.A. in Communication for contemporary media and a certificate is Social Media Marketing. All of which has allowed her to produce content for a range of beauty industry pros and brands. Her passion has been to help others in the realm of the internet while continuing to explore through cooking, playing with new cosmetic brands and travel.

Sasha Smith

Pop Culture Writer

Sasha is a new mother, loving partner, writer, Emerson College alum and proud Cape Verdean & Black woman from Boston. Writing has been a passion of Sasha’s since she learned how to write anything. Her hobbies include traveling and hitting the gym. She enjoys reading and writing about related to our culture. She has had work published in VIBE magazine, Femsplain, and Blavity and is looking forward to engaging in some “lit” conversations here on BGC.

LaShae Robinson

Health & Beauty Writer

LaShae is an aspiring beauty/fashion blogger based in New York City. She has a M.A. in Higher Education Administration and finds great joy in enhancing the quality of Black and Brown students’ undergraduate experience. When she isn’t being a catalyst for change in the world of higher education, she’s story-telling through her style of dress. LaShae loves long romantic walks down the aisles of her local beauty supply store and has always considered herself to be a beauty enthusiast.

Tayhlor W.

Health & Beauty Writer

Tayhlor is a 21-year-old college student from Bloomfield, CT. She attends Barnard College in New York City, pursuing her bachelor's in psychology. After graduation, she will pursue a medical career with the intentions of decreasing health disparities that impact the Black community in particular. She is beyond excited to connect with you all through this platform because it is the perfect opportunity for her to blend her passions for health/wellness, creativity, and empowering black women.

Amber Lewis

Lifestyle Writer

Amber is an ambitious Illinois native who is entering her sophomore year in Chicago. Although she loves learning about all sorts of topics, her favorite things to learn about focus on wellness and self-improvement. When she isn't pursuing her hobbies of learning how to code, social media scrolling, and cooking, she is studying Educational Psychology in order to someday help teenagers have more access to resources.

Tahirah Walker

Lifestyle Writer

Tahirah is a writer who also serves as the Manager of Learning Design for the University of Pittsburgh. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Rhetorical Studies. Her passion is celebrating the accomplishments and everyday lives of Black womxn and girls. Tahirah enjoys books, books, music, books, and her beautiful supportive family. Tahirah’s dream is to be the muralist of an enormous display of art and poetry in honor of her many mothers.

Destiny Bell

Fashion/Style Writer

Destiny Bell is a Fashion Journalist based in Atlanta, GA. Through her media outlet, Pasilor, she focuses on highlighting emerging designers and creatives in the fashion industry. Destiny loves writing articles on hidden creatives across the globe dominating the areas of art, fashion, and music. Her goal is to utilize storytelling to build community and inspire individuals willing to chase their dreams.

Tide Olaloku

Politics/Activism Writer

Tide Olaloku is an eighteen year old writer currently pursuing her bachelors' degree in Sociology. Her main interests are politics, pop culture, and activism.

Michelle Mashuro

Entertainment Writer

Michelle writes about pop culture, blackness, representation and surviving life after graduation. She is currently interested in Afro-science fiction and anime.

Ashley Blackwell

Pop Culture Writer

Ashley Blackwell (aka Ashley Te'Arra) is an Amazon best-selling author, creative entrepreneur, and entertainment writer. Throughout her four-almost-five-year career, Ashley has written for a variety of media outlets, such as Baller Alert and Kontrol Girl, a sister brand to Kontrol Magazine, among others. With a total of five books and counting and over 60 celebrity interviews under her belt, Ashley continues soaring for success.

Ruth Samuel

Opinion Writer

Ruth Etiesit Samuel is a rising senior at UNC-Chapel Hill majoring in media and journalism. Born in London, England to two Nigerian parents, Ruth spent her childhood moving from state to state but calls Macon, Georgia her hometown. What remained constant, though, is her love for storytelling. She describes herself as a culture writer exploring the intersection of race, fashion, and the entertainment industry at large, with an interest in sharing diverse Black narratives.

Jasmine Gayle

Entertainment Writer

Jasmine Gayle is a Jamaican-American native of Brooklyn, New York. She is a recent graduate of Lincoln University of Pennsylvania— the nation’s first historically black college, with a BA in English. An inspiring poet, hair enthusiast & journalist— with a focus on Pop-Culture. Jasmine enjoys cooking, watching movies and spending time with friends

Aimée Mehala

Politics/Activism Writer

Aimée is a sophomore at Barnard College, studying Political Science. She is almost aggressively an east-coaster: born in NYC, raised in the DC area, currently living in Philadelphia. She enjoys writing, singing, cooking, and exercise. On campus, she is a part of GirlUp Columbia and her beloved sorority, Delta Gamma. When she grows up, she wants to be Olivia Pope, but for now she is busy exploring the meaning of being Aimée.

Blk Girl Culture was created to highlight the long existent and ever evolving culture of Black women and girls.

In an era dominated by social media and technology, Blk Girl Culture serves as a virtual space to encourage and increase the celebration of, sharing of knowledge between, and the fellowship of Black women.

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